October 31, 2013

there's no place like home (and a giveaway)

I'm so proud of my Southern heritage, and a lot of that has to do with food.


No region of America cherishes its cooking traditions more than the South. Down here, a simple home-cooked supper is more than just a meal--it carries with it generations of history, tradition, and that unique Southern charm found nowhere else in the world. Southern Living's latest cookbook No Taste Like Home: A Celebration of Regional Southern Cooking and Hometown Flavorexplores several of those beloved signature Southern dishes.

Organized by region, No Taste Like Hometakes you on a journey through the quintessential flavors the South does best, including favorite family recipes from Southern chefs and tastemakers like country music star Miranda Lambert and Top Chef Richard Blais. Seasonal dishes perfect for fall include Loretta Lynn’s Tennessee Chicken and Dumplins, Coca-Cola Cake from Atlanta, and Spicy Slow-Cooker Beef Chili from Texas.


I chose to make this Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie out of Kentucky, as it's remarkably similar in concept to the pie I included in my Taste of Home feature. There seems to be more of every ingredient, including sweeteners, fat, pecans, and bourbon. Because of this, I daresay that it's a superior recipe. Be sure you use a deep dish, though. If you don't have one, plan to leave a little of the goo out, lest you have an overflow of epic proportions.

This pie is outstanding. It's simple, it's delicious, it's satisfying. It's Southern.

If you'd like a chance to win a copy of this wonderfully useful cookbook, leave a comment below telling me what foods you associate with home. Be sure to include a way for me to contact you! I'll close the comments next Thursday, November 7th, and contact the winner shortly thereafter. Good luck!

Chocolate, Bourbon, and Pecans, Oh Pie!*
From Southern Living No Taste Like Home: A Celebration of Regional Southern Cooking and Hometown Flavor

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated piecrusts (or a homemade crust)
  • 1-1/2 cups chopped pecans
  • 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate morsels
  • 1 cup dark corn syrup
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup bourbon (or water)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
  • 2 teaspoons cornmeal
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions:
Fit piecrust into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate according to package directions; fold edges under, and crimp.
Sprinkle pecans and chocolate evenly onto bottom of piecrust; set aside.
Combine corn syrup and next 3 ingredients in a large saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Whisk together eggs and next 4 ingredients. Gradually whisk about one-fourth hot mixture into egg mixture; add to remaining hot mixture, whisking constantly. Pour filling into prepared piecrust.
Bake at 325° for 55 minutes or until set; cool on wire rack.


*And with that, I've filled my corny quota for the month.

39 comments:

  1. A gorgeous pie! I associate plum tarts with home...

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. As someone who is a serious fan of southern fare, especially desserts, I am loving the sound of this cookbook! and I kind of want to shove that pie in my face.

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  3. Love those chocolate chips mingling with the pecans! This is what every Thanksgiving menu needs.

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  4. Ohhh, this looks so good!

    My pick would be dressing at Thanksgiving (not stuffing!).

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  5. Im agree!! there's no place like home:) and I love this delicious you made Grace:))

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  6. What a beautiful pie! You and I are on the same page here. It's my Aunt Hen's Brownie Pie (Derby Pie) that tastes like home to me. She says its the original. Also Chicken and Dumplings with slick (flat) dumplings. Yum!

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  7. Coming from an Italian family, I would say anything pasta! :)
    lisaarant (at) aol (dot) com

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  8. I love Southern food - especially a good pecan pie. Coming from the Philippines, the food I most associate with home is adobo!

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  9. I think of fresh vegetables from the garden with cornbread and sweet tea. Debra chedeb5353@hotmail.com

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  10. Beautiful pie. You need the extra fats and sugars for maximum flavor.

    My step-great-grandmother came from North Carolina, and every year for Thanksgiving we had to have sweet potatoes (using her secret family recipe which involved brown sugar, butter and whipping cream), corn bread and pecan pie. All are perennial favorites hereabouts. Chicken and dumplings rank right up there, too.

    marjie.mcdonald@gmail.com

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  11. What a gorgeous pie.
    No need to enter me.

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  12. I'm from Chicago where nothing says home like pizza. We have the best! Thanks for a great giveaway.

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  13. homemade mac and cheese makes me think of home!

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  14. Cornbread and collards say "home" to me! Your pie is gorgeous. :)

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  15. Southern Food is indeed something to be relished Grace. I really learned to appreciate the history of Southern Food from many of John Egerton's books. I envision this book to be just as delicious:)

    For sure that pie says it all!

    Thank you so much for sharing, Grace...Ham Egg, and Cheese on a buttered roll from a New York deli say home to me!

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  16. The pie looks divine, Grace. Chocolate and nuts...a dream combo!

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  17. Now, I love pecan pie. And I love chocolate, and I am not unfond of bourbon. I think this one needs to go on the 'take to a party' list!

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  18. I must consume them immediately.

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  19. I associate my home with Holidays food. Everything is homemade by myself. Love the Holidays!


    Mariceli Ramirez
    mariceliramirez5@gmail.com

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  20. Gumbo, my Mother's pound cake and Mississippi Mud Cake!


    grace-anne@att.net

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  21. My mom's country style steak. I still can't recreate this in my own home and every time I see a pressure cooker I think of home.

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  22. For me, because I grew up in Idaho, any potato dish reminds me of home. Also, my mom's meatloaf. :)

    This pie looks decadent and delicious! YUM!

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  23. apples!!

    fruitcrmble AT comcast DOT net

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  24. Your pie looks amazing!

    Anything with Fresh Strawberries - we have them year-round in SoCal!

    createamazingmeals[at]gmail[dot]com

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  25. Su tarta es maravillosa y original me encanta quiero de inmediato un trozo grande,abrazos.

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  26. Ooh! I was raised on pecan pie and grits! This pie looks delicious! (And reminds me of home) Fantastic giveaway! I hope I'm lucky!
    Kara

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  27. A big pan of macaroni and cheese and fried okra takes me back!!

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  28. I would have to say saffron rich and olive chicken..My momma was from spain we ate lots of pollo dishes with olives, nuts, raisins. She also cooked whole different fishes with rices and olives..Our home was an international place, all kinds of fruits, nuts, fish and pollo and sometimes beef..She lived off the coast of spain and they fished the sea and ate native plants, fruits and vegetables..She came to NYC and incorporated what she saw living in the east side of NY working for Greek shipping owners, then to California to live and become immersed in the culture of southern California..I so miss her bounteous foods, the love she put even in a pot of café and toast and some tiny cookies made with chocolate..I miss her more than ever as the holidays come around she passed from this life when I was young, but I know the recipes and continue to cook them for my familia and many friends. Happy Holidays.love your blog, lots, ciao from mjs at momanddad00@clear.net

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  29. Perfect pie for Derby Day, too! I'm drooling just looking at it.
    What remind me of home? Barley soup. Mother made the best.

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  30. Mmm, chocolate and bourbon? Sounds like absolute perfection -- especially at this time of year.

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  31. Oh my word, that pie is amazing. I do envy you having grown up with southern food... Envy might be putting it mildly! I do agree with you that the South has more cooking tradition than anywhere else in America. What food reminds me of home? Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes. Oh, and Chili (with beans!)

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  32. Pecan Pie is my favorite American dessert! I absolutely LOVE it....yours look so good, Grace!

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  33. This pie looks amazing Grace. I love pecan pie in the first place and will have to try this version. Pecans and peaches are two of my favorite foods, so I think you are lucky to be a Southern Cook! My grandmother's homemade egg noodles are what makes me think most of home. She lived out of state and always made them when we visited. After she passed away I started making them and we have them every Christmas Eve.

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  34. Your pie looks incredible! I'd love to win the cookbook, and the food I associate most with home is fruit pie - any kind of fruit!

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  35. The pie looks delicious and I can tell you that here too food plays a very important role in our lives. I always have memories of spanakopita and lamb with potatoes from my childhood!

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  36. Tortilla de patatas tastes like home, always. I must try this pecan pie!! Looks so good.
    marialuisa_ilo@hotmail.com

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  37. Oh my goodness, this pie looks insanely good! So sweet and delicious. I associate a lot of foods with home, but especially holiday foods like pumpkin pie and turkey dinners.

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