Pecan Pie.

Is it Thanksgiving this week? I think it must be. And I've got to say I'm quite sad that we don't have it over here. In mean, obvs not the whole 'make a sparkly holiday out of pretending that us European folk didn't skip on over across the sea to wipe out a whole sophisticated population' sort of thing, that seems kind of weird and mean....but a whole holiday, just in time to kick off Christmas, all about being grateful...that seems like a good idea to me

And from my very outsider perspective it seems that it kind of takes the pressure of Christmas a bit too, because it's 'The Holidays', whole long weeks of fun...rather than getting all in a faff because everything has to be perfect on the one day that counts. And given that you, little sis, are a full on American resident these days, you are gonna need a pie...another reason we should get Thanksgiving, it's a pie festival... you can't turn up anywhere without a pie this week, I'm pretty sure it's US a law. So better get baking. With Love and Cake

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Pecan Pie

Recipe from The Essential Dessert Cookbook

A few notes:

• You could use any tart case you like really, even *faux gasp* a shop bought one.
• If you have any spare pastry and want to prettify you could cut some pretty shapes, stars or hearts, and lay them on top of the pecan layer before you bake.
• As usual, I've made my pasty in my food processor but, as ever, you can definitely make it by hand if that's what works for you. Just rub in the butter with your finger tips and bring the dough together by hand.

Serves 6

You will need

1 x 23cm tart tin

For the pastry

185g plain flour

125g butter

2-3 tbsp cold water

For the filling

200g pecans

3 eggs

50g butter, melted

140g soft brown sugar

170ml golden syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

pinch salt

• First lets make the pastry. Pulse the flour in a food processor (or sift into a bowl) then add the butter and pulse until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs.
• Add 2 tbsp of cold water and pulse until a soft dough forms, adding 1 more spoonful of water if necessary.
• Remove the dough from the processor roll the pastry out thinly onto a floured surface. 
• Line your prepared tin with the pastry, and gently prick the base with a fork. Cut off the excess and chill in the freezer for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile preheat the oven to 180°c.
• Blind bake the pastry case; line it with a scrunched up piece of baking paper and fill with baking beads, or uncooked rice or dried beans (save them to continue to use for the same purpose, just don't cook them to eat), then place the pie tin in the oven and bake for 15 minutes, until the edges have started to colour.
• Remove the beans and paper and bake for a further 15 minutes.
• Remove the pastry from the oven, set aside to cool.
• Make the filling by spreading the pecans over the pastry base.
• In a measuring jug whisk together the eggs, melted butter, sugar, golden syrup, vanilla and salt and then pour over the notes.
• Bake the pie for around 45 minutes or until firm. Serve at room temperature.

Crispy Granola.

I don't know if I've mentioned before, but breakfast is one of my favouritist meals of the day...you know, along with lunch and dinner...it's the only one where the sweet stuff can take up the whole occasion and take all the credit. You can basically eat cake and nothing but cake without anyone judging you...panCAKES, muffins, pastries.

The unfortunate thing however, is that if you want to survive past your 35th birthday you have to mix it up a bit and maybe not do the 'cake first thing in the morning' thing everyday. Sad.

My non-cake breakfast of choice is a smoothie packed full of good stuff...like this one. The tricky thing is however, that making a smoothie is not a quiet affair and since I'm usually the first one up and about in my house and when I say house I mean little match box pretending to be a house, I have to seek other sources of sustenance.

Enter...homemade granola. I have been making my own granola for a while and so an always looking for new versions. The addition of cornflakes in this one makes it super crispy and delicious. Enjoy, quietly. With Love and Cake.

Crispy Granola.

Adapted from a Lynn's Kitchen Adventures recipe

A few notes:

• Of course this recipe is wiiiide open for interpretation...maybe use maple syrup instead of honey, or a different kind of nut, or maybe you have Rice Krispies instead of Cornflakes so want to use them...you see...
• Use a honey that you really like the taste of...they vary so much in flavour and it really comes across here.

Makes a big storage jar-full

You will need

1 x large baking sheet, greased

75g soft brown sugar

6 tbsp flavourless oil, like sunflower or vegetable

170g honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

75g cornflakes

340g oats

1 tsp cinnamon

50g pecans

• Preheat the oven to 180˚c.
• Stir together the sugar, oil and honey in a small pan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves.
• Meanwhile mix together the rest of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
• Pour over the honey mixture and stir everything together until well combined.
• Spread the mixture out evenly on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
• Run a spoon through the mixture to turn everything over and then put back in the oven....but TURN IT OFF.
• Leave the granola to cool completely in the oven. 
• Break the cold granola up into clusters and store in an airtight jar.