Kentucky Pecan Pie

I have no clue why this pie has this name, but I've been baking it for close to 30years.. I'll be telling my age, almost, if I tell you as a teenager I won blue ribbons in our county fair for these pies. I make them this time of year for Thanksgiving and Christmas. One of my daughters asked me why I only made them around this time of year.. I said I wasn't sure, but I guess they are soo special I keep them for special occasions.

Kentucky Pecan Pie

1 cup White Corn Syrup
1 cup Dark Brown Sugar (packed is best)
1/2 tsp Salt (slightly less if you are using salted butter)
1 tsp Vanilla (the good stuff if possible)
3 Whole Eggs, Slightly Beaten
1/3 Cup Melted Butter
1 heaping cup Pecan Pieces
handful Pecan Halves

COMBINE - Syrup, Sugar, Salt, Butter and Vanilla. Mix Well

ADD - Slightly Beaten Eggs. Mix Well

STIR IN - Pecan Pieces. Mix Well

Pour into 9 Inch Deep Dish unbaked Pie Shell

Place firm becan halves on to in a pattern

Bake at 350F for approx 45min (until firm but not too brown on the top)

Cool Well (Filling will firm up more as it cools)

Variations on that theme - .. Over the years I've done different things.. but only with the Pecans. Currently I've been chopping the pecan pieces a little more and just putting them into the pie shell and pouring the mixture over top of those and letting things settle as it will.

Usually I make a nice ring patter around the whole pie from outside in. I've made 4 in the last 2 days and only 1 had the full ring. The others I either just added more pieces onto the top, or made an outer ring with pieces in the middle.

Also. I usually make 2 pies at once. It's easier to use the whole 16oz countainer of Syrup than to store the other 8oz. Same goes for a 16 oz box of Brown Sugar. So for many years now I've never made just one pie at a time. You just have to be carefull, mix well and alternate between shells to that it's even in both. The baking time takes a little longer, but at 45 minutes I usually place a square piece of foil over top of the pie's so the pecans to burn.

One of my brothers added chocolate chips to his recipe mix and said it came out great, but I haven't tried that yet. It's already sweet and tasty enough.

Enjoy.

Red Lobster copycat Chedder Bay Biscuits - My Version

Really Really Great. We go to Red Lobster several times during our trips to NC and always leave with a big bag of these biscuits. I've found several recipes on the net and have come up with this one on my own.

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Like Red Lobster's®Garlic and cheddar make a flavorful addition to basic drop biscuits.

Serves: 8 Prep. Time: 0:15min or less

2 cups Bisquick baking mix (or any other brand)
2/3 cup milk - low fat is what I use
1/2 cup shredded sharp chedder cheese (I used the Cabot white sharp)
1/4 cup butter OR margarine - melted
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
parsley flakes - optional

Combine Bisquick, milk, and cheddar and beat with a wooden spoon for about 30 seconds.

Spoon onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake in 450 degree oven for 8 - 10 minutes.

Combine butter and garlic powder and pour over hot biscuits; sprinkle with parsley.

I've learned that Red Lobster uses special backing mixes and other items which make there version taste so good.. but these are pretty darn close.

Smoked Fish

Ok.. now I didn't actually do this one. My brother in laws did this at a Pig Roast the family had last Sunday.

Here is the picture of the pig

Pig was started around 8am Sunday Morning.. no clue what they marinated this thing in.. but the outcome was good.

and here's the picture of the fish After the pig came off the spit, my brother in laws (who had cut this king fish into steaks) then wove this wore or string through the back bone pieces and hung this fish up to smoke.. I don't think they put any seasonings on it, just the smoke from the wood in the pit.

Turned out very good, but took a while to do. Can't even begin to tell you how to do this.

Good luck if you try it at home.

What a last 2 weeks

ok, so I haven't written in a while. Been Very busy with the St. Gabriel's School Fair.. and mostly dinner over the last 2 weeks has been Chefette (our version of fast food.. it's chicken mainly.. and better than KFC)

When I actually start cooking again, I'll add more things.. in the meantime, you can contact me via these posts and tell me what you would like me to add..