We are Thankful…Fall Favorites

As the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaches we have been reflecting on all that we are thankful for at The Blind Pig Blog.  We are thankful for our family (all three of the piglets) and of course our extended families in Texas, Missouri and abroad.  We are very thankful for our friends and health during this crazy year, and we are thankful to our faithful Blind Pig Blog Readers.

Writing a blog can be like calling into an abyss at times.  You are never really sure if anyone is reading your posts and reacting to what you have to say.  We appreciate those of you who have reached out to us through comments, likes and other means to let us know that you are “out there somewhere” reading and nodding your head.

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays, because the focus is not on presents and gift giving (not that Rhonda doesn’t like a good gift– wink, wink).  The focus is on family, spending time together and reflecting on all of our blessings this year.  Of course, the food and beverages are a fun part of the holiday, too.  Who doesn’t love the yummy food?

Like ours, your Thanksgiving may look a little different this year.  There may be fewer people around the Thanksgiving table and you may not be spending the day with relatives that you only see a few precious times each year.  However, you can still make this day special whether you have 2 or 10 at your feast.  We thought that we would share some of our favorite posts from this year and years past to help you plan your Thanksgiving celebration.

To host the perfect Thanksgiving meal large or small, you need to offer some great cocktails.  Here are a few that we hand selected for you.

Don’t have time to fix drinks for guests while you are checking on the turkey?  No problem.  Try one of our sangrias for a large batch cocktail that can be prepared before guests arrive.

Punt e Mes Sangria

Carpano Antica Sangria

Need something on the lighter side for a before or after dinner drink?  We’ve got you covered with an Orange You Glad or an Apple Mule.

For those who like something a little more alcohol forward a Spiced Fall Manhattan or a Reverse Manhattan works before or after a big meal.

Every big meal needs to have a grand finale. Need some dessert ideas to make for the big day? Any of these would be a perfect ending to a delicious turkey meal.

Bourbon Pumpkin Dump Cake

Not Your Mama’s Apple Crisp

Templeton Pecan Pie

Ginger Crumble Apple Pie

There are always those who would rather drink their dessert, so try a Pumpkin Spice Martini.  It will be a crowd pleaser.

It seems like this is a good year to keep some old traditions and mix in some new. Which Blind Pig Blog favorite is going to make it into your Thanksgiving spread this year?

 

Disclaimer:  Beverages on this site are meant for adults 21 years of age and older.  We do not condone underage drinking. Please drink responsibly.

The Pies Have It!

Hello, Friends, and Happy Thanksgiving!  We have so many things to be grateful this year, but one of the best things to be grateful is you, our wonderful followers.  Not following the blog yet?  Just click on the “following” button in the lower right hand corner of your screen.  Add your email.  You will get an email to confirm that you are not a robot and really want to follow our blog.  Then you are in!!  You will receive an email from us once a week with our latest post.  We promise not to bombard you with lots of emails to consume your in box through the week.  Ain’t nobody got time for that!!!

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In honor of Thanksgiving we have a wonderful pie recipe to share with you.  Rhonda ripped this pie recipe from her Southern Living Magazine.  Unfortunately, we don’t have the month or year she collected this recipe.  This pie not your ordinary Thanksgiving Pie.  This pie recipe will have your mouth watering and clamoring for more.  We test tasted this pie on not only our esteemed panel of teenagers judges, but also on Rhonda’s friend’s husband, Justin, who apparently is a pecan pie connoisseur!  Justin, the picky pecan pie snob, gave this recipe his full stamp of approval, so there you have it!  It’s a winner!

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So what is so great about this particular recipe?  The crust is tasty – not your ordinary bland pie crust.  The filling is rich with a twist of rye whiskey.  Oh yah!!!

First you need to prepare the crust.  When Rhonda was growing up and made pies with her mother, they always used a pastry blender to knead the crust.  This recipe calls for using the food processor – genius!  Our crust finally turned out perfect.  Another thing that makes this crust so delicious is adding a little bit of kosher salt and ¼ cup of finely chopped sautéed pecans. After the crust is prepared and while it is chilling, you can work on the rest of the pie.

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Saute’ the pecans

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Prep dough in food processor

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Form dough into a disc and refrigerate for an hour.

For the filling you will place corn syrup, sugar, brown sugar and Templeton Rye Whiskey in a saucepan and cook whisking constantly.  Remove this mixture from the heat.

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We use Kerrygold butter for most of our baking now.   We’ve noticed it makes a difference in taste.

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Whisk corn syrup, sugars and whiskey together.

In another bowl whisk together eggs, melted butter, cornmeal and vanilla.  Then add about ¼ of the syrup mixture to the eggs and whisk together.

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Add about 1/4 of syrup mixture to the egg mixture.

Next turn around and add the egg mixture to the syrup mixture whisking constantly.  Add in the toasted pecans.  Cool for about 30 minutes.

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Add toasted pecans and cool.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Unwrap the dough and roll into a circle on a lightly floured surface. We always find it is easier to put the pie crust into the pan if you roll it out on parchment paper or wax paper. Sprinkle the dough with sautéed pecans.  Place plastic over the dough and lightly roll the pecans into the dough.

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Roll sauteed pecans into crust.

 

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Add to the pie plate. Fold edges under and crimp.  Pour cooled filling into the crust.  Bake for 50-55 minutes.

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We add a pie shield to keep the crust from getting too brown in the oven.

Top with Whiskey Whipped Cream if desired. The recipe says that it makes a pie with 8 slices.  We found that the pie is very delicious, but rich.  Smaller servings are probably better.

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Don’t want to add whiskey to your Thanksgiving Pie?  You can always substitute the whiskey with apple juice.

Templeton Pecan Pie

Crust

  • ½ Tbsp. butter
  • ¼ cup finely chopped pecans
  • Pinch of kosher salt
  • 1 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ¼ cup cold butter cubed
  • ¼ cup cold shortening cubed
  • 3-4 Tbsp. buttermilk

Filling

  • 1 cup dark corn syrup
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • ¼ cup Templeton Rye Whiskey
  • 4 large eggs
  • ¼ cup butter melted
  • 2 tsp plain white cornmeal
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 ½ cups lightly toasted pecan halves

Whisky Whipped Cream

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tsp Templeton Rye Whiskey
  • 3 Tbsp. powdered sugar
  1. Prepare crust:  Melt ½ Tbsp. butter in a small skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat sides of pan. Add ¼ cup finely chopped pecans and sauté 2 minutes or until fragrant and lightly toasted.  Sprinkle pecan mixture with a pinch of salt.  Remove from skillet, and cool completely.
  2. Pulse flour and next 2 ingredients in a food processor 3 or 4 times or until well combined. Add cubed cold butter and cold shortening: pulse until mixture is coarse.  Drizzle 1 Tbsp. of buttermilk at a time over flour mixture and pulse just until clumps form.  Shape dough into a flat disc and wrap tightly with plastic wrap.  Chill dough for an hour.
  3. To prepare filling, place corn syrup and next 3 ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Cook while whisking 2 minutes and remove from heat.  Whisk together eggs and next 4 ingredients in a bowl. Gradually whisk about ¼ of syrup mixture into egg mixture.  Gradually add egg mixture into syrup mixture whisking constantly.  Add lightly toasted pecan halves and cool for about 30 minutes.
  4. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Unwrap dough and roll into a 13-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle the dough with sautéed pecans.  Place a piece of plastic wrap over the dough and roll the pecans into the dough.  Fit dough into a 9-inch pie plate greased lightly with cooking spray.  Fold edges under and crimp. Pour cooled filling into prepared crust.
  5. Bake at 325 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until set; cool pie completely on a wire rack (about 2 hours) before slicing. Serve with Whiskey Whipped Cream, if desired.
  6. For the Whiskey Whipped Cream, beat 1 cup heavy cream and 1 tsp Templeton Rye Whiskey at medium high speed with an electric mixer until foamy. Gradually add 3 Tbsp. powdered sugar, beating until soft peaks form.

We can’t wait to hear if you make Templeton Pecan Pie for your Thanksgiving meal.  It will be on the table at our house.

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Count your blessings, hug those that you love and Happy Thanksgiving!

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