November 2009 Archives

Best Pecan Pie

Best Pecan Pie - Bourbon Pecan Pie

Chloe Tuttle of Big Mill B&B has skipped, run, walked and sung under pecan trees all of her life. She was born under them in her family homestead in eastern North Carolina and yet not once!  has she been hit on the head by a pecan falling from one of the trees. She ponders that from time to time.

If you need a real show stopper for Thanksgiving or the Christmas Holidays your will find the Bourbon Pecan Pie served at Big Mill to be it! 

Here's the recipe from our guest blogger, Chloe: "We use organic pecans from the trees that my folks planted here on the farm in 1922. When I was a child, I picked up pecans and sold them at Martin Supply Feed store. Last year I did the same thing. It's nice that some things don't change. This special recipe comes from Cathy our caterer (Conceptual Cuisine Catering*).Our guests enjoy Cathy's romantic gourmet dinners and her Bourbon Pecan Pie is a favorite."
 

Bourbon Pecan Pie 

Ingredients:
2 pie crusts like Pillsbury's rolled crusts (15 ounces) found in the refrigerator section of the grocery store (one for the pie and one for leaf decorations)
2 cups pecans
3 eggs + 1 egg white (reserved)
1 cup light Karo Corn Syrup
¼ cup melted butter (if using unsalted butter add ¼ teaspoon salt)
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons good bourbon
Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, optional
 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and set rack at middle position. Spray a 9-inch or 10-inch deep dish pie pan lightly with cooking spray.

To Make Crust:
Remove pie crusts from refrigerator at least 15 to 20 minutes before using. Gently unroll one crust onto lightly floured cutting board or table. Lightly dust both sides of the crust with four. Carefully place the crust inside the pie pan, leaving at least 1-inch of the crust overhanging. Pierce bottom of crust several times with a fork. 

To make pie filling:
Chop the pecans and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the 3 whole eggs. Add corn syrup, butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract and bourbon. Stir until well blended.
Add pecans and stir until combined. Set aside.
 
To make Leaves:
Unroll second pie crust onto lightly floured board or table. Lightly dust both sides of the crust with flour. Using autumn leaf cutters, cut out enough leaves to go around the outer edge of your pie. See note below.* Place cut leaves on wax paper. If you are using a scalloped pie dish, it will take approximately 30 leaves; fewer if using a standard round dish. 

To assemble:
Pour filling mixture into pie crust.
Using the reserved egg white, gently brush the back side of the pastry leaves. Brush the outside ¼-inch of the pie crust with the egg wash. Place leaves around crust, overlapping slightly. Press gently to adhere. Brush egg wash over the leaves.
 
Bake for 45 to 55 minutes until pie is set; pie should have a gelatin-like consistency. A knife or straw inserted halfway between the center and the edge of the pie should come out clean. Check the pie after 30 minutes of cooking. If the crust is browning too much, lay a piece of aluminum foil loosely over the pie. 

Remove pie from the oven and cool on a rack. Pie should be completely cool before slicing. Top with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired. Here in North Carolina we often top our pecan pie with homemade vanilla ice cream. 

Yield: 8-10 servings.

*Conceptual Cuisine Catering 

*Williams Sonoma has some really nice fall leaf pastry cutters and also the scalloped pie shell that we used for our pie.
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/b315/?pkey=x%7C4%7C1%7C%7C4%7Cpiecrust%20cutters%7C%7C0&cm_src=SCH
 

Submitted by Chloe Tuttle of Big Mill Bed & Breakfast, November, 2009
 

Truly Giving Thanks: Enjoy Thanksgiving at a Bed and Breakfast Inn

iLoveInns.com Welcomes the Holidays with Gratitude


The holiday season begins with the approach of Thanksgiving, which usually means a downhill gallop through New Year's Eve. With all the consumerism and stress that surrounds the holidays it's easy to forget the true significance of Thanksgiving: gratitude. Avoid the hassle of cleaning, cooking and entertaining this year. Pause, take time to relax, enjoy your family and make reservations at a bed and breakfast inn for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Invite friends and relatives to join you, and consider giving them a gift certificate for a night's stay as an early Christmas gift. Welcome the holidays at these B&B inns, compiled by iLoveInns.com, which offer special promotions to make holiday travel affordable.

AHI21-2T.jpgFriday we received this note from a customer named Jill. "We as consumers need to be reminded of how great your product is.....so we don't forget to order them in time so here's a note to let you know of other ways that your wonderful books can be used."  

"I have 3 daughters. When each one turns 16 we get a book, she picks a place...and off we go for a mother & daughter special time together. Age 21 is pretty good too.... My youngest daughter is 16 this year and we will be using it soon."
 
Other Ways Jill Uses the Free Night B&B Book

1. Thanks
2. Birthdays
3. Anniversary
4. For friends, great grandparent, parents, coworkers, spouse.

We were pretty excited that Jill was so interested in sharing how she uses the books.

Jill recommends, "Giving these in advance of the special occasion will allow the person to pick a place and have something to look forward to....at a reasonable price!"

"Tuck into Christmas stockings and give for secret Santa gifts, door prizes, Easter baskets, Valentine Day gifts, wedding gifts!"

Gift Basket, Prizes, Decorated with Beads and Masks

Jill has even more recommendations:

1. Mix with Mardi Gras beads and masks in an interesting container
2. Same with St. Patty's Day
3. Reward for the best pumpkin carver at a pumpkin party.

"Basically, in my world getting away for a few days, even if it is close & in my same state,  is so good for my mind and ....the savings are great for my wallet. Thanks for viewing my excessive letter...I tend to procrastinate....."

Well, we have never met Jill but definitely want to!! She is an example of so many of our passionate customers who love B&Bs and who love our Buy-One-Night-Get-the-Second-Night Free program inside our B&B book!

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This page is an archive of entries from November 2009 listed from newest to oldest.

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