Thanksgiving Recipe: Pecan Pie

This particular concoction is mighty scrumptious. Pecans with a good dash of Tennessee Sour Mash add up to caramelized, cacao nutty goodness.

Places to get your pecan pie ingredients (as well as ready-made pies!) in Encino and Tarzana include the Whole Foods Market in Tarzana, Ralphs  and Gelson's Markets in Encino and Tarzana. Where are you buying your ingredients for your Thanksgiving meal? Tell us in the comments!

With so many different things going on in the kitchen this week, I give myself the guilty pleasure of purchasing piecrust. It cuts down on prep time and floury messes, or rather, my propensity to having flour fly throughout the kitchen while I'm trying to multitask for the big event.

You can also add a dollop of homemade whipped cream to each slice, for an added treat.

Recipe: Pecan Pie with a Dash of Jack

Ingredients:

• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 3 ounces dark chocolate (60-70% Cacao)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1.5 tablespoons Jack Daniels
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans (unsalted)
• 1 frozen 9-inch pie crust

Method:

Heat oven to 325F.

In a small saucepan, over low heat, stir butter and chocolate until melted. Allow to cool. Whisk sugar and eggs in bowl. Add whiskey, vanilla and salt. Finally, stir in pecans.

Spoon filling into pie crust and bake at 325F for approximately 30 minutes. Check to make sure the edges of the crust become puffy and golden, the filling becomes deeply browned and the center firms. Transfer to wire rack to cool.