The Harried Housewife

Ingredients

• As seen on WKTV NEWSChannel 2
• Pastry for two 6-inch single-crust pies (see below)
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans or pecan halves
• Freshly whipped cream (optional)

Instructions

• Prepare pastry for 2 6-inch pie crusts as directed. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 6-inch pie plates with pastry crust. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, corn syrup, butter, and vanilla. Stir in pecans; divide into 2 crusts. Bake until filling is puffed, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool pies completely on a wire rack. Top each pie with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired. Makes 8 miniature servings.
• PASTRY FOR TWO 6-INCH SINGLE-CRUST PIES
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cold vegetable shortening
• 5 to 6 tablespoons ice water
• In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon water over the flour mixture; toss with a fork. Push moistened flour mixture to the side of the bowl. Repeat, using 1 tablespoon of the remaining water at a time, until all of the flour mixture is moist. Gather pastry into a ball. Divide into 2 portions; shape each portion into a disk. Cover each disk with plastic wrap; refrigerate 20 to 30 minutes.
• Flour rolling surface and rolling pin lightly. Roll each pastry disk into circles about 8-inches in diameter. Trim to about 7 1/2 -inches. Carefully remove trimmed dough. Fold dough into quarters. Unfold and press into 2 6-inch pie plates. Transfer desired fillings into pie crusts, flute or crimp edges as desired. Bake as directed. Makes 2 miniature pies.

Notes