Homemade Pecan Pie with Nutella

We always prefer to make pecan pies from scratch. Pecans are fairly expensive, and I've found that the pies sold at stores really skimp on the namesake nut to cut costs. They tend to be very egg-y, almost like a lemon curd, with only a layer of pecans on the top. This recipe, by contrast, is richer and absolutely loaded with pecans.

Molasses, dark corn syrup and brown sugar combine to form the base of the pie filling. To this, I whisk in eggs and chopped pecans. I also add a touch of anise extract to the filling. The licorice flavor really accentuates the molasses. When it's fully baked, it has a wonderfully dense and gooey texture.

Even the crust is flavored with pecans. To the flour, butter and sugar I added some pecan mill.  I first baked just the crust and then smeared it with a thin layer of Nutella. Nutella has hazelnuts in it, but I think it provides a nice flavor contrast to the pecans. And seriously, what does Nutella not go with?

If you make just one homemade pie for Thanksgiving this year, make a pecan pie. It will cost about the same as a store-bought version, but there's no comparison.

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Pumpkin Ricotta Cookies with Carrot Icing

The pandan ricotta cookies I made a couple of weeks ago for Halloween were such a hit that I decided to make some more.

I didn't feel like using pandan this time, so I flavored the cookies with pumpkin and smothered them in carrot icing. The cookies are moist and chewy and have an earthy sweetness that is perfect for the Thanksgiving season.

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Avocado Shake (Sinh To Bo)

Sinh tố bơ is a Vietnamese-style avocado milk shake. In Vietnamese, avocado is called trái bơ, which literally translates to "butter fruit". The name is quite appropriate for this drink, which is sinfully rich. I take heart, no pun intended, in the fact that avocados are so nutritious and are loaded with the healthy kind of fat.

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5 Ghoulishly Delicious Halloween Cookies

Halloween isn't a big thing in France, so I didn't get to enjoy the festivities until I got married and came to America. Now that I have four young sisters-in-law who just love getting dressed up and going trick-or-treating, I have really gotten into it. This year I made several batches of cookies that incorporate the colors and flavors of the holiday. Read on to see my five favorite Halloween cookies.
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Blondie with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting

We're very fond of brownies but we love blondies even more. Sunny's school makes the best blondies. She's enrolled in the after-school cooking class, and the chef taught the kids how to make blondies. Naturally Sunny brought some home. They were so good that we decided to make a batch and covered them with pumpkin cream cheese frosting for Halloween.

If great blondies aren't reason enough to make this recipe, then getting to lick the leftover frosting should convince you. Of course, I didn't get to because the girls beat me to it...

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