Orange Pecan Pie Recipe

 During Thanksgiving, we usually end up so full that we don’t eat the desserts until the following day. This year I'm planning on serving miniature pecan pies so everyone can enjoy the dessert on Thanksgiving Day. Pecan pie is my husband Lulu’s favorite Thanksgiving treat, and I hope he enjoys this version flavored with orange and date syrup. The key to any pecan pie is to overload the pecan flavor, which is my primary objection to  the ones sold in bakeries. The reason is probably that pecans are so expensive. 

The citrus flavor comes from the combination of orange concentrate and orange peels. It gives the pie just a hint of tartness to cut through what is admittedly a very sweet dessert. So this Thanksgiving, consider going mini for your desserts. You and your guests will love them!

Clementine Chocolate Parfait Recipe

I made clementine mousse using fruits from our garden. The zest is amazingly fragrant. The exterior has such a deep orange color, I thought it would be perfect dressed as a parfait paired with French chocolate cookies we bought in Normandy.

My husband Lulu and I brought a lot of delicious French food back home from our recent trip to Europe. The cookies in the dish are called "La Mère Poulard" chocolatine cookies. They are specialty cookies from the Mont Saint Michel region of France. My parents took us there on New Year's Day. It's a rocky tidal island located in Normandy, topped with beautiful shops and a church. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

While we were there, we had the region’s typical crêpes and of course brought back a few packs of cookies. If you’re in France and you have time, I recommend taking a visit.