ADVANTAGEOUS + PECAN PIE

I love a good sci-fi/dystopian movie! This one (streaming on Netflix) was refreshingly subtle and thoughtful. I appreciated the great acting, beautiful music, and intimate look at a mother/daughter relationship.

Directed by: Jennifer Phang

Starring: Jacqueline Kim, James Urbaniak, Freya Adams, Ken Jeong, Jennifer Ehle, and Samantha Kim

Screenplay by: Jacqueline Kim and Jennifer Phang

“I want Christmas with her first.” - Gwen, talking about her daughter to Fisher, when agreeing to a procedure.

Pecan Pie (recipes from my Aunts Dianne (crust) and Bernice (filling) in the Gaudet Family Cookbook)

For the pie crust (makes 2 crusts):

2 c. flour

1 tsp. salt

2/3 c. vegetable shortening, chilled and cubed

2 tbsp. unsalted butter, chilled and cubed

4 tbsp. ice water

Mix all of the ingredients in a food processor or mixer until a pea-sized coarse consistency is obtained (I used a pastry blender instead). Add water 1 tbsp. at a time and stop as soon as the dough forms a ball.

*If the dough cracks/is crumbly, there’s too much shortening, so add more water 1 tsp. at a time. If the dough is sticky or soggy, there’s too much water, so add a bit more flour.

Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled.

For the filling:

1/4 c. unsalted butter, melted

3 eggs

3/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1 c. dark corn syrup

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 c. pecan halves

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Beat the eggs, sugar, and salt until well blended. Add the corn syrup, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir in the pecans.

Roll out the pie dough on a floured surface until it is wide enough to overhang the pie plate by 4 inches (your rolling pin and bench scraper can help move the dough and lift it into the pie pan).

Pour the filling into the uncooked pie shell.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until the filling is set at the edges but slightly soft in the center.