Recipe: Down South Chess Pie

If you've never had a chess pie, you're in for a real treat! As with most delectable desserts, of course it consists mostly of butter and sugar, but once in a while it's okay to indulge. Chess pie is a classic Southern dessert somewhat similar to a pecan pie, but without the pecans. Give it a try sometime for a special occasion, and you won't be disappointed!

Down South Chess Pie

Ingredients:

Chess pie. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1/2 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs, beaten lightly
1/4 cup milk
1 Tbsp plain white cornmeal
1 unbaked pie crust

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Set unbaked pie crust in a 9 inch pie pan and crimp edges.
2. In a bowl, mix together butter, both sugars, salt, and vanilla.  In a separate large bowl, beat the eggs, then to the eggs add in the sugar mixture; stir to combine.
3. Add milk and cornmeal to the bowl; stir to combine.
4. Pour this mixture into unbaked pie crust in pie pan.
5. Bake in preheated oven at 425 degrees for 10 minutes, then turn heat down to 300 degrees and continue to bake pie for 40 to 45 more minutes or until pie is golden brown.

Remove and let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe: Pecan Praline Macaroons

For dessert, or a special treat, try these Louisiana-inspired treats! New Orleans is famous for it's pecan pralines, and this easy and scrumptious recipe shows you why. This one is a twist on the classic praline, and it's so simple you'll want to make it again and again.

Pecan Praline Macaroons
(Makes about 24 macaroons.)

(Photo credit: Pomax)

Ingredients:

3 large egg whites, room temperature
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 cup pecans, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a cold mixing bowl, put the egg whites and beat with a mixer until they form peaks. Then, with mixer running, slowly add in the brown sugar, beating until you get stiff peaks.
3. Carefully fold in the pecans using a rubber spatula.
4. On a cookie sheet, drop heaping teaspoons of mixture allowing for room to spread.
5. Bake in preheated over for 30.  Keep your eye on them.  You want the macaroons to be hard and still shiny.
6. Remove and allow to cool at room temperature on a cooling rack.