3.0 (beta)

In my book, pecan pie is an acquired taste. Like red wine, coffee, shiitake mushrooms, and eggplant. In other words, I thought it was gross until recently.

Now I like pecan pie. But what I like even better is pecan pie accented with chocolate and the buttery smoothness of bourbon.  So gluten notwithstanding, I made this lil’ beauty for caregroup last week.

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie (inspiration from allrecipes.com)

1 (9 inch) deep-dish pie shell
3/4 cup white sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
4 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup bourbon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
3-6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees F).
2. In a small saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup, and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Cool slightly.
3. In a large bowl combine eggs, bourbon, vanilla, and salt. Mix well. Slowly pour sugar mixture into egg mixture, whisking constantly. Stir in pecans. Scatter chocolate chips in the pie shell. Pour mixture into pie shell.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until set and golden. May be served warm or chilled.

As we scurry around here getting ready to visit my parents for the holiday, B and I have been compiling our list of things for which we’re most thankful. At the top of that list is that God blessed us with a child this year and with another one next year.

Yes, we’re expecting.

The due date is June 18, so E will be about 17 months older than her playmate, K will be just shy of 30, and B will be… a mother of two under two.

K passed the CA bar exam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Three years of law school and one long summer of studying payed off. Well done, my love!

E and I joined K in his office for the big score-checking event. Afterward, we–the Elated–floated over to the Fashion Island Tree Lighting Ceremony. The ceremony consisted of crowding against hundreds of people sipping Starbucks drinks to watch a Broadway-quality show followed by the illumination of 100+ foot White Fir drenched in 23,000 lights and ornaments. It was breathtaking.

Between songs, K called friends and family to tell them the good news. E desperately wanted to participate in the phone calls too.