Company Bake-Off

Today is my company's Bake-Off. There are three categories: Pies, Cakes and Cookies. I've entered all three. There are sure to be some wonderful desserts entered. There are quite a few wonderful cooks around the office and I can't wait to indulge.

I'm entering my very own recipe for Carrot Cake....I call it Carrot Cake from the Country. I tried to really dress it up this time with sprinkle cinnamon and two cinnamon sticks.

I entered a Pecan-Pumpkin Pie. This was the first time for this recipe, so I'm hopping it taste well. I got the recipe from a very old Farm Journal Pie Cookbook. It’s a book my mother-in-law Josefa gave to me. I think it should taste wonderful, plus it’s got an extra kick with toasted chopped pecans mixed in brown sugar and butter. Taste testers from the Farm Journal cookbook gave this pie excellent ratings…one person even said it was the best pie ever.

Pecan-Pumpkin Pie
2 eggs beaten
2 c. pumpkin (I use some that I processed last year and froze)
¾ c. sugar
½ tsp. salCinnamonmonnnamon
½ tsp. grated ginger root
¼ tsp. ground cloves
1 2/3 c. evaporated milk or light cream
Caramelized Pecan Topping

Blend eggs and pumpkin. Stir in sugar and other dry ingredients and mix well. Blend in milk or cream.

Place into an unbaked 9 inch pie shell.

Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for about 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Cool Completely.

Caramelized Pecan Topping
Combine 4 tblsp. Soft butter, 2/3 c. brown sugar, and 2/3 c. coarsely chopped pecans. Sprinkle on top of cooled pumpkin pie and cover entire top. Place under broiler for about 3-4 minutes, but watch carefully so as not to burn.

The last category is cookies. I'm not a huge cookie fan. I like them, but I'd much rather have cake or pie. This recipe is from Elise at Simply Recipes.

Mine got a little browner than I would have liked, but they will do. I always double the batch on these.

Butter Pecan Cookies
from Simply Recipes

3/4 c. chopped pecans
1/2 c. unsalted butter, soft
1/3 c. sugar, plus more for dusting
1 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. salt
1 c. flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast pecans. Cream butter first, then add sugar and cream until fluffy.

Add all ingredients besides pecans. Mix well and fold in pecans.

Roll into small balls and roll into sugar. Then place on to a baking stone and flatten.

Cook until lightly browned.

And finally...here entriesof my entires for today's Bake-off.