Mini Mini Pecan Pie!

Since a lot of people seemed to be interested in the Mini Mini apple pies and since Fall is upon us, I thought I'd continue the mini mini with one of my favorite pies ever...

Mini Mini Pecan Pies!

Now due to some health concerns in the family we've been trying to cut back on sodium, and so this recipe is a low salt pecan pie. So delicious though, trust me. Plus feel free to use salted butter, or use already made crust if you don't care about an abundance of sodium.  Seriously though, this recipe is DELICIOUS either way.

Cast o Characters for Crust and Filling: All-purpose flour, white sugar, whole milk, vanilla extract, brown sugar, pecans, 3eggs and some low salt butter.

First things first: The Crust

Now if you're like me and forget to take out butter hours before you cook, just heat it up in the microwave for a few seconds then mash it up and heat it up again, just try to get it nice and workable.

Cream that butter up!

Next add the sugar and one egg yolk.  Beat that well and get everything nice and combined.

Next add some flour. Beat it in and be careful not to get it everywhere. I'm usually not careful. I had a layer of flour on all the kitchen counters. Such a joy to clean.

After you mix that in work it around with your hands.  Now I found this particular recipe to be way crumbly. I couldn't even spread it out so instead I just form fitted the mixture into the pan.  This ended up working just fine, just make sure to grease up that pan. 

I did 4 before adding some cooking spray and they were tough to get out. Definitely use some spray. Or some butter and flour. Or anything you need.

Once the pan is all done place it in the freezer for about 30 minutes. This will give you plenty of time to fix up the pecan pie innards.

Part 2: The Filling

Beat up the next two eggs.

You want them to be nice and bubbly and frothy. 

Next add in the rest of the butter.  If you melt it in the microwave make sure it isn't hot otherwise you'll start to cook the eggs and that is no bueno.

Then add in some brown sugar and mix it up.

Add some white sugar. If you are thinking this is much too much sweetness for a pie you are wrong. Since this recipe has no Karo syrup it definitely needs a kick in the face with some sweet. And the mixture of brown and white do just the trick.

Next add in some flour to thicken up the mixture just a bit.

If you try to add it in slow to capture a nice cascading flour picture you'll be out of luck. It'll just stick together to the bitter end.

After you mix that up turn your oven on to 400 degrees. You won't cook it at this temperature you just need to pre-heat to 400.

Then get your pecans ready for some processing.

Throw em in.

Mix em up.

Then go back to your mixture and add in the milk (mix well)

And the vanilla (mix well)

And finally the chopped up pecans.

It'll look disturbing but will taste amazing. Such a contradiction.

After your pan has been in the freezer for 30 minutes take it out and spoon the pecan mixture into the mini mini pies.

You'll want to fill them up to just under the crust. 

Psst hey come a little closer

That's better, you know what makes a mini mini pecan pie a mini mini pecan pie?

Its own halved pecan. 

Awww yea.

Once those are ready to go drop the oven temperature to 350 and throw in those pies.

After they finish cooking let them cool briefly before taking them out.

Be sure to take a moment to admire their deliciousness.

Wasn't that halved pecan a perfect touch?

So scrumptious. And you wouldn't even be able to tell that they were low salt pecan pies.

NOM NOM NOM!

Mini Mini Pecan Pie
The Crust:

• 1 stick of unsalted butter, room temp
• 1/4 cup of white sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 1/4 cup of all purpose flour

1. Make sure the butter is soft and manageable and beat the butter until smooth.
2. Add the sugar and egg yolk and beat it up until well blended.
3. Next add the flour and mix it together until it begins to clump. Once it is combined mold it with your hands into the pan.  
4. Place the pan in the freezer for 30 minutes.

The Filling:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 stick of unsalted butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon whole milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• Extra whole/halved pecans for topping (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. In a large bowl beat the eggs until foamy and mix in melted butter (make sure butter isn't hot!)
3. Stir in brown sugar, white sugar and flour. Mix well
4. Add the milk, vanilla and chopped pecans.
5. If you used the crust recipe from above, after 30 remove pan and scoop batter into the pan. 
6. Once filled place a pecan half on each individual mini mini pie.
7. Before putting the pan in the oven reduce temperature to 350F and place pan in and cook for 15 minutes.  If the pies do not look golden brown leave them in for a few more minutes.

This recipe makes 24 mini mini pecan pies with some additional left over for two mini pies.  Does that make sense? By mini pies I'm talking about muffin pans and mini mini pies are mini muffin pans. I probably should have clarified this all up at the beginning. But regardless these are cute little pies perfect for Thanksgiving or other Fall get togethers! 

Oh and in case you are wondering the sodium per mini mini pie I estimate to be at.... drum roll please...

7.5mg! I know right?! Pretty Crazy. Oh and Calories ~137, and if you think wow that's high, let me just interject in your mind thought and say come it's a pie what do you expect?!

And if you want to question my math go ahead, but I have a minor in math so I basically right. BOOM. 

UofA vs. #9 USC

To make up for the lateness of my last post I decided to post this asap.

Plus, spoiler, we beat the #9 team. WHAT WHAT!

I can't even begin to describe the atmosphere it was electric, and I was fairly certain I was mere seconds from throwing up. Seriously. It was gonna happen. My family was really worried. But I didn't throw up and we won!!

What a game.

So slide show time.

 Of course more work done on the north end zone.  Since it was such an early game you can see the progress a little bit better.

Game time!

 Marching band awesomeness. U...of...A!!!

 Alright captains

 Coin toss, USC won and chose to receive!

 Bonano!

USC came out strong! If they weren't rushing for 2/3 they were passing for 15, they just seemed unstoppable.

They kept going but then after making it to the Arizona 21 they had a penalty and went back 15 yards.

And on third down Barkley threw an interception! 

And bam Arizona ball on the 40. SAY WHA?!

Ka'Deem Carey rushed, Matt Scott rushed, USC had another 15 yard penalty and then...

Matt Scott threw a complete pass to Austin Hill for 30 yards. Can you spot the ball?
Seriously, I can't find it.

Then at the USC 10 we ultimately got the first touchdown of the game.

6-0.  Bonano finished it up putting the score at 7-0 with 7:20 left in the first quarter

USC had some minor setbacks with penalties, but Barkley's pass to Marqise Lee for 57 yards sure did quite the stands.

I'd like to take the time to talk about Barkley and the receiving team over at USC. Holy smokes are they good. I was impressed with every pass Barkley made.  That guy has an incredible arm and his receivers made some catches that I couldn't believe. Even if they were the "enemy" I can sure appreciate some great football skills. Seriously, bravo.

Anywho, Scott passed to Hill for 56 yards and took the Wildcats down to the USC 29. Incredible.

Ka'Deem was on rushing fire! Like usual and the Wildcats were able to get all the way to the USC 1 with the help of Ka'Deem, Scott and Hill.  We scored a touchdown but it was taken away due to a holding and then we just couldn't get in the end zone.

Bonano kicked for a 27 yard field goal. 10-0

Then there was a fumble! We got the ball back at the Arizona 10

Unfortunately it turned out to be a missed scoring opportunity but at least we threw off their groove a little.

And so we punted and USC got the ball on their 16.

Their groove was not shaken.

They scored a touchdown in 1:20. Whoa.

We tried to get down the field to answer their touchdown...

But after some back and forth USC scored another touchdown and the Wildcats got a field goal. 13-14. Hey there Bonano.

Barkley threw another complete pass for 32 yards. Seriously the arm on this guy.
They ended up scoring another touchdown, this time in only 59 seconds. Wow.

Then with just 42 seconds left in the half, the Wildcats rushed to get some points on the board.

Bonano kicked for the field goal and it was GOOD!
Then taken away due to a holding call, and he kicked again and missed. My heart sank. So the first hald ended up being 13-21.

After the half we received and I was freaking out. So much that I failed to take a single picture. Seriously. 
It was super intense too. USC scored another touchdown (13-28) followed by a series of punts from both teams and finally an Arizona touchdown with about 4 minutes left in the third (20-28)
Then another USC fumble which led to an Arizona touchdown (26-28) and we were back in the game.

So then fourth quarter started and I realized oh hey, I have a camera.

Scott tried a pass to Slavin which was incomplete but Ka'Deem rushed it in for another Wildcat touchdown.  They tried for the extra point but no luck (32-28)

USC got the ball back but punted it quickly and Arizona took it down the field.  Matt Scott rushed

And passed...

And slowly but surely the Wildcats moved down the field.

The USC Trojan was escorted around the field. I do not know why, probably the whole other mascot's team thing. 

After some passes Wildcats finally got in the end zone.

Bonano made the extra point so the score was 39-28 with 5:36 left in the game. I entered freak out mode.

As expected 5 minutes was much too much time on the clock for USC.  In less than a minute they scored the  touchdown plus the extra point (39-36)

Scott came out of the game due to a head injury and the trainers wouldn't let him back in the game do B.J. Denker came in and Ka'Deem rushed and the Wildcats tried to eat up as much time as possible.  But Wildcats had to punt it with 55 seconds still on the clock. Oh lord. 

USC made some quick passes and moved down the field really fast. USC fans were cheering, UofA fans were roaring trying to pump up our defense. It was insane.

Due to no time-outs left it came down to one final play.  A hail mary pass from Barkley at the Arizona 48, and it was incomplete! The replay showed just how close Marqise Lee came to catching that ball. But he didn't and so...

Rush the field! Not really, but still everyone in the stands was freaking out because...

39-36.
UPSET TIME. 

I couldn't believe it. I almost threw up. Multiple times.

GAH that's sweet.

Next week Wildcats play UCLA, who beat ASU earlier today, should be an interesting game. Hopefully we'll get another win.  Anyways no home game til November 10th vs. Colorado.