Pecan And Date Pie

The unexpected addition of dates to this classic pie gives the filling more body and a smooth sweetness. Don't use packaged chopped dates, which are rolled in sugar. Instead, use moist and sticky whole dates. Coat your knife with cooking spray for easy chopping.

Ingredients:

• Crust:
• 1 cup all-purpose flour, divided
• 3 tablespoons ice water
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
• Cooking spray
• Filling:
• 1/2 cup whole pitted dates, chopped
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup dark corn syrup
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 large eggs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°.
2. To prepare crust, lightly spoon 1 cup flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine 1/4 cup flour, water, and juice, stirring with a whisk until well blended to form a slurry.
3. Combine 3/4 cup flour, powdered sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cut in shortening with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add slurry; toss with a fork until mixture is moist. Gently press mixture into a 4-inch circle on 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap that overlap; cover with two additional sheets of overlapping plastic wrap. Roll dough, still covered, into a 12-inch circle; freeze 10 minutes.
4. Remove top 2 sheets of plastic wrap; let dough stand 1 minute or until pliable. Fit dough, plastic-wrap side up, into a 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray. Remove remaining plastic wrap. Press dough into bottom and up sides of pan. Fold edges under; flute.
5. To prepare filling, sprinkle dates and pecans evenly over bottom of crust. Combine corn syrup and remaining ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Pour mixture into prepared crust. Bake at 325° for 55 minutes or until a knife inserted 1 inch from the edge comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

Cooking Light
NOVEMBER 2002