Happy National Pecan Pie Day

except we aren’t making pie, we are making muffins

I love holidays…especially ones involving food.

That’s right, I’m a holiday girl.

You’ll learn that about me soon enough, though, as we are literally on the cusp of the holidays.

What the what? Only 23 weeks and 165 shopping days, so, racers start your engines.

For today, however, we are going to celebrate National Pecan Pie Day, because, well, who knew there was such a holiday?

But, pecan pie is as good a reason as I can think of to celebrate, so we are going to get busy getting busy.

Except…we aren’t making pecan pie, we are making pecan pie muffins.

And will you ever be thankful, because they are a five-ingredient masterpiece.

I can say that, because, well, pecan pie is kind of a big deal in my family. Big Daddy, the family patriarch, considers pecan pie to be the greatest dessert known to man.

So, we might have made a pecan pie. Or two. Or 200.

My mom’s recipe, which I will share closer to the holidays, is simple and luscious…two words that rarely go together.

But with my mom’s pecan pie…they are very appropriate adjectives.

But these muffins, well, they run a close second.

Years ago, when I used to study cookbooks (yes, I’m a total culinary nerd), I subscribed to Southern Living’s Annual Recipe cookbook and I couldn’t wait for it to come in the mail at the end of every year.

Simply put, it was every recipe they published in their monthly magazine for that year. And I would comb through every page, putting a sticky note beside every recipe I wanted to try.

Can you say kitchen geek? Is that a thing?

Recipes…pictures…tricks of the trade…Southern Living was the resource for me before the internet. I collected every edition until a few years ago when I just began to run out of room.

Anybody else need a big clean out? Purge? Organization?

It’s a good thing because the month of August we are going to launch Operation Get Organized and we are going to do it together.

But that’s not what this column is about. But you will want to pay close attention because you will definitely want to be on Team O-GO.

Pecan pie muffins…okay, so back when I used to study cookbooks, I stumbled across this recipe. You know, a recipe doesn’t have to have a lot of ingredients to be scrumptious.

And that’s exactly the case with these muffins…five ingredients…easy…delicious.

What more could you want?

And because I know that many of you are celebrating BIG today on this very important holiday, this recipe will likely include ingredients you already have in your pantry.

So what exactly do you need?

For starters, you will need your cupcake/muffin pan. Using your medium scoop (mine is from Pampered Chef), this recipe will make 9-12 muffins.

Go ahead and preheat your oven to 350 and spray your muffin pan with a non-stick baking spray. I have found one that I really love, Baker’s Joy, and boy does it ever give me joy.

I went through a phase there where everything I baked was sticking to my pan. I was kind of desperate, and decided to try Baker’s Joy.

And I love it. It’s a combo of oil and flour, and I haven’t had anything stick since using it. Get you some!

Next, I melt my butter, it’s only half a cup, so it only takes a minute.

We are going to hand mix this batter, so combine your pecans, brown sugar and all-purpose flour. Mix thoroughly.

Next, put two eggs in a bowl because we want to beat them until they are foamy. You will see little bubbles after your eggs get foamy enough.

Mix your eggs and butter and pour mixture into your well.

Stir until moistened.

Get that scoop out again and fill your muffin tin.

Listen, you can certainly use cupcake holders, I have before, especially if I am giving them for gifts (think Christmas cookie trays). But if I’m making them for my family, I just scoop them straight into the pan.

Bake 20-25 minutes or until your toothpick comes out clean.

I usually let my muffins cool just a bit, and then remove them to cool on a rack.

These muffins are everything…crusty on the outside, moist and gooey on the inside.

And it literally takes you 5 minutes to prepare.

By the time you read this blog post, this holiday will be nearing the end, but you will definitely want to save this one and bring it out for weekend guests, a sick friend or a holiday family dinner.

So, what are you waiting for? It’s the weekend…and these will be a wonderful breakfast surprise for your family or a treat with a cup of coffee Sunday afternoon.

It’s a holiday weekend after all.