Sandi is blogging from the WhistleStop Cafe kitchen. It's all about good home cooking; food, family and fun. Thousands of posts . . .

~In the south and around the world.



Thursday, December 20, 2007

A Novel Event


I found the perfect novel for this winter's edition of Novel Event. The idea with this event is to be challenged to 'culinary inspiration' by a literary work. Lisa at Champaign Taste first introduced me to this last fall when I posted with inspiration from Fried Green Tomatoes At The WhistleStop Cafe.
Since it is Christmas, I decided to find some inspiration in another Fannie Flagg novel. 'A Redbird Christmas' This is a sweet and inspiring story of faith and hope. As with many of Fannie's novels it is set in a small town in Alabama, along the lazy winding river, where mail is delivered by boat and Christmas is magical. Dottie Niven is the postmistress and a member of the mystic order of the polka dots. This is a group of southern women who do good deeds within their community. In addition to spotting a good man for marrying, they spend their days helping wandering children and a special redbird.

No Christmas party in the south would be complete without a pecan pie. Fannie Flagg knows this well and uses it in spinning her story. Dottie is known for her highballs, and her bourbon pie.



Dottie Niven's Kentucky Bourbon Pie
1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
4 eggs
1/4 cup bourbon
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup pecans
1 unbaked pie shell
Pre-heat oven to 325°
Combine first three ingredients in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Cool slightly. Beat eggs, bourbon, vanilla and salt in a large bowl; gradually add sugar mixture. Beating well with a wire whisk. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans; pour into pastry shell. Bake for 50-55 minutes until set. Serve warm or chilled.

Christmas is a time of magic, wishes coming true, goodness of a neighbor or a stranger. The small southern town in 'A Redbird Christmas' is like most small towns. All around us there are holiday get togethers with a pecan pie and some eggnog- leaded and unleaded.

Merry Christmas y'all
Sandi

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pie and bourbon sounds great to me Sandi :)

Greenie Gardens said...

Oh my! This looks soooo good! Thanks for the recipe! Talk about eye candy! Merry Christmas! Stephanie

Sandi McBride said...

You know, altho I love Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe, I think maybe Redbird Christmas may be my favorite...and this pie is scrumptious...it makes for a delightful taste to the palate and leaves a wonderful "farewell taste" in your mouth, as my Aunt Florence Sellers used to remark...

Tonja said...

I LOVE this book! I have read it several time just for the warm feeling I get from the reading about the near and dear. I recommend it to all.

windycorner said...

Looks like a good read-especially by the fire after the house gets quiet. And that pie is beautiful! What a perfect crust. yummy
Holley

Sugar Bear said...

Haven't read that Fannie Flagg book - must get a copy!
Karla

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Hey, Sandi! I've certainly eaten my share of pecan pie already this season! Love that stuff...chocolate & otherwise.

Merry christmas, girlfriend!
Rhoda

tut-tut said...

Bourbon and pecans--what can be wrong with that combination?

Unknown said...

The pie sounds so good and the book looks good also. You know I have not read any of those books and will have to take a good look at them the next time I am at the book store. Merry Christmas. BTW, I love your idea with the initials and the gift wrap. It's one of those things I think why didn't I think of something like that?

Sandy said...

I loved this book so much. And the town reminds me of Magnolia Springs, Alabama...even the picture on the cover looks like it!

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

Maryann- Sounds good to me too1
Stephanie- It is a yummy looking pie. Eye Candy!
Sandi- It must be the bourbon that leaves that farewell taste.
Tonja- I'm glad you've read it, it is such a sweet story.
Holley- Did you ever read my post on cheating on pie crusts? I'm ashamed to admit it.
Karla- It is a quiet weekend kind of a book- you'll love it.
Rhoda & TutTut- Chocolate, pecans, and bourbon... what could be wrong with that?
Joan- Thanks for stopping in... you caught up quickly!
RPM- Fannie lived in Magnolia Springs- and admits that it is the basis of the book. It is a lovely small southern town.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

That pie looks so good. Merry Christmas

Jan said...

That book is now on my short list of books to get! Can't wait to read it.
The pie looks scrumptuous!! LOVE pecan pie!

Jan

PAT said...

It sounds like a good book and the pie looks delish!!

Merry Christmas!
Pat

Cheryl said...

Kentucky bourbon pie? Now you are really speaking to me, delicious.

Simona Carini said...

This is so nice, Sandi. Your description of the novel is quite intriguing. And I like your description of Christmas time. Thank you!

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

Mary Isabella~ Merry Christmas to you too =d
Jan~ it is a great short read, for your short list.
Pat~ delish it is
Cheryl~ Is it the Kentucky Bourbon that is calling? or the pecans??
Simona~ I can't wait to see what y'all get.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I have read that book. Thanks for bringing it to my memory - I really enjoyed it.

Merry Christmas,
Robin

Lisa said...

Hi Sandi! The book sounds good, and the pie sounds dangerous. :) But what a way to go.

I loved hearing about the book and seeing the recipe for the pie. Thanks so much for taking part again. See you in the spring?!

Laurie Constantino said...

Bourbon in pecan pie - YUM! Haven't read this book, although I've read all Flagg's other ones - guess I'll have to go find Redbird Christmas. Merry Christmas!!

Pearl Maple said...

mmmmm this is sounding yummy

Happy Holidays to everyone at your place.

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