Sweet Potato Pie

Ingredients

Filling:

• 3 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds)
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• Pinch ground cloves

Dough:

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/4 cup non-hydrogenated shortening
• 8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, diced (1 stick)
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon cider or white wine vinegar

Topping:

• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon whiskey, rye or bourbon
• Candied Pecans, homemade or store bought, recipe follows

Directions

Special equipment: 9-inch pie plate, glass preferred

Filling: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Put the sweet potatoes on a small roasting pan and bake until easily pierced with a fork, about 40 minutes.

Meanwhile make the dough: Pulse the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor with the metal blade until combined. Add the shortening and pulse about 10 times. Add the butter and continue to pulse until it resembles cornmeal mixed with bean-size bits of butter. Beat the egg yolk and vinegar together, add and pulse 3 to 4 times, but don't let the dough form a ball in the machine. Remove the blade, and gather the dough together by hand. If dough does not come together, sprinkle up to 1 tablespoon of ice cold water over the dough and bring together. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and shape into disk. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 2 days. (To make the dough by hand, see below.)

Peel the cooked sweet potatoes and mash lightly with a fork; you should have about 2 cups puree. Mix the sweet potatoes and butter in the food processor until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse to combine. Set aside.

Lightly dust the counter with flour. Roll the dough into an 11 to 12-inch circle and transfer to the pie pan. Trim the dough so that the edges hang about 1/2 inch over the pan; fold edges under and flute as desired. (See how to). Pierce the crust all over with a fork, and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes or up to a day.

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven of the 425 degree F oven. Line the crust with foil or parchment paper and pie weights or dried beans and place on a baking sheet. Bake until the crust sets and begins to brown around edges, about 25 minutes. Lift foil and weights out of crust, lower oven temperature to 375 degrees F. and continue to bake until crust begins to brown on the bottom, about 10 to 12 minutes more. Pour filling into the warm crust and bake until set, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on rack

When ready to serve, whip the cream with the whiskey until it holds soft peaks. Top pie with whipped cream and candied pecans. Serve.

Busy Bakers tips:

Crust can be made, rolled, and transferred to the pan, then tightly wrapped and frozen for up to a month. Candied pecans can be made and stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Copyright 2007 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved

To make dough by hand: Whisk the flour, sugar, and salt together in a medium bowl. Rub the shortening completely into the dry ingredients with your fingers. Then rub the cold butter into the mixture until it resembles cornmeal mixed with pea-size bits of butter. (If the mixture starts to get warm and sticky, refrigerate it to chill.) Beat the egg yolk and vinegar together and then drizzle it evenly over the dough. Lightly stir the dough together with a fork or by hand. The dough should just hold together when you squeeze it, with some dry crumbly bits around the ball. If the dough is dry, sprinkle up to a tablespoon of cold water over the mixture.

• Candied Pecans
• 1 large egg white
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup pecan pieces

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly beat the egg white until frothy. Whisk in the sugar and cinnamon, and then toss pecans in the mixture. Evenly spread nuts on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until dry and toasted, about 10 to 15 minutes. Cool.

Yield: about 1 cup