Walnuts offer a twist on pecans; the chocolate chips add over-the-top richness.
9-inch unbaked pie shell
½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
½ cup soft butter
¾ cup granulated sugar
3 eggs
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup maple or corn syrup
½cup half and half
1 cup walnut meats, chopped, plus some for decoration
⅓ cup chocolate chips
½ teaspoon vanilla
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line pie pan with pastry.
2. In top of double-boiler, cream together brown sugar and butter, stir in granulated sugar, eggs, salt, syrup and half and half.
3. Cook over hot, but not boiling, water for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir in nuts, chocolate if desired, and vanilla. Pour into lined pie shell; bake for approximately an hour and 5 minutes. Cool and serve plain or with whipped cream.
(Recipe by Jill Cockrell, from the Contra Costa Times)