Scarlett's Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie

When I got to be about 11 years old I found a new fascination/obsession in life. "Gone with the Wind". I read it, I watched it, I had a movie poster, I did book reports, I was all things GWTW. I wanted to be Scarlett O' Hara, and oh baby did I want to marry a Rhett Butler. I ended up being more of a Melanie than a Scarlett, but I did marry me a Rhett Butler.

Every year at Thanksgiving I watch "Gone with the Wind", I always have a bourbon and ginger with my daddy, and my absolute favorite is Georgia Pecan Pie. I could not think of a better way to bring all of them together than to perfect this Bourbon Pecan Pie... and to make it extra sweet for my honey, I had to add a little chocolate. I mean hey, when it's that darn decadent, why not go ahead and shoot it over the top.

I hope you enjoy it, as much as I have enjoyed working on it, and stay tuned because "After all, tomorrow is another day".

1 (9 inch) pie shell
1 cup white sugar
1 cup light vanilla corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
4 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup bourbon – please don’t be cheap… if you wouldn’t drink it don’t put it in your pie!I recommend ... Makers Mark.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees F). In a small saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup, and butter or margarine. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until butter or margarine melts and sugar dissolves. Cool slightly. In a large bowl combine eggs, bourbon, vanilla, and salt. Mix well. Slowly pour sugar mixture into egg mixture, whisking constantly. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans. Pour mixture into pie shell. Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until set and golden. Let the pie rest for about 30 minutes to an hour before slicing.

Recommended Accompaniments: I would say that the only thing that would do this justice is a piping hot cup of coffee, light on the sugar, heavy on the cream, and a little splash of the bourbon would not be unheard of. Sip it, and just sit back and enjoy the pure indulgence of it all for a few minutes.