Sunday, July 13, 2025

Pecan Pie Brownies

Chewy fudgy brownie on the bottom with pecan pie filling on top, these pecan pie brownies start with store-brought brownie mix. They disappear in a flash and are super easy to bake!

Food Lust People Love: Chewy fudgy brownie on the bottom with pecan pie filling on top, these pecan pie brownies start with store-brought brownie mix. They disappear in a flash and are super easy to bake!

A couple of years ago my mom was living with us on hospice care and I wanted invite her sister and nephews and their families over for Sunday lunch, to have a little time chatting and laughing together while Mom could still appreciate it. 

The main part of the menu was simple to decide. We are a Cajun family so I made an immense pot of gumbo and a potato salad. Two of Mom’s favorites. Our beverage was something my maternal grandmother often served, pink lemonade with crushed pineapple, a great childhood memory for me and my cousins. 

I am usually all about baking things from scratch but time was precious so I started thinking about ways to fancy up a brownie mix. Back to my Cajun roots again, I had the brilliant, and I thought novel idea, to top it with pecan pie filling. Like many of my “original” ideas, a quick Google search found 11,900,000 results (0.24s) for that very thing. 

So these may not be the first pecan pie brownies you’ve ever seen, but I promise they are delicious. 

Pecan Pie Brownies

The ingredient list below calls for one boxed brownie mix along with the other ingredients listed on the box. I use the 16.3 oz Betty Crocker fudge mix so I’ve listed the other ingredients as well. Your box mix may call for something different. Please read the box and mix as instructed.

Ingredients
For the brownie base:
1 9×9 size boxed brownie mix (Betty Crocker fudge mix, see note above.)
1/2 cup or 120ml canola or other light oil
2 eggs
2 tablespoons water

For the pecan pie topping:
1/2 cup or 113g butter, melted and cooled
1/2 cup or 120ml corn syrup
1 cup or 200g brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
2 1/2 cups, chopped, or 175g pecans

Method
Preheat the oven to 350°F or 180°C. Line a 9X9 inch baking pan with parchment paper. 

Prepare the brownie mix as directed on the box. 


Stir by hand, just until mixed. Pour the batter into your prepared baking pan.


Bake the brownies for half of the recommended baking time plus 5 additional minutes to begin. 

While the brownies are baking, prepare the pecan pie topping. In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, corn syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt. 


Then whisk in the eggs. 


After eggs are mixed in thoroughly, stir in the chopped pecans. 


When the `brownies are done with their baking time of “half the recommended, plus five minutes” pull them out. If they still look wet and completely uncooked, return them to the oven for 3-5 minutes, then check again. While they won’t be fully cooked, the top should be starting to set up. I baked mine for 25 minutes. The top was just looking set and shiny at 23 so I left it in another two minutes to make sure. 


Pour the pecan pie topping evenly over the brownies.


Place the brownies, with pecan pie topping, back into the oven and continue baking for an additional 30-35 minutes. The top should be set before you remove the pan from the oven. If it still jiggles, leave it in for another few minutes.

Allow brownies to cool completely on a cooling rack. Cool for at least 1 hour before slicing. Or if you are in a hurry, you can chill in the refrigerator first. 

Food Lust People Love: Chewy fudgy brownie on the bottom with pecan pie filling on top, these pecan pie brownies start with store-brought brownie mix. They disappear in a flash and are super easy to bake!

These pecan pie brownies are very sweet and rich! Cut them into small pieces to serve. 

Food Lust People Love: Chewy fudgy brownie on the bottom with pecan pie filling on top, these pecan pie brownies start with store-brought brownie mix. They disappear in a flash and are super easy to bake!

Enjoy!

It’s Sunday FunDay and today we are sharing recipes with my favorite nut, the pecan, in honor of National Pecan Pie Day yesterday. Many thanks to our host, Amy of Amy's Cooking Adventures. Check out the links below.

 
We are a group of food bloggers who believe that Sunday should be a family fun day, so every Sunday we share recipes that will help you to enjoy your day. If you're a blogger interested in joining us, just visit our Facebook group and request to join.




Pin these Pecan Pie Brownies! 

Food Lust People Love: Chewy fudgy brownie on the bottom with pecan pie filling on top, these pecan pie brownies start with store-brought brownie mix. They disappear in a flash and are super easy to bake!

 .

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Steamed Cranberry Pecan Honey Bread #BreadBakers

A slightly sweet tender loaf, this steamed cranberry pecan honey bread is wonderful sliced, even better toasted, buttered or not. We loved it all the ways! 

Food Lust People Love: A slightly sweet tender loaf, this steamed cranberry pecan honey bread is wonderful sliced, even better toasted, buttered or not. We loved it all the ways!

When this month’s Bread Baker’s host proposed “steamed breads” as our theme for July, I thought, excellent! No turning the oven on when it’s roasting outside. 
Gently steaming something on the stovetop sounded ideal.

A lot of the recipes I found online were either Asian in origin, or called for steaming in a coffee can. It just so happens that I have a couple of coffee cans saved for exactly such an occasion. Just not where I currently am! And rare is the coffee that comes in a can these days. 

Time to adapt. You can steam this in a well-oiled 1 lb coffee can or use a small loaf pan like I have. Mine is 8 1/2 X 4 1/4 in or 21.6 x 10.8cm. 

Steamed Cranberry Pecan Honey Bread

You can easily switch out the cranberries and pecans for other dried fruits and nuts. This very versatile recipe is adapted from one on Mother Earth News

Ingredients
2/3 cup or 95g fine yellow cornmeal
2/3 cup or 83g all-purpose flour
1/3 cup or 40g whole wheat flour
1/3 cup or 25g bran flakes, slightly crushed
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 egg
3/4 cup or 180ml milk
1/3 cup or 80ml honey
1/3 cup or 55g dried cranberries, plus extra for topping, if desired
1/3 cup or 40g chopped pecans, plus extra for topping, if desired

Canola or other light oil for greasing the loaf pan

Method
Combine the cornmeal, the flours, the bran flakes, salt, cinnamon, and baking powder in a large bowl. 


Give the cranberries and pecans a quick splash of water and stir them well to dampen. 


Toss them in the dry mixture to coat. This should help them not all sink to the bottom as the loaf steams. 


In another mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, milk and honey. Keep whisking until the honey is completely dissolved. 


Fold the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until well combined.


Pour the batter into a well-greased loaf pan. Top with extra cranberries and pecans, if using. 


Then cover the pan with foil, set it on a steamer basket or metal cookie cutters inside a large pot with just enough water in the pot to submerge the bottom the pan.


Bring the water to a boil. 

Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for two hours. Check the pot now and then to make sure that all the water isn’t boiling away. Add a little hot tap water as needed.

At the end of the steaming period, remove the pan from the pot and carefully remove the foil. 


When it’s cool enough to handle–run a knife around the inside and turn the loaf out gently onto a wire rack to cool. 


When completely cool, slice to serve.

Food Lust People Love: A slightly sweet tender loaf, this steamed cranberry pecan honey bread is wonderful sliced, even better toasted, buttered or not. We loved it all the ways!

The sliced bread is delicious spread with cream cheese, butter or just plain!

Food Lust People Love: A slightly sweet tender loaf, this steamed cranberry pecan honey bread is wonderful sliced, even better toasted, buttered or not. We loved it all the ways!

Enjoy! 

It’s the second Tuesday of the month – kind of snuck up on me this month since July 1st was a Tuesday! – and that means it’s time for our Bread Bakers group to share their recipes for steamed breads. Many thanks to our host, Sneha of Sneha’s Recipe. Check out the links below 

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page. We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.



Pin this Steamed Cranberry Pecan Honey Bread! 

Food Lust People Love: A slightly sweet tender loaf, this steamed cranberry pecan honey bread is wonderful sliced, even better toasted, buttered or not. We loved it all the ways!

.

Sunday, July 6, 2025

Creamy Corn and Ham Chowder

Made with the leftover end of baked ham and baby new potatoes, this creamy corn and ham chowder is rich and flavorful, a real bowl of tasty comfort.

Food Lust People Love: Made with the leftover end of baked ham and baby new potatoes, this creamy corn and ham chowder is rich and flavorful, a real bowl of tasty comfort.

It’s summer in the English Channel but that doesn’t always mean hot days. Island weather is extremely variable, often windy and rainy, a combination that feels chilly, even if the temperature is in the 70s F or the early 20s C. 

We had one such day last week where this chowder was the perfect meal to warm us from the inside! I had some frozen corn in the freezer that was starting to look a little dried out, so cooking something soupy was a great idea.

I used the trick I employ for frozen peas, measuring the amount I need in a heat proof measuring cup, then pouring boiling water over the frozen vegetables. Drain then repeat. It perks up most wonderfully; the colors become vibrant again, ready for any recipe calling for peas or corn. 

Creamy Corn and Ham Chowder

I bought the chunk of ham from the deli counter as a discounted remnant. If your nearby deli doesn’t have something similar for sale, substitute whatever quality ham you can source. This recipe was adapted from one on Spend with Pennies.

Ingredients 
2 cups or 275g frozen corn kernels
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion
3 cloves garlic
1 lb or 450g new potatoes
12 oz or 340g ham, small cubed
2 cups or 480ml chicken broth
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups or 360ml milk
Fine sea salt and more freshly ground black pepper to taste

Optional for serving:
Sliced green onion tops
Hot sauce

Method
Measure out the corn and pour boiling water over it to cover. 


Drain and repeat. This helps rehydrate the frozen corn. If your corn is looking firm and fresh, you can skip this step. Drain again and set the corn aside. 

Peel and chop the onion and peel and mince the garlic.


Add the butter, onion and garlic to a pot over medium high heat. Cook, covered, stirring frequently until the onion is translucent. 


Cut the ham into small cubes. 


Scrub the potatoes clean and cut them into bigger cubes.


When the onion is translucent, add in the potatoes, ham and chicken broth. Give the whole thing a few generous grinds of black pepper. 


Bring the broth to a low boil, reduce heat and leave it to simmer for about 15-20 minutes.

Add the corn. Simmer an additional 20 minutes or until potatoes are cooked through and a few pieces are beginning to break down. 


In a measuring cup or mixing bowl, add just a little milk to the flour and whisk till you have a thick paste with no lumps. 


Add a little more milk and whisk again. Finally add in the rest of the milk and whisk to combine.


Add the milk mixture slowly to the chowder, stirring well. Bring to a low boil. Boil for a few minutes or until slightly thickened. 


Taste the chowder and add salt and black pepper as needed. Depending on the saltiness of your ham, you might not need salt at all. 


Serve hot with a sprinkling of chopped green onion tops and a little hot sauce, if desired. 

Food Lust People Love: Made with the leftover end of baked ham and baby new potatoes, this creamy corn and ham chowder is rich and flavorful, a real bowl of tasty comfort.

Enjoy! 

It’s Sunday FunDay and today we are celebrating National Corn Month by sharing recipes with corn. Many thanks to our host, Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm. Check out the link list below. 

 
We are a group of food bloggers who believe that Sunday should be a family fun day, so every Sunday we share recipes that will help you to enjoy your day. If you're a blogger interested in joining us, just visit our Facebook group and request to join.




Pin this Creamy Corn and Ham Chowder!

Food Lust People Love: Made with the leftover end of baked ham and baby new potatoes, this creamy corn and ham chowder is rich and flavorful, a real bowl of tasty comfort.

 .