Salted Maple Pecan Pie Bars from Pinch of Yum

 

I love the combo of savory and sweet and I’ve always loved Pecan Pie.  So, when I saw these Salted Maple Pecan Pie Bars from Pinch of Yum on Pinterest, I saved it immediately and knew I would make them in the near future.

I don’t really remember how I stumbled upon Pinch of Yum.  It was probably through Pinterest or some internet search for a specific recipe.  In any event, it was happy happenstance or serendipity and I’ve been subscribing to their blog through an RSS feed ever since.  I think what’s attracted me to Lindsay’s blog is probably what attracts everyone else:  their trifecta marketing strategy of great recipes with great photos and husband, Bjork’s, monthly “Income Reports.”

Then there’s the added bonus of “their story” that captures your heart and keeps you coming back.  That’s why I have chosen them as the second installment in the “Your Story Matters” category of our blog (see the 1st installment about the lovely Vanessa from Australia here).

 

Because their story does matter.   And while I’m also including Lindsay’s recipe (well, not really; I’m providing you with a link to their site to get the recipe directly from her!), the underlining “back story” is more important.

I don’t know Lindsay and Bjork personally and have never met them.  And yet, I FEEL like I know them.  That’s what blogging is all about and why blogging has exploded as a platform of social communication.  It’s because over time, you get to know the person or people behind the blog and if you like them, you keep coming back.  Lindsay and Bjork have captured my heart and attention, so I keep coming back.

This past June, they moved from Minneapolis to the Philippines to work in an orphanage in Cebu City.  Lindsay has 3 siblings that were adopted from this orphanage, so her emotional attachment to this “calling” is strong.  She doesn’t overwhelm the reader with heart-wrenching stories of the plight of these children or editorialize her mission or plead for donations to the orphanage.  What she does do is provide pictures and those pictures do justice to the journey they are experiencing and rope us in.  If a picture is worth a thousand words, then her photos of the innocent orphans combined with her photos of the extreme poverty surrounding the city do just that – provide a pictorial experience that cause a thousand words to run through you all a once, demanding that you take notice.

As complicated as our blog is with all its various categories (62 – yes, an insane amount categories!  I like to call it enthusiasm – we [Tiffany and I] are enthusiastic about what we are doing and keep coming up with new ideas),  Lindsay’s and Bjork’s site is simple.  It has no “home” page, but rather 5 menu tabs for “Recipes”, “About”, “Resources”, “Income” and “Contact”.  That’s it – easy peasy.  If you search hard enough, you will find a “drop down” box called “Recipes and Posts Categories” and that’s where you’ll find the stories that tug at your heart – under “Living Abroad”.  I encourage you to explore their site.  You won’t be disappointed.

Here’s a link to WHY they went.

This one’s endearing about their initial adjustment to their new way of LIFE.

Anyway, I won’t spoil the fun for you, but check out their site.

If Christmas for you is more about the reason for the season instead of “stuff”, consider donating money to a charity.  The orphanage, Children’s Shelter of Cebu, were Lindsay and Bjork work is a worthy charity and worth a look.

Here’s how I reinterpreted Lindsay’s Salted Maple Pecan Pie Bars recipe:

 

 

1. Grease a 9″ x 13″ baking dish.  I used my Misto.
2. Cream together brown sugar and butter.
3. Add flour and continue beating until combined.
4. Dough will be thick.  Scrap down beaters and sides of bowl.
5. Turn dough out into greased 9″ x 13″ baking pan and press into place.
6. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in a preheated 375 degree oven.

 

 

1. While crust is baking, crack 2 eggs into a clean, separate mixing bowl.
2. Add brown sugar, corn syrup, maple syrup and vanilla.
3. Combine ingredients with a whisk, mixing well.
4. Add pecans.
5. Stir to combine.
6. Pour pecan filling over crust, pushing wayward pecan pieces into place.  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes (check at the 15 minute marker; everyone’s oven is different!).

 

 

Finished Salted Maple Pecan Pie Bars.  Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.

 

 

Cut Salted Maple Pecan Pie Bars into 24 pieces.

 

 

Salted Maple Pecan Pie Bars – so good I ate them for breakfast with a cup of coffee – YUM!

 

 

As I’m editing my pictures for this post to make them more “Pinterest-ing”, Charlie wheels back to my office (he’s handicapped and uses a scooter full-time).  He says to me, “Can I put in my two-cents worth?”

“Sure,”  {I’m holding my breath in trepidation; some of my recent creations and re-creations have not been successful!}

“These are GREAT!”  he says with sincere enthusiasm (success!  No hidden meaning there!).

 

Here’s the ingredient list to her crust recipe:

• 1 cup of butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 cups flour (plus a few more tablespoons if necessary)

Here’s the Ingredient list to her filling recipe:

• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup corn syrup
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups of pecans

For the instructions on how to make this yummy cookie bar and a printable recipe, click here (you will be redirected to Lindsay’s and Bjork’s site, Pinch of Yum).  Enjoy!

Tootles,