You know the father character in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding that believes that Windex cane cure anything? I find it so funny that almost every paternal figure identifies with a cure-all. For my grandfather it’s Noxzema. We practically bathed in the stuff as kids. He claimed it would cure any wound, burn or bug bite – not to mention blemish! I’m not sure it worked but I have very few scares from my days spent in his home on the Withlachochee River.  This Thanksgiving my Dad may have found his cure-all in edible format – golden syrup. The man would not stop talking about it! He recently saw a television show hosted by Alton Brown about golden syrup and, thank god, found a jar at the Harris Teeter or I’m not sure what we would have done!

Golden syrup is basically a sweetener like corn syrup but made from cane sugar. It’s a great replacement for honey  – although I’m not sure why anyone would want to substitute honey. The best way to describe the flavor difference is by tasting an American Coca-Cola and a Mexican Coca-Cola – you’ll be able to tell that the Mexican variety tastes so much better and natural with cane sugar. Try it, or the golden syrup, it does make a difference.

We tested the Golden Syrup in a recipe for a Chocolate Pecan Pie. I adjusted the recipe to use dark chocolate, golden syrup and sea salt. It’s basically a flourless brownie in a pie shell and that is nothing to complain about.  Try it, use the golden syrup and maybe you’ll be cured of something (?) that ails you?

Salted Dark Chocolate and Pecan Pie 

• 1 pie crust – either homemade or store-bought
• 1 and 1/2 cups pecans, toasted
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 6 ounces dark chocolate
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup golden syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• sea salt

Bake your pie shell in advance. Heat the oven to 375. Melt butter and chocolate together. Add brown sugar, golden syrup and vanilla. Stir to combine and then add toasted pecans. Pour into the pie shell and bake for about an hour or until set. Once set, remove from the oven and sprinkle with sea salt.