Charleston Pudding

2 cups peeled, cored, coarsely chopped sweet-tart apple (about 2 medium)
1 tablespoon apple brandy
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350º.

Combine apple and brandy, tossing well to coat.

Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.

Place sugar, vanilla, and eggs in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed for 3 minutes or until thick. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture. Gently fold in apple mixture and pecans. Spoon batter into an 8-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350º for 25 minutes or until top is puffed and deep golden brown. Serve warm, with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

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Ok, first off I need to apologize for the pictures in this post. I wound up with a slip of the knife and a big slice taken out of one of my picture taking fingers, so they are a bit worse than normal. But it was worth it! This is a fantastic dessert, well worth a little blood, especially since none got in the pudding (would that make it... blood pudding? Ha! I heard you groan. It's ok, I understand, it was a really, really bad "joke".). Now, where did this dish come from? My sister in law makes it, but I don't recall exactly where she got it from. It is an awesome fall dessert, wicked easy, warm, delicious, rich and yet light in fat. Lets just get right to it, shall we?

First things first, peel and chop the apples and toss them with the brandy. And maybe eat a few. I know I did. And toast and chop the pecans. I don't have any pics of that because, well, I forgot to toast them. It happens. But now I know that the toasting does make a difference, although it was still wicked good. Next you want to mix together the dry ingredients; the flour, baking powder and salt. Set that aside. Now mix together the eggs, vanilla and sugar. The recipe calls for an electric, but I just used a whisk. I'm a madman. Add the dry mixture, I did it half at a time, mixing gently but thoroughly after each addition. Now fold in the nuts and apples. Grab an 8x8 pan, spray it with cooking spray (or rub it with butter) and pour the batter on in. Bake it at 350 till golden and irresistible looking. Now spoon it up with some ice cream and enjoy.