Serves: 7
Total Calories: 455

Crust:*
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1/2 cup chilled butter-flavored solid vegetable shortening, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons ice water
------------------------------
Filling:
1 cup light corn syrup
3 whole eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups piñon nuts, roasted**

Crust:
In a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and grated orange peel. Turning the food processor on and off, cut in the vegetable shortening until coarsely blended. Add enough ice water to form moist clumps. Mold the dough into a ball, then flatten it into a disk. Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour.

Bring the dough to room temperature and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a size that will cover the torte pan (about 12 inches). Press the dough into the pan with your fingers and trim the edges. Place the Crust in the freezer for 15 minutes. Pour in the Filling and bake.

*A frozen pie crust works well if you need to save time.

Filling:
Preheat the oven to 350°. Combine the corn syrup, eggs, sugar, melted butter, and vanilla in a medium-size bowl. Whisk until the mixture is well blended, then fold in the piñon nuts. Pour the Filling into the torte shell and bake for about one hour. Let it cool completely. Cut into wedges. Serve with vanilla ice cream with candied orange strips (available at most candy stores) and Spanish Coffee.

**To roast Piñon nuts, preheat the oven to 400°. Spread the nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for 7–12 minutes, or until they are a rich golden brown. The nuts burn easily, so keep an eye on them and shake the pan occasionally to avoid scorching.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 7
Total Calories: 455
Calories from Fat: 166

More Recipes from the Best of the Best From The Southwest Cookbook Cookbook:
Fresh Strawberry Pie
Praline Apple Pie
Skillet Apple Pie à la Mode
Dutch Peach Pie
Margarita Pie
Kay's Lime Pie
Pecan Pie
Buttermilk Pecan Pie
Las Cruces Pecan Pie
Chocolate-Piñon Pie
Blue Ribbon Cafe’s Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cream Pie
Cookie Pie
Soda Cracker Pie
Lemon Tarts
Mexican Pecan-Toffee Tartlets in Chocolate Chip Cookie Crust
Pistol Packin’ Mama Pecan Cups
Piñon Nut Torte
Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce
Cherry Pudding
Log Cabin Pudding
Ricotta Almond Flan
Strawberry Almond Crème
Jay’s Glory
Chocolate Velvet Mousse Cake
Mexican Kahlúa Soufflé
White Magic Mousse
Four-Layer Chocolate Dessert
Death by Chocolate
Floating Islands
The Jerome Grille’s Deep-Fried Ice Cream
Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Ruggles’ Chocolate Parfait
Tortilla Apple Strudel
Raspberry Pizza
Jeannine’s Fruit Pizza