Dark Chocolate Pecan Pie Bites

On the day after Thanksgiving, my little sister helped herself to the remaining pecan bites for breakfast, the sneak! Turns out she got to the tray left out in the dining room before I could put them away. They are divinely decadent, with the addition of that fabulous new product "Chocolatier" the deep dark chocolate from Nestle. This simple recipe comes from Eagle Brand, it's just taken to greater heights with drizzles of melted dark Chocolatier. I was originally going to make these into little tarts, but the lack of time was the determining factor and this one fit the Thanksgiving schedule perfectly. Make them up the day ahead, somehow they taste even richer. Ask my sister!

DARK CHOCOLATE PECAN BITES - adapted from Eagle Brand
makes 32 - 36 small bars

2 cups unbleached all purpose flour, try the new "Harvest King" from Gold Medal
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
1 can 14 oz. size Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
3 large eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, no bottled stuff
tiny pinch of Kosher salt
1/4 cup "Chocolatier" morsels, or your favorite chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl combine the flour & sugar. Cut in the butter till crumbly. Press down mixture into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan with a measuring cup or flat-bottomed drinking glass. Bake crust for only 10 to 15 minutes to set. In a small bowl combine the pecans, Eagle Brand, eggs, lemon juice, salt. Pour directly onto hot crust and then bake 25 minutes or until filling is set. Cool in pan. Melt chocolate in microwave oven at 10 second intervals, stirring until smooth. Drizzle on melted chocolate, let cool slightly to set, then cut into bite size bars. A pizza cutter works nicely. Serve in little paper cups or decorate a tray. Store covered with plastic wrap at room temperature. And that is assuming you have any leftover.