If there are any of you who share my aversion to combination of pecans and sweet, gooey filling, here's recipe. It comes straight from Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook. My copy is Tenth Edition.

By way - it's not that I don't like pecans, but for me it's a texture issue. I can eat nuts by bushel as long as you don't throw them into something that doesn't require chewing!

Coconut-Oatmeal Pie:

3 eggs 1 cup corn syrup 2/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup margarine or butter, melted 1 tsp vanilla 3/4 cup coconut 1/2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats

For filling, in a mixing bowl beat eggs lightly with a rotary beater or a fork till combined. Stir in corn syrup, sugar, margarine or butter, and vanilla. Stir well. Stir in coconut and oats.

Place a pastry-lined 9-inch pie plate on oven rack. Pour filling into pastry-lined pie plate. Cover edge of pie with foil. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.

Remove foil; bake for 20 to 25 minutes more or till a knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool pie on a wire rack. Cover and chill to store. Makes 8 servings.

I might mention that if you actually like pecans or other nuts on your pie here are a couple of other variations.

Maple Pecan Pie: Prepare as above, except substitute maple syrup or maple-flavored syrup for corn syrup.

Peanut Pie: Prepare as above, except substitute coarsely chopped peanuts, macadamia nuts, or cashews for pecans.

Pecan Pie: Prepare as above, except substitute pecan halves. Believe it or not, they do rise to top of pie!

Plan to make more than one batch because you'll want to eat first one! Great for Christmas or birthday gifts. I gave this as a Christmas gift to my co-workers one year and next year they started hinting for it again in September.

Once completely cooled, break up chunks, put it in a plastic holiday bag and tie with a festive ribbon. If you eat a lot of ice cream containers with lids make a great receptacle for packing caramel corn. Save your ice cream containers throughout year, wash them out, line with plastic wrap and stick a bow on top. Include recipe and directions unless you want to tell them it's an old family secret, but let me warn you that if you don't share recipe, they will come back next year begging for more.