No Bake Coconut Cream Pie - slightly tweaked!

Well it seems like it has been forever since my last post and pie but in reality it has just been a week.  I guess it is because I have been home on Christmas Break.  Before I start with the pie I want to share two things I bought myself.

First is a new rolling pin.  My other one was a cheap one from the dollar store which Jason shoved in the bottom drawer and got stuck.  I broke both the drawer and pin trying to get it loose.  So I bought myself a new marble pin.

My second gift is sort of a just for fun gift.  I bought myself an apron.  I have found when making pie crust flour gets everywhere especially on my clothes.  So I got the cutest apron ever.  I really love dachshunds!

And now on to the pie!  This recipe is from my Taste of Home Best-Loved Pies recipe book.  On page 49.  I did however tweak the recipe a bit. 

The first major change is the crust.  I am not a big fan of graham cracker crust so I put this pie in a regular flour shell made from my recipe which I posted in an earlieer post.  Second instead of getting vanilla pudding with coconut extract I just bought coconut cream pudding.  The cost was better for me and you still get the same flavor.

I mixed the pudding and milk then folded in the whipped topping, I used cool whip.

Then I put that mixture in the refrigerator to keep cold until the crust was cool enough.
Next I toasted the coconut for the top.  I found out the hard way you have to watch this very close or it will burn.

After the shell cooled I put the pudding mixture in and sprinkled the toasted coconut!  I can't wait to try it but that will have to wait until tonight!  I will post the results tomorrow.  Until then Happy New Years to everyone.  Be safe, be smart!

Next weeks pie will be "Cherry-Apple Lattice Pie"

Grandma's Banana Pudding - better than pie? Almost!

Ok so this week is Christmas!  I love Christmas, I love seeing my family and giving them gifts.  Jason has been known to get upset with me over the gift giving part.  He says I spend too much on everyone.  I can't help it I love giving people presents!  Don't get me wrong I love getting them too but I think I like giving much more.

This week I decided to do my Grandma's Banana Pudding instead of a pie.  I did make a pumpkin pie but I just used the recipe from the pumpkin can, which is very good.  I always loved going to my Grandma's during the holidays because of all the wonderful foods she would make.  Before she died I had her teach me how to make two things:  blackberry jelly and banana pudding.  I am sure there are other things she taught me to make but these are the two best.  So here is my grandma's banana pudding.

6 bananas
3 1/2 tbsp flour
1 1/3 c sugar
dash salt
3 large eggs seperated
3 c milk
1 tsp vanilla
vanilla wafers

Meringue
1/4 c sugar
2 tbsp sugar

I decided I was going to enlist the help of my 8 year old son, Lucas for this job so I had him slice the banana's.  He did a wonderful job and was very focused.

I cooked the pudding while he sliced.  Combine flour, sugar and salt in heavy sauce pan.  Beat egg yolks and add milk, stir.  Slowly add milk and eggs to flour mixture.  Cook over med. heat until smooth and thick stirring constantly.  I do mean stir constantly otherwise your pudding will stick and scortch. 

After Lucas sliced the bananas he put the vanilla wafers in the baking dishes.  I have to make a small batch for Jason because he does not like meringue.

Next put a layer of bananas then 1/3 of pudding.  Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used.  Please note I doubled my pudding recipe because I like a lot of the pudding over the bananas and cookies.

Since I am making this for Christmas dinner I will wait until tomorrow morning to make the meringue.  But here are the steps to make it.

Beat egg whites until foamy gradually add 1/4 c plus 2 tbsp sugar to eggs 1 tbsp at a time.  Beat until stiff peaks form.  Add 1 tsp vanilla and beat until blended.  Spread over custard sealing the edges of your baking dish bake at 425 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until meringue is golden brown.  Watch it closely.

I will post pics of the finished produce tomorrow morning.

I hope you enjoy the recipe, I am sure it will become a family favorite just like it is in my family.

Next week I will be making a Coconut Cream Pie!

Chocolate Silk Pie - the results

Ok so my rating of this pie is a 3.  I like the flavor of the filling and I like the homemade whipped topping.  I think I may have overbaked the crust before filling it.  The crust was a bit too "crackery" for me.  I will have to figure that part out for the next no bake pie. 

I was not able to be at work when my friends tried the pie but I did get some texts that said it was awesome and great. 

All in all I think it was a pretty good pie and I would make it again.

Don't forget next weeks pie is pumpkin and I will also be blogging about my grandma's banana pudding.

Chocolate Silk Pie

For this weeks pie I have made a Chocolate Silk Pie from my Taste of Home Best Loved Pies book, page 47. 

I remember when I was little and my mom and dad took us to my Grandpa Dixon's house he would always have a chocolate pie waiting for me.  This was always my favorite.  I am pretty sure he just filled a pie crust with chocolate pudding but it tasted wonderful to me. 

This pie was a little more work than the pie my grandpa made but I believe it is well worth it.

I think the worse part of making this pie was whipping the cream.  I used store bought for the Almond Cream pie but it went flat before we had the chance to eat it.  This time I used heavy whipping cream and whipped it myself. 

Jason does not care for chocolate pie so I am not sure if he will try it or not.  I might be able to convice him to at least taste it.  I will post results tomorrow after my friends from work try it. 

As usual if you would like the full recipe please email me.

With Christmas being next week I will be making a Pumpkin pie.  I am also going to be making my Grandma's banana pudding so I will be putting up an extra post on the blog.

Results of Cranberry Pear Crumb pie

Well the overall results of this pie were good.  Everyone liked it.  One said it was her favorite so far.  Another said she did not like pears but relly liked the pie.  Everyone also liked the crust on this pie better than the others. 

I will definately stick to the crust I know and trust.  And I will definately make this pie again.

Next weeks pie is Chocolate Silk pie.  Can't wait.

My Results

Well my results are in and so far with just my vote this is the best pie yet!  I love the flavors together.  The pears are soft and the cranberries are just tart enough.  The crust is also the best yet.  I am very happy with the taste of this pie.  I will of course let you all know what Jason and my friends have to say.

If you need a good pie for a family gathering you should really give this pie a try it is a great combination of flavors and will compliment any holiday dinner.

Pie Number 4 - Cranberry Pear Crisp Pie

So I had originally had picked the Out of this World pie for this week but I got some feedback from friends and they said they needed some fall type pies.  So I picked Cranberry Pear Crisp Pie.  This pie may not be one of my favorites because I do not really care for pears and I am not all that fond of cranberries, but I will try anything once.

The recipe is from my Taste of Home Best Loved Pies recipe book.  Shoot me an email if you would like the full recipe.

I also made my own crust for this pie.  I have been making one type of crust for years and Jason really likes it.  Last week I tried a Paula Deane recipe for my pie crust and Jason didn't really care for it so back to the original.

I used my slicer to slice the pears the same way I slice my apples for the apple pie and I really like the results.

After mixing all ingredients I put them into the unbaked crust and sprinkled on the topping.  The recipe says to cover the crust with foil.  I have to say I hate doing this because I can never get it to stay in place.  The pie is in the oven but I will be back later to post how it taste!

Next weeks pie will be a Chocolate Silk Pie.  This has always been a favorite of mine, also a good friend requested it!

Edit for Pie 4

I am changing the pie for number four.  Some of my friends tell me the pies I am choosing are more for summer time.  So pie number 4 will be a Cranberry Pear Crisp Pie.  Can't wait to try it and it is a more fall type pie!

Pie Number 3- Almond Cream

This weeks pie is an almond cream pie.  Jason picked it because his grandma used to make it for him when he was little.  There was no recipe except to make it like a coconut cream without the coconut.  I thought about this and if I omit the coconut it would just be a vanilla cream pie with almonds in it.  So I decided to try a recipe I found on the Internet.  I used a recipe for the crust from Ms. Paula Dean who I believe is one of the best chefs out there.

  If you would like the full recipe just email me and I will be glad to send it to you.

I think the hardest part is the filling for this pie.  I am not sure if it will set or not.  I cooked and stirred for long after the one minute in the recipe said too, I even added a bit more corn starch.  I have it in the refrigerator now cooling hoping it will set up.  I am going to use whipped cream on the top of this pie and I am going to sprinkle some almonds on top as well.  I will let you know how he likes it.

Pie number 4 is from my Taste of Home best-loved pies book.
Page 29, Out-Of-This-World Pie.