Star Studded Blueberry Pie - with Snowflakes!

So this weeks pie is again from my Taste of Home Best-Loved Pies, page 31.  This is the Star Studded Blueberry Pie, but I do not have a star cookie cutter so I used my snowflake cookie cutter.  I am hoping the snowflakes will entice Mother Nature to bring us some snow!  I wan't a snow day!!!

Again if you would like the full recipe please email me.

This pie was pretty simple to make, I did use frozen blueberries because I did not find any in the produce isle that looked good to me.  This is my pie crust recipe from before.  The only thing I am unsure of is why the tapioca shows in mine but not in the picture in the book.  Well I will let the pie cool, have a sample and then let you all know how it tastes.

By the way the tart from last week was a huge success.  Everyone loved it!  Next weeks pie is

Decadent Peanut Butter Pie - from Allrepipes.com

Caramel Peanut Fantasy

Let me start by saying this is a dentist worst nightmare!  This "tart" is so full of sugar and caramel it could pull out a crown!  But on the other hand it is a wonderful endulgence!

Probably the hargest part of the tart was the crust becuase I had to crush all those vanilla wafers.  I also did not really enjoy unwrapping the caramels and snickers, but I must admit the end result is definately worth it.












The recipe is from my Taste of Home Best-Loved Pies page 89.  If you would like the full recipe please email me.  I did follow this recipe except instead of using a springform pan I used a tart pan.  I think the springform pan would have worked better for getting the pie out but the tart pan did the job. 

Here is a side view after I got it out of the pan.  You can see all the caramel goodness just waiting to be devoured.  I will take this tart to work tomorrow to see how my friends like it.  I am having a sample of it right now and it is very good, but very filling.  Small slivers are just right!

Next weeks pie is "Star Studded Blueberry Pie" 

Strawberry Custard Pie

Todays pie is a Strawberry Custard Pie from my Taste of Home Best-Loved Pies page 44, with slight modifications :)   On the right you see the full ingredient list if you want the entire recipe please email me.  I will also be listing the modified recipe.  I decided 6 pies would be way to many for me (even though my friends said they could take a whole one each).  Here is the modified ingredient list which makes two pies.

1 1/2 cup sugar
1/4 c cornstarch
1 1/2 cup water
1 box strawberry jello
2 box instant vanilla pudding
1 1/2 pounds strawberries cut in half
1/3 tbsp lemon juice
2 keebler shortbread pie crust

With this recipe it says to use a regular pie crust but I thought it would be really good with the shortbread crust so I am going to use it.

Here is what I did!

mix sugar and cornstarch then add water slowly.  Bring to boil and boil until it is thick.  Then add strawberry jello and lemon juice.  Stir and let cool to room temperature.  I am pretty sure if you wanted to use the strawberry glaze from the produce isle in your grocery store it would taste the same.

Next mix the pudding according to the package directions.  Pour the pudding into the crusts, set strawberries on top of pudding then laddle glaze over top.  This made two pies but I think I could have stretched it out to make three since the crusts were smaller than my homemade crust.  I am going to top it with whipped topping before I eat it!

Next week I am going to try my hand at making a Tart type pie instead of a regular pie.  So I will be making the Caramel Peanut Fantasy Tart.  It has all my favorites, caramel, chocolate and snickers!

Coconut Pistachio Pie

I am a day later than normal because I realized there was no school today.  I decided to wait an extra day so my pie would still be good for my friends at work.  This weeks pie was my choice.  Coconut Pistachio Pie!  This pie is from my Taste of HOme Best Loved Pies, page 40.  After seeing what the crust was made out of Jason has decided not to give this pie a try,  he does not like coconut.  I on the other hand love coconut!

This was by far the easiest pie I have made to date.  The crust is made from lightly toasted coconut.  The toasting was probably the hardest part because I really had to watch it under the broiler.  I am sure there is an easier way of toasting coconut and if anyone has suggestions please let me know.

After the crust cooled I put in the top layer of pudding, mixed the rest with the cool whip and topped it off with that.  I can't wait to see the colors when I cut into it.  I will let you know the results tomorrow.

The weather here is very strange for this time of year - 65 degrees today!  So I am in the mood for something a little more spring like.  I know just because it is spring weather does not mean it is spring, but still!  Next weeks pie is a Strawberry Custard Pie.  Can't wait!  This recipe makes 6 so I am going to try to cut it down.  We'll see what happens!

Cherry Apple Lattice Pie

Please email me if you would like the full recipe.  This recipe is from my Taste of Home Best-Loved Pies, page 17.

What a beautiful morning to bake a pie!  This pie was Jason's pick.  He just loves apple pie but I told him I already made that one so he picked one with apples in it.  I am excited to give this pie a try too.  I peeled, cored and sliced my apples the same way I did for the apple pie for this recipe, again I just think they bake up nicely when done this way.

I mixed all the ingredients together then went about making the crust.  This is a double crust pie which I think is so much harder to make than a single crust.  I never feel I can get the top crust to come out just right.  Today after I rolled out the bottom crust and put the filling in I started to roll out the top crust and it just would not roll out.  So instead of fighting with it I threw it out and started over.  The second time worked much better.  I love doing the lattice top because I think it is so pretty.  I am not very good at making it look like the pictures but it tastes the same anyway!

After putting the strips on, which I cut with my pizza cutter, I sprinkled the topping on (in the recipe). 

The recipe says to cover edges with foil for 15 minutes.  I don't know if you have ever tried this before, but I hate doing it.  It never fails when I open the oven door the heat causes the foil to fly off, so I found a silicone cover at a kitchen store and decided to give it a try.  I love it!  It fit right over the top and even has cut outs for the pie plates handles.  After 15 minutes I turned the heat down and removed the cover and it was perfect.


I am not sure how this pie will taste but it smells just heavenly!  I will post results tomorrow!

Next week I am going to make - Coconut Pistachio Pie!  I remember my grandpa always made something with pistachio pudding and I am hoping this will remind me of him.  I know Jason and Lucas won't try it so we will have to see what my friends say about it.

Coconut Cream Pie - the Results

First I must apologize, I did not get a picture of a slice of the coconut cream pie.  We were so busy talking, playing cards and having a good time I completely forgot.  But I will tell you everyone who tried it said it was great.  My mom and I actually had two pieces of the pie.  My step-dad also loved it which says a lot because he usually does not eat my desserts.  He liked it so much I had to wrap up the leftovers for him to take home.

I am very glad I went with the regular pie crust over the graham cracker crust.  I also need to note my step-dad usually does not like my homemade crust but he said this one was perfect.

Over all this was a huge success.  I think it was my favorite so far.  I will definately make this pie again!

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"