Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

Just because I like you.  Happy Tuesday!

I have also made this cheesecake with chopped up Reese's cups decorating the top instead of peanut butter chips, and I prefer that version!

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Double Oreo Chocolate Cheesecake {Basic Chocolate Cheesecake}

If this picture doesn't make your tummy grumble, you're probably an alien.

Just sayin.


I honestly had problems writing this because I was so distracted by this staring me in the face. It really is as good as it looks.  Creamy & chocolatey.

This is my very favorite recipe for basic chocolate cheesecake as well- just omit the Oreos and you can adapt it any way you choose.  Some day I'm swirling caramel into this baby.

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Razzleberry Pie

Since I'm posting Thanksgiving recipes today,  here are my thoughts on Black Friday as well:


I don't really get why people go to movies over Thanksgiving weekend.


An even better idea is to grab some popcorn and stake out a spot at Walmart in view of the doorbusters.


Watching 100 adolescents and adults in a frenzy over the PS3 display?  Easily the most entertaining part of my Thanksgiving weekend.

And free.


I couldn't help laughing out loud.  Multiple times.  The people at my Walmart are pretty nice so I was in a happy mood, but if you get your nose broken by some Grandma's purse or your My Little Pony set for your kids is stolen by a shopper in drag, I can understand having differing feelings.


That's ok.

We can still bond over pie.


Specifically?


Razzleberry pie.


It knocks the socks off of Marie Callendar's Razzleberry (the most delicious pre-made pie ever), so that, my friends, is saying something.

This pie is easy and delicious.  It was a bit tart, so I may add more sugar next time but my husband and my mom thought it was perfectly tart.  Personal opinion I suppose.  It would definitely have been fabulous with a big scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

PLEASE make a homemade crust for this.  It really makes a difference!

I’m partying at the Pi Day Pie Party at Crazy for Crust today. Come party with us!

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Rustic Pie Crust {Flakiest pie crust ever}

This pie crust is SO flaky and crumbly and has a wonderful texture.  I do think it is more difficult to work with than my easy flaky pie crust, so if you are a beginner, you may want to try that one.

Once cooked, this crust has a beautiful rustic look to it.  It is perfect for fruit pies that use a double-crust.

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Banana Cream Pie

When my husband and I got married, I warned him I have big plans for family reunions when we are old and have grown up kids and grandchildren.  These plans involve family trivia games and lots of cream pies which will obviously be thrown in the face of anyone who gets a question wrong.

He thinks I am joking, which I don't really understand, because this is obviously a very serious plan.


Fun people like to get pies thrown in their faces.


Plus pie is delicious so a family reunion planned around pie has to be a slam dunk. 


Banana cream pie is one of my favorite cream pies.  I love it the first day it's made when the bananas are still fresh, and it's pretty good the day after as well.

So many banana cream pies are insanely sweet, so I cut down the sugar a bit in this recipe.  This is a really great pudding pie base, and coconut could be exchanged for the bananas (just mix 1 cup shredded coconut into the pudding) for a coconut version instead.

This pie MUST be refrigerated overnight before eating.  The banana flavor intensifies overnight.  If you eat it the day you make it, it will taste like a vanilla pudding pie with bananas mixed in.

We really can't have that, can we?

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Coconut Cream Pie

  
Thanksgiving for me is about the pie.

And having enough pie leftovers to eat for the next two days.

In the spirit of this conviction I have a whole bunch of pie recipes to share with you this week.  I made 5 new pies this Thanksgiving and only one of them was not blog-worthy. Save these recipes for next year.  It's always good to have great pie recipes in your arsenal.


This coconut cream pie is delicious.  Not overly sweetened and perfectly coconutty.  I found unsweetened coconut in the bulk section at Winco.  I have not had any luck finding it in the baking sections at regular grocery stores.  Mine was finely shredded (think very very finely shredded cheese), so if yours is long thick strands, you may want to put it in your food processor until you  have teensy shreds.  I personally don't care for long chunks of coconut in my pie.  Also I made this on a graham cracker crust but next time I'll use a regular pastry crust.  Personal preference only so use whichever you like.

I’m partying at the Pi Day Pie Party at Crazy for Crust today. Come party with us!

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Rolo Brownie Trifles

Today I walked in to my preschoolers room and he had miniature dinosaurs, shells, and rocks all lined up against his window frame.  I tried to move a couple of them to clean the window and he got all upset:

 "Mooom! They're lined up according to the period they lived in.  That one belongs in Cretaceous not Triassic."


Excuse me?


Do you know what I was doing at age 4?

Probably picking my nose or trying to figure out how to put my shoes on the right feet.  (Seriously... I struggled with that one.)

I love this child and I love that he uses his brain but suddenly I'm left wondering where his childhood has gone.  He is starting soccer this week and I'm biting my nails wondering how he is going to fit in with his team and whether he's going to freak out if they don't win, or pants somebody else's kid, or spend the whole game explaining the anatomy of the human body to the referee. 

It seems like life suddenly got so much more complicated.  Not only do I have to worry about him being kidnapped, run over, or maimed, now I have to worry about kids refusing to play with him, calling him a nerd, or informing him that he's NOT actually as good at soccer as he thinks he is (He has REALLY high self-esteem which doesn't seem to be based on any kind of external feedback).

When you're pregnant you think, "Gosh, I'm going to be so tired all the time and constantly feeding a baby and now we'll need to get a babysitter when we want to go to the movies." 

You don't think about that baby growing up and getting his feelings hurt or failing at something they love or being excluded or unhappy and being entirely unable to control any of it.


As a control freak, I think I just discovered a whole new level of anxiety.


Whydotheyhavetogrowupsofasssst?
     

Sometimes when I'm anxious I eat stuff from my Pinterest boards.  Like these trifles. I like them best assembled right before eating.  You can make all the parts in advance and store in the fridge, I just don't like the rolos after being in the fridge.. 

Pretty sure the chocolate bible says chocolate should always melt in your mouth.

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Chocolate-dipped Frozen Key Lime Pie on a Stick

Awhile ago when I shared my true feelings about key lime pie I mentioned the Key Lime Pie Factory where they dip frozen slices of key lime pie in chocolate.  Since then I've had these on the brain, and I decided I better make some at home since Key West is pretty much at the opposite end of the country.

It turns out I am not above buying single serve pie slices from Walmart's frozen section to save lots of time and energy.  They certainly aren't gourmet, but are surprisingly good.  And for 98 cents... a pretty good deal too.

If you want to use your own pie just cut it into slices, separate the slices, and freeze for about 6 hours or until frozen through.  (Placing them on a cookie sheet with an inch or two between each slice works well.)

These would be so cute for an end of the summer dinner party!  I'm thinking coconut cream would be delicious.

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Mini S'mores Ice Cream Pies

It wouldn't be summer without some version of S'mores would it?  We've had a really hot windy summer and lots of fires so we have been too paranoid to use our firepit much. This is a great solution AND it means you don't even have to sit by a hot fire.

Sweet summertime!!

Have a pie.

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Rainbow Sherbet Torte

When we built our house I said all I wanted was a huge kitchen island.  These days I'm thinking I should have asked for two dishwashers. There are only four of us but I swear our dishwasher is always full.

As is the sink.  And the two counters surrounding the sink.  Every time clean dishes come out of the dishwasher, it gets filled right back up with dirty ones.  And there are still dishes waiting to go in on the next round.

Don't tell me I bake too much.  This is not the problem.  It's the darn size of the dishwasher!!

I need to butter my hubby up sometime and mention the fact that I want two dishwashers in the next house.  Just to get him warmed up to the idea, you know.

(I am not the slightest bit joking about this.  If people can have two ovens I should be able to have two dishwashers.)

One good way to butter hubbys up is to give them ice cream torte.  I realize that this is actually a sherbet torte, and that sherbet is... um...  kinda girly.  But it's a good starting point for a two-dishwasher kind of conversation.

Also, it's bright and happy.  Just like my face will be when we build a house with two dishwashers.

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I always forget that rainbow sherbet is good.  I mean, I would never go to the ice cream store and order sherbet, but whenever I end up eating it I love it.  This is a fun torte to make for dinner guests in the summer and is easy to throw together.  I have actually made it two ways, both of which are delicious so I'm posting two (very similar) recipes.  The biggest difference is the crust- one uses coconut cookies and slivered almonds and makes a true crust.  The other uses macaroon crumbs, chopped pecans, and whipped cream and makes a thick creamy "frozen topping" type crust.  I have a hard time finding macaroons and usually don't want to make them (lazybutt) so I often make the first recipe, but if you have macaroons the second recipe is killer.

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Caramel Turtle Cheesecake

It's unfortunate that I forgot to take a picture of this cheesecake when I cut it.  The inside is really the impressive part.  Just imagine gooey caramel spilling out of the shortbread crust and little dots of pecans above that.  Pretend I photographed it.  Then make this. 

No  need for Cheesecake Factory really.

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Strawberry Cheesecake

Some days you just need a big fat slice of delicious strawberry cheesecake.

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Lemon Lush Pie

This pie and I have some history.  The first time I made it was the first time my dad came to dinner after my husband and I were married. I slathered whipped cream all over the top, popped it in the fridge, and turned around to grab something else.  My foot holding the door open, cause I multi-task like that.

Turned back to the fridge.

Say what.

Are those footprints in my pie?

Curses.

And bathtime for King Kong.

I still make this pie almost every year, either for Thanksgiving or Easter.  If it's good enough for a cat, it's good enough for me.

I’m partying at the Pi Day Pie Party at Crazy for Crust today. Come party with us!

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Julia's Pumpkin Pie (The best pumpkin pie!)

Vegetables and I are not friends.  When I was a kid I used to sit across the dinner table from my little brother.  I didn't get dessert unless I ate all my vegetables, so, naturally, I used to sneak them down to my lap and throw them under the table to land under his chair.  My parents thought he was a REALLY messy eater.  (Don't worry. He was kinda spoiled so he probably still got dessert anyways.)

I think the only vegetables I ever consumed as a child were in the form of pumpkin pie.  My favorite thing about Thanksgiving was that my mom ALWAYS let me have pumpkin pie for breakfast in the days that followed. I could have easily consumed a whole pie if she had let me. The thought of eating it warm or at room temperature completely grosses me out, but an ice cold slice of pie with whipped cream and milk? Mmhmm.  Best breakfast of the year.

This pie is based off of the Libby's label.  If you like that, you will love this.  If you don't like pumpkin pie at all you probably won't like this either.  We can still be friends.  I'd be happy to have your piece.  My mom has been making this recipe for years.  Doubling the spices really gives it great flavor!

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving this week. 

Safe Travels!

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Easy Flaky Pie Crust

You should know first of all that I have no luck with pastry. Particularly pie crust.  Mine rarely turn out pretty and almost always shrink (You'd think I'd just invest in some pie weights but apparently I'm too stubborn for that).  If you want to ask someone questions about pastry I am not your girl.  But ugly or not, sometimes I think it is worth making your own pie crust  just for flakiness and deliciousness factor.  And since it's almost Thanksgiving, I really thought I should give you my recipe for an easy flaky pie crust.  The secret ingredient is vinegar, and it makes a huge difference.

If you're a pie connoisseur, props to you.  I'd like to hire you for Thanksgiving next year.  I can pay you in cookies.  Or secret recipes.  Your choice.

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Malt Shoppe Ice Cream Pie

It makes me sad when I make something so delicious and the pictures turn our horrible.  Maybe you remember my disclaimer that I am NOT a photographer?  In case you needed proof I thought I'd post this picture.  Just take my word that this ice cream pie is so worth making and buying all the ingredients for.  (I don't know about you but I didn't have almost *any* of these ingredients in my pantry.)  Still glad I made it. There's something about malt that's just knock-your-socks-off. You're going to want to use a Springform pan for this.  (That's the kind where the sides unlatch and pop right off).  Play with your pan before you make this.  If you're a moron like me and haven't used your Springform for awhile, you might spend 10 minutes trying to figure out how it comes apart and almost dump the whole pie on the floor.  It could be bad news bears.

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Pie in a Jar

I KNOW right!? (Did you just start salivating? You're supposed to.) If you are not a pie fan, these will make you one. Seriously. By the way, these were so not my idea, so I feel okay bragging about how delicious they are.

Ever since I discovered these I have been borderline obsessed. I have made about 3 batches and given... ummmm not that many away.

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Oreo-Crusted White Chocolate Mousse Torte

I know this is a long recipe, but don't be intimidated. The recipe is pretty long-winded, but if you read between the lines, it's actually very easy to make. This is a killer dessert that presents very nicely as well. I know there's a lot of heavy cream in this recipe... But I promise- once or twice a year, it's SO WORTH IT! And this recipe is coming from someone who doesn't even like white chocolate. Enjoy!

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