graham cracker crumbs

No-Bake Eggnog Pudding Pie

December 26, 2014

I love a good challenge so I really loved making a pie for every Friday. Pie Day Friday!

Anyway, let’s do a fun little recap…

Handmade Pie Crusts are the real deal! And I think that Ina Garten’s recipe is awesome! I used it for the Cranberry Apple Pie and Fruitcake Pie. I swear it’s the vegetable shortening in the dough. #win

No Bake Cookie Crusts are awesome for pudding pies.

I gave away a lot of pie. A LOT.

As much as I made a lot of pies I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface on making pies. I want to to get better at making lattice topped pies,

Price’s favorite pie was the Caramel Pie.

I loved all the pies for different reasons. My favorite chocolate pie: Thin Mint Cookie Pie. My favorite chess pie: Lemon Chess Pie. My favorite fruit pie: Streusel Topped Peach Pie. My favorite pie inspired recipe Overnight Apple Pie Breakfast Pudding. My favorite savory pie: Supreme Pizza Pot Pie.

And twist my arm favorite is the Reese’s Cup Marshmallow Peanut Butter Cookie Pie. OMG so good!!!

This No-Bake Eggnog Pudding Pie was another great pie. It actually feels good to end the year with this pie. It is a pie that is guaranteed to make holiday lovers happy. It’s so holiday.

Sure, I could have done something complicated to show off all the sweet skillz I learned but I’m already in confident in what I learned this past year. Plus, it’s the busy holiday season so let’s stick with something easy!

A quick graham cracker crumb crust and a just as easy eggnog flavored pudding based filling. Perfectly!

As eggnog is very rich, this pie is very rich. Normally I would cut a pie into 8 slices but I would actually cut this into 12 slices. I know, smaller slices. Ghastly! But trust me on this on. It’s delightfully rich so just pace yourself.

I really hope that you enjoyed The Year of Pie as much as I did! It was a blast to try something to challenge myself.

No-Bake Eggnog Pudding Pie

Makes a 9″ deep dish pie, 12 slices

Ingredients

For the Crust

1 1/2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
6 Tablespoons butter, melted

For the Filling & Topping

8oz of cream cheese, at room temperature
2- 1oz boxes of instant vanilla pudding
3 Cups light eggnog
1- 8oz container of Cool Whip, softened at room temperature
1 Tablespoon graham cracker crumbs
pinch of cinnamon

Process

To make the crust, combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Pour the crumbs into the deep dish pie plate. Chill for 30 minutes.
To make the filling, beat the cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Add the instant pudding. Slowly beat the mixture while gradually pouring in the eggnog. Scrape down the sides as needed.
Gently fold in the Cool Whip until the filling mixture is well blended.
Pour the filling mixture into the chilled crust. Sprinkle some graham cracker crumbs and cinnamon in the center of the pie.
Return to the refrigerator for at least an hour prior to serving. Keep chilled for up to 3 days.

Butterfinger Pie

October 24, 2014

We are currently in Miami!!!

I extended a work trip and dragged Price and Autumn along with me. Totally dragged them along. So while I am working today they get to hang around the pool at the hotel. So tough!

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Thirsty Thursday: S’mores Milkshake

June 6, 2013

So there is an ice cream truck that has been taunting me every night since it drives right down our block. It alternates between playing “pop goes the weasel” and “la cucaracha”. We live in a Hispanic area so the later song selection makes sense.

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Gone to Heaven Dark Chocolate Pie

February 13, 2013

Some something magical happened at Christmas…

My mom got me a 12-cup food processor. Oh, the joy! I have wanted a food processor for so long. I’ve managed to make pestos and sauces in our blender but it is just the same. So I knew having a food processor would making pesto, sauces, mayo, grated cheese, and ground meat so super easy. But best of all I was looking forward to making pie dough in it.

I’ve been pinning different pies like crazy on Pinterst. My “Sweets-Pie” board is filing up. I have some plans to start to tackle the pins this spring. So, well, you’ve been warned. The first thing that jumped out to me was a Dark Chocolate Pie from One Ordinary Day and I knew I had to make it asap. But guess what… no need to use the food processor as it has a graham cracker crust. Well, go figure! ha!

Making a graham cracker crust is so easy so I felt I should make my own instead of buying one. Plus this was when we were snowed in last week so going out for a pie crust was not an option. Just 3 ingredients and a bit of mixing and you’re already half way done to a homemade graham cracker pie crust. The one disadvantage of making the crust is that is thicker than a store-bought crust, which meant I could not get all of the pie filling in the pie. Oh the horror! A bowl of just chocolately pie goodness. noms!

The pie is basically a cooked pudding so it is quick and easy to make. You really need to keep stirring the mixture while it is heating up since you don’t want clumps or for it to burn to the pan. My mixture didn’t come to a boil as I have the tendency to burn milk to pans (and then subsequently swear at them or throw them out) so I cooked the filling on a medium-low heat. This meant the overall process took 25 minutes. The most important thing is for it to cook and thicken so I don’t really think boiling is key.

Try this pie. You can whip it up easily. Perfect for Valentine’s day to show the person you love that they deserve something sweet (besides you). Or make these at any time to show yourself that you deserve the best chocolate pie.

Gone to Heaven Dark Chocolate Pie

Servings 12 slices

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Pie Crust

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup melted butter
1/3 cup sugar

Chocolate Pie

2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
4 egg yolks
3 cup milk, any fat content (I used 2% milk)
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups dark chocolate chips
whipped cream nad chocolate shavings, optional for garnish

Process

To create the pie crust:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9-inch pie plate non-stick cooking spray.
Combine all of the ingredients.
Evenly press the crust into the bottom and up sides of the pie plate.
Bake for 10 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool completely.

To make the pie:

Combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a 2 quart saucepan.
In a medium sized bowl, cmbine egg yolks and milk. Slowly pour milk mixture into sugar mixture and stir to mix.
Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Boil while continually stirring for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract. Add the chocolate chips and stir until chips are melted and the mixture is well blended.
Pour into the graham cracker pie shell. Lightly lay a piece of plastic wrap on top of pie filling before refrigerating for several hours until chilled.
Garnish with whipped cream and shaved chocolate before serving.

S’mores Cocktail

August 24, 2012

It’s the last day of our S’mores Week!

It is time to celebrate with a cocktail!

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S’mores Truffles

August 21, 2012

Day 2 of our most amazing, super special s’mores week! I’m so excited to share this truffle recipe, as well as the other 3 that I have planned for the rest of the week. Just you wait!

When I was thinking about what recipes to make this week I also had to think about how I would make them. In this case once I thought of making a S’mores Truffle I began to think about how to do that. I looked at other truffle recipes, specifically Oreo truffles, to create a recipe for these truffles.

I shared these with the guys on my job site and with the contractors working on residing he house next to ours. These were enjoyed very quickly. They did not linger around on the job sites. I highly suggest these for guys with huge appetites or for anyone at all!

Please be sure to head over to Amanda’s blog and check her Microwave S’more Turtles! A quick, easy recipe that had me looking around for more s’mores supplies to try myself!

S’mores Truffles

makes 4 dozen truffles

Ingredients

4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
3 cups of Graham Cracker Crumbs
12 oz of fluff marshmallow spread
2 cups of milk chocolate chips
2 to 4 oz cup cream
cooking spray

Process

Spray your bowl and mixer with cooking spray. Add the cream cheese, graham cracker crumbs, and marshmallow spread to the bowl. Mix until all the ingredients are combined. The mixture should be held together pretty, but don’t worry if it is a bit crumbly.
Spray your hands with cooking spray. Pinch pieces of the mixture off and roll in your hands to form 1″ balls. Place on wax paper lined cooking sheets. Put in the freezer for at least 4 hours.
When you are ready to coat the graham truffle balls, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in a microwave. Slowly add the cream to the mixture until the chocolate is smooth and the consistency is loose enough to be able to drop a ball in and shake the chocolate off . If you chocolate breaks in the process, then continue to add cream until the chocolate becomes smooth again.
Drop the balls in the chocolate to completely coat. Using 2 forks or a Candy Dipping Tool remove the truffle and tap and shake off extra chocolate. Place on a waxed lined baking sheet. Chill until ready to enjoy!
Find some fun dip-able things like cookies, pretzels, or fruit to use up the any remaining of the chocolate.

S’mores Week

Day 1

S’mores Chex Mix and S’mores Ice Cream Sandwiches