Peanut Butter Pie

This is something that my Grandma Miller made EVERY time we came to visit.  We only visited a couple times a year, but I could eat this all the time.  We would normally just stay for the weekend which required my mom, sister, and myself to eat this entire pie very quickly.  Trust me...we didn't mind.  My grandmother would always tell me how easy it was to make and tell me I should make it at home. It wasn't until I was married that I even attempted it.  She was right it is extremely easy! The recipe card that I have is hand written by my grandmother and is dated November 2003 which is just one month after Scott and I got married.  I have made this MANY times since.
Ingredients:

• 2 Cups of Cool Whip plus 1 cup for topping
• 1/2 cup Crunchy Peanut Butter
• Chopped  Peanuts (optional)
• 2 Tablespoons of Milk
• Graham Cracker Crust
• 6 oz of cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar

  Beat cream cheese and peanut butter together, add in milk and powdered sugar mix.

Next add in Cool Whip, mix on low.

Place mixture in graham cracker crust

 Top with additional Cool Whip and chopped peanuts. Refrigerate for at least about an hour.  The waiting for dessert time is the hardest for me!

Honey's Dutch Apple Pie

I spent some time hanging out in the kitchen with my Mother-in-law this morning.  She was making a Dutch Apple Pie.  I am watched  her very closely because I have never had success with making my own pie crust.  She made it look so simple!  I am sure that you will notice that in the ingredient list there is no honey.  It is named after my mother-in-law.  My kids have always called her "Honey."  My oldest started it and it has stuck for almost 7 years.

Ingredients for Pie Crust:

• 1.5 cups All Purpose Flour
• 1/4 Cup Vegetable Shortening
• 1/4 Cup Butter
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 4-5 Tablespoons Ice Water

First combine flour and salt.  Then cut in the butter and shortening with a pastry knife or two forks until a crumbly mixture forms.

Add in 4-5 tablespoons of ice water until dough forms.  Next roll into large ball.

Place ball of dough in between floured sheets of wax paper and roll out to desired size.  Remember to go from the middle out until the crust is about 1/8" thick.

Place in pie dish and lightly press down.  Pinch edges to form decorative crust.  Place in freezer for about an hour or until ready to use.  Or you can bake it immediately you are using it for a cream pie.  To use for Cream Pie, preheat oven to 425 and bake for 7-9 minutes.

Ingredients for Pie Filling:

• 5 1/2 cups peeled and sliced Apples
• 1/2 cup Grandulated Sugar
• 1/4 Brown Sugar (packed)
• 1/2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
• 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
• 3 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour
• 1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg

Peel apples and cut slices into uniform sized slices.  Add lemon juice as you go and toss with apples to make sure that they don't turn brown.  Add sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, and nutmeg.  Toss to evenly coat apples and then pour into pie crust.

Ingredients for Crumb Topping:

3/4 Cup All Purpose Flour

1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar (packed)

1/3 Cup Butter (at room temp)

The crumb topping is my favorite.  Mix together with a fork the butter, flour, brown sugar, and sugar until crumbly mixture forms.

Next sprinkle the topping on the pie crumbling as you cover it.

Bake pie for 50 minutes at 375