Derby Pie

I was skeptical of this pie at first, but it was my favorite this past Thanksgiving!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup pecans
1 cup chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup melted butter
1 pie crust

1.  Mix flour and sugars.  Add eggs, then butter.  Add nuts, chocolate chips and vanilla extract.  Mix thoroughly.  Pour mixture into an unbaked pie shell.  Bake for 35-45 minutes at 350 degrees.  Test with a tooth pick; pie should be chewy but not runny--bake longer, if necessary.

Blueberry Pie with Lemon Pastry

Ingredients:

Pie Filling:

1 1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

5 cups fresh or frozen thawed blueberries, rinsed well

Pastry:

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel

2/3 cup shortening, cold

4 + tablespoons ice cold water

1 tablespoon cold lemon juice

Directions: In a large bowl combine sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, lemon juice and grated peel, and blueberries. Roll out half of the pastry (recipe follows) - line a 9-inch pie pan and trim edges. Pour blueberry mixture into pie crust. Roll out remaining pastry to about 1/8 inch thick. Cover pie; trim, turn edge under and crimp. Cut a few vents in top of crust to allow steam to escape. Bake at 425° for 40 minutes, or until crust is nicely browned.

Pie Pastry:
Sift together flour and salt; blend in lemon peel. With a pastry blender, cut in shortening until pieces are the size of small peas. Mix together 4 tablespoons of the water and the lemon juice. Sprinkle 4 tablespoons of lemon water over the dry ingredients; mix lightly, adding just enough additional cold water to hold dough together. Divide dough into 2 portions and shape each portion into a ball. Flatten pastry balls 1 at a time, on lightly floured surface. Roll out to form a circle, rolling from center edge until dough is 1/8-inch thick.

This was the pie that I made on Pi Day. It was delicious!

Peanut Butter Bars

My boss' wife made these peanut butter bars for our work's open house.  They are so delicious-by far the best peanut butter bars I've ever had.  

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup Brown Sugar
  
• 3/4 cup white sugar
  
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
  
• 3/4 cup butter
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 tsp vanilla
  
• 2 cups flour
  
• 1.5 cups oatmeal
  
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
  
• 1/2 tsp salt

1.  Cream brown sugar, sugar, peanut butter, butter, eggs, vanilla in large bowl.  

2.  Add flour, oatmeal, baking soda, and salt.  

3.  Dough will be sticky.  Spray pan (like a cookie sheet or something), and press dough into it. 

4.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 mins.  

5.  Cool slightly.  Spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the cooked dough when still warm.  Spread chocolate frosting over warm bars.  

Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients:  

1 stick of butter

4 tablespoons milk

1/2 bag powdered sugar

3 tablespoons cocoa

1 tsp vanilla

Mix all together. 

Nu-Yums Cereal Squres

An old favorite recipe I got from my BYU Home Economics professor- somewhat nutritious.

Ingredients
• ½ cup light corn syrup
• ½ cup light brown sugar packed
• ½ creamy peanut butter
• ½ cup coconut
• 1 cup thin pretzels (be careful not to pour in from the package- the salt all pours in)
• 1 cup Special K cereal
• 1 cup Cheerios cereal
• 1 cup Corn Chex cereal
• ½ cup nuts (peanuts or cashews are good)- optional

Instructions:

1. In a large mixing bowl- combine the pretzel sticks, Special K cereal, Cheerios, Corn Chex, Coconut and nuts (optional). Mix with a wooden spoon.

2. Find a 8” round or square cake pan or pie pan. Take a paper napkin and rub the bottom and the bottom and the sides with butter to grease the pan.

3. In the large saucepan or large frying pan- put in the corn syrup. Scrape it all out with a wooden spoon. Then add the brown sugar. Stir it well with a wooden spoon. Turn on the heat to high and wait until it starts to boil- bubble a bit.

4. Start timing and let it boil for exactly 60 seconds. Take off heat and stir in the peanut butter. Stir well.

5. Now pour the hot mixture into the cereal large bowl. Stir well.
Make sure all the cereal has the goop on it.

6. Smash down with wooden spoon or buttered hands. Let cool for a few minutes- start doing the clean up and dishes.

Easy Chinese Trifle Cake

This is a simple and delicious dessert! It gets it's chinese name from a special tool that must be used in the cooking process.

Ingredients:

• 1 french vanilla cake mix
• 1 small box of vanilla pudding
• 1 container of whipped topping
• 1 package of frozen mixed berries, dethawed
  

Directions:

• 1. Bake the cake according to the box directions in a 9x13 pan. Let cool.
• 2. Once the cake is cool, take a chopstick and poke holes all over the cake. Don't be shy about poking holes. There should be lots, spaced about 1/4 inch to 1/2 apart.
• 3. Make the pudding according to the box instructions. Before the pudding has set up, pour it all over the top of the cake. This should cause the pudding to go into the chopstick holes.
• 4. Cover the top of the cake with the cool whip. Chill in refrigerator.
• 5. Before serving, pour the mixed berries on the top of the cake.
• 6. Serve and enjoy!

This is a fun recipe that you can experiment with. Try using different flavors of cake mix or pudding. I just posted my favorite combination.