Pies

Here are two very easy pie recipes that are delicious! There isn't an easier dessert than baking a homemade pie and topping it with some fresh whipped cream to pamper your family or take to an occasion.

Easiest Pumpkin Pie

Mix together in a medium bowl:
15 oz. Pumpkin
14 oz. Lowfat or Fatfree Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 Eggs or 4 Egg whites (to reduce calories and cholesterol)
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. each ground ginger, ground nutmeg and salt

Place in a pie shell and bake at 425 degrees for the first 15 min. than reduce temp. to 350 for 25 min. Pie is done when a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.



Fabulous Southern Pecan Pie

Melt 1/2 stick butter in a medium sauce pan. Remove from heat and add 1 c. light karo syrup, 1 c. brown sugar and 3 eggs. Mix with an electric mixer until well blended. Generously cover the bottom of a pie shell with pecans and pour mixture over nuts. Bake at 350 for 30 - 40 min. until pie is browned, puffed up and cracked in the center.


Fresh Whipped Cream

In a deep glass bowl pour 1 c. chilled heavy whipping cream and begin to beat on high. If the bowl is not deep the cream splatters, try covering it with a towel to keep the splatters contained. Add about 1/4 c. sugar to the cream and 1 t. vanilla. Beat until cream has stiff peaks. Taste to see if you would like a bit more sugar. This will keep for several days in the fridge covered with seran wrap.


Easy Pie Shell

Mix together 1 1/2 c. flour and 1/2 t. salt. With a pastry cutter or 2 knives cut in 1/2 c. crisco shortening until mixture is crumbly. Add 1 T. cold water to mixture tossing with a fork and pushing to the side of the bowl. Add more water 1 T. at a time tossing in between. Use up to 5 T. of water until mixture can be formed into a ball. Take 2 pieces of waxed paper and place dough in the center of one that has been lightly floured. Cover with the other piece, also floured, and roll out dough into a circle between the paper. When about 1/8 inch thick remove the top paper and carefully fold the dough in half, then fold in half again so it is like a pizza wedge. Place in your pie pan and unfold. Press around the top to make a nice edge for your pie with your fingers or a fork. Fill with your filling and bake.
Practice makes perfect but homemade really does taste better and is easy with a little practice!!