Creamy Cheesy Pie

Creamy Cheesy Pie
(File Photo)
ready to slice & serve

My mother- in- law introduced me to Creamy Cheesy Pie.  It was decades ago when Jim & I visited his parents in Florida.  Two weeks before arriving, I had prepared a cheesecake that took 2 hours to prepare.  After making the pie crust shell, the filling was prepared.  Then, the cheesecake was baked.  It tasted so delicious, but it was so time consuming.

On this particular visit to the sunny state I was introduced to a very easy dessert.  After dinner one night, we all enjoyed our dessert- Creamy Cheesy Pie.  It was served with a little whipped cream on top.  Oh, it was so good!  My MIL told me it was a "cinch" to make.  She was not kidding!!!  One 2- serving box of vanilla cook & serve pudding was prepared & it was combined with 8 ounces of Cream Cheese.  Then, the mixture was poured into a pre-made graham cracker crust.  Into the fridge it went to cool.  O.K. , now that is easy!!!  It's not only easy, it tastes so good!!! 

No, I never went back to preparing that other Cheesecake again.  ;) 

This is a dessert I make "every so often".  Cheesecake has always been a favorite dessert of mine.  Polish Cheesecake, Carrot Cheesecake & Key Lime Cheesecake are quite hard to resist in my book.  This one is too!!!

A Few Hints:

•  My family uses 1% Milk, so I add 1 Tablespoon powdered milk into pot before making pudding.
  

• I use Jell-O brand pudding mix, because I do not burn the pot when I use the Jell-O brand.  :)

• My son has prepared a delicious Chocolate Creamy Cheesy Pie using chocolate pudding mix.    

Creamy Cheesy Pie 

Ingredients:
(1) pkg. 2 serving cook & serve Vanilla Pudding Mix
(1) pkg. 8 oz. Cream Cheese
(2) Cups Milk
(1) Pre-made Graham Cracker Pie Shell 

Method:  

1. Prepare Pudding according to package directions. 
2. Place Cream Cheese in a medium bowl.
3. Pour hot cooked Pudding over Cream Cheese and whisk until smooth.
4. Pour mixture into Graham Cracker crust.  Smooth mixture to crust edges.
5. Cool about 30 minutes.  Then, cover with plastic wrap. 
6. Refrigerate overnight.
7. Cut into slices.  Add whipped cream on top.
8. Place berries on the side.
9. Refrigerate remaining pie to enjoy again.  Yum!

I will be making this dessert on Monday afternoon.  Topped with a little Strawberry Freezer Jam & then whipped cream. Oh yum!!!

Will you be making one, too?  Easy + delicious!!!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

~Quick Glance~

~Today's View~
at Noontime

It's February 9th!  It is winter and the light snowflakes keep falling today!  Schools are closed for the day in the northeast & the snowplow has visited my neighborhood already this AM.  It will return! Yesterday, our thermometer reading was 51°F.  Today is a totally different story.  There is no taking a walk outside for me.  Our handy dandy treadmill will be used!

But, what a beautiful view from any window in our home!

Enjoy!

      

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Super Bowl Sunday is approaching fast!  The day when viewing the commercials on t.v. is as much FuN as watching the game.  It's become a tradition here- enjoying a bowl of hot hearty Slow Cooker Chili on that day!  Slow Cookers/ Crock Pots are so handy here.  All the ingredients go into the pot & the small kitchen appliance does the cooking.  A meal in a pot!

If there are any portions remaining, Chili freezes very well.  Cool before placing in containers, label/ date & freeze.        

This year there's a little change up in my recipe.  Lean Ground Turkey replaces Ground Beef!

2 Helpful Hints: 

• My Slow Cooker has a non-stick coating, so the Green Pepper chunks are added on the bottom of the pot first to prevent any too crispy Ground Turkey.  (Yes, once I had crispy meat on the bottom & this is how I prevent it from occurring again.)
  
• I brown the Ground Turkey before placing in the Slow Cooker's pot to remove the fat. 

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

 Ingredients:
1 lb. lean Ground Turkey
1 small Green Pepper, cut into small chunks
(1) 14.5 oz. can Diced Tomatoes, drained
(2) cans Red Kidney Beans (about 19 oz. each)
Chopped Onions (I use 1 Tablespoon dehydrated Onions.)
Chopped Parsley (I use 1 Tablespoon dehydrated Parsley.) 
2- 3 teaspoons Chili Powder
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
(2) cans Tomato Sauce (15 oz. each)

Method:

1. Spray nonstick cooking pot of Slow Cooker with PAM. 
2.  Brown Ground Turkey in a frying pan.
3.  Cut Green Pepper into chunks & place in cooking pot.
4.  Add browned Ground Turkey.
5.  Add drained Diced Tomatoes.
6.  Drain Kidney Beans.  Rinse in cold water.  Drain again.
7.  Place on top of Diced Tomatoes.
8.  Sprinkle on desired amount of chopped Onions & chopped Parsley.
9.  Then, sprinkle Chili Powder, Garlic Powder & Oregano on top.
10.  Pour Tomato Sauce on top & spread evenly.
11.  Place lid on top of Slow Cooker/ Crock Pot.
12.  Set temperature to High for 2 and 1/2 hours.  Then, reduce to Medium for 1/2 hour. 
13.  Stir before serving into bowls.

While you're adding the Turkey Chili ingredients to your grocery list for this weekend, add Fat Free Sour Cream & Rye Bread.  A dollop of Sour Cream on top of Chili is so good!  The Rye Bread is great for dunking!

Go Falcons!!!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

~Banana Craisin Oatmeal~

Add 1 more ingredient-
1 sliced Banana

It's gotten a bit chillier in the morning!  Today it's s-n-o-w-i-n-g!  This kind of weather reminds me that a hot bowl of cereal filled with oats tastes so good for breakfast.  A bowl of Craisin Creamy Oatmeal!  Looking over at our fruit bowl "I spied" a Banana.  Before I knew it, the Banana was sliced & added into the pot with the other ingredients for our hot oatmeal cereal.  It was a change up in the flavor.  A great change with that added Potassium filled Banana!  WoW!!!

Treat yourself to this hearty fruit filled breakfast on a chilly day!  

Banana Craisin Oatmeal
     2 Servings 

Ingredients:
1 Cup Old Fashioned Oats 
1 Banana- cut into slices
1/4 Cup Craisins (Dried Cranberries)
1 and 1/2 Cups Soy Milk (or Milk)
1/8 teaspoon Nutmeg
1/8 Teaspoon Cinnamon
Brown Sugar- as desired

Method:

1. Place all ingredients in a 2 quart sauce pot. 
2. Let stand 10 Minutes. 
3. Heat to a boil over Medium heat.
4. Stir & cook for 5 Minutes.
5. Divide between 2 bowls.
6. Add more (Soy) Milk!
7. Enjoy a great bowl of hot cereal!

What a great way to start the day!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Baked "Turkey Meatballs"

Baked "Turkey Meatballs"
Some were placed in the Tomato Sauce
Others were frozen

For the past year we've been eating less beef.  Really!  As a matter of fact it's not found very often on our grocery list.  In the warmer months, occasionally, we enjoy a yummy grilled cheeseburger.  But that's a treat on a HHH summer day.  I've been using lean Ground Turkey in many dishes where I would have used Ground Beef in the past.

A few days ago we enjoyed Turkey Meatball Grinders with low fat mozzarella cheese & sauteed Green Pepper strips.  Yes, a salad too.  Oh yum!  What a great tasting dinner! 

A one pound package of lean Ground Turkey yields about 16- 17 Turkey Meatballs.  There were extras to freeze & have for dinner on future nights.

• I use Egg Whites rather than Whole Eggs whenever I can while cooking. 
  (2 Egg Whites = 1 Whole Egg.)  
• For me quite often, Soy Milk is a replacement for Milk.  
• My Spice Rack contains the herbs.  :)            

Baked "Turkey Meatballs"

Oven Temperature:  375°F          Baking Time:  28- 30 Minutes 

Ingredients:

1 Pound (16 ounces) lean Ground Turkey
3/4 Cups unseasoned Bread Crumbs
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
2 Egg Whites
1/2 Cup Milk  (I use Soy Milk.)
1 Tablespoon dried Parsley
1 teaspoon Oregano
1 teaspoon Basil
1/4 teaspoon dried Chopped Onion
1/4 teaspoon Paprika
1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder

Method:

1. Place all ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Mix together- combining well.
3. Preheat oven to 375°F.
4. Cover a cookie pan with aluminum foil.
5. Spray foil with PAM.
6. Make 16- 17 Turkey Meatballs & place evenly on cookie pan.
7. Bake for 28- 30 Minutes in a 375°F oven. 
8. Remove from pan.

Each "Meatball" is moist, deliciously flavored & tastes so good in a toasted grinder roll that's filled with mozzarella cheese, sauteed peppers & tomato sauce.

The extra "Meatballs" freeze very well, too!  These are also so good served over spaghetti!

Do you prepare Baked "Turkey Meatballs"?

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Raisin Rice Crispies Bars

Raisin Rice Crispies Bars

A bite of Raisins combined with marshmallows & Rice Krispies cereal!  Oh Yum!  I could not escape the thought of this chewy dessert!  The dessert I always had in the fridge waiting when my sons were "back home" from college.  I could purchase this treat that is also commercially made, but it just does not taste as good.  The packaged goodies are quite dry.  Really!

A  few weeks ago we stayed overnight in Boston.  In the hotel my hubby purchased one of the packaged goodies.  While eating it he mentioned it was quite DRY.  Well, it was commercially made & there was not a raisin to be seen inside the wrapped snack.  At that moment I knew I needed to make a batch in the near future. 

It was yesterday afternoon!  No one is home on semester break from college, it was for US!   Oh, yes, they are that good!  There's something about adding 1 Cup of Raisins into the pot when you are stirring the melted Margarine/ Butter + Rice Krispies cereal.  The Raisins give this treat that extra pizazz in taste & also moisture. 

They are SO easy to make!  Add a bag of Marshmallows to your grocery list along with the Rice Krispies cereal.  Make a batch!  Just remember not to get carried away & enjoy eating too many all at once.  Save some for later in the week!  :)

***A few Hints when making this snack:

• Remember the secret is to work quickly!  The melted marshmallows + butter/ margarine & cereal  will begin to stick together.  You need to get it into the baking dish.

• After measuring ALL of the cereal, place a little Butter/ Margarine on the bottom of the measuring Cup & spread with a paper towel or waxed paper.  Then it's much easier to press down lightly on the mixture (in the baking dish) with the bottom of the Cup.  Nothing sticks together!  

• I spray the 9" x 15" glass baking dish with PAM, so the bars will be removed easily after cutting.    
  

Raisin Rice Crispies Bars

Ingredients:
4 Tablespoons Butter/ Margarine
1 (10 ounce) package Marshmallows
5 and 1/2 Cups Rice Krispies cereal
1 Cup Raisins

Method:  

1. In a large pot (6 quart pot) melt 4 Tablespoons Margarine/ Butter over Low heat.
2. Add in 1 bag (10 ounces) Marshmallows, stirring until completely melted.
3. Turn off heat.
4. Add in 3 Cups Rice Krispies cereal, stir.
5. Add in 1 Cup Raisins, stir.
6. Then, add 2 and 1/2 Cups more Rice Krispies cereal, stir.
7. Place the mixture (will be sticky) into a 9" x 15" glass baking dish (sprayed with PAM).  Press down lightly with the bottom of the measuring cup. 
8. Cover with plastic wrap & place in fridge for 1 hour.
9. Cut into bars, place in covered container & store in fridge until serving.

***These are crispy & crunchy & so good! 

Before enjoying one, place a Raisin Rice Crispies Bar on a plate & microwave 7- 9 seconds & you will have a softer bar.

This is one of our fave treats from long ago!  It's all about the Raisins!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

  

Happy New Year!!!

 I Wish You

A Happy & 

A Healthy New Year!!!

Enjoy!!!