Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Frozen German Chocolate Pie



I seldom make recipes from magazine anymore. I usually find them too complicated or the ingredients something I don't keep on hand or care to stock. But when I came across this Frozen German Chocolate Pie in Christmas Cottage magazine it sounded so yummy and easy that I had to try it.





Overall it was easy to make! The best part is its frozen, so making ahead is an added bonus for me in the busy holiday season. In fact, we were so stuffed after Christmas dinner we didn't serve it until last night.




It was very YUMMY! But it was also very, very rich. When I make this again I will change a few things. First, I will use half the coconut the recipe calls for. While I like coconut, I don't love it. For me, two cups of coconut is way too much.

Secondly, I will make two pies out of this one recipe, only using the coconut/pecan filling as topping. If the recipe is followed, the pie is very large and again, very rich. A smaller piece is much better after a heavy meal. Actually, after any size meal!

If you freeze it longer then the four hours the recipe suggests, leave it on the counter longer. It was easy to cut after 45 minutes.

I like that this can be made ahead and stored until needed.


 Here's the recipe! If you make it, let me know how you like it!


FROZEN GERMAN CHOCOLATE PIE

½ (14.1 ounce) package refrigerated pie dough
½ cup butter or margarine
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese softened
2 (4 ounce) dark chocolate bars, melted
1 (8 ounce) container of frozen extra-creamy whipped topping, thawed
½ cup caramel ice cream topping

Preheat oven to 450o. Bake crust in a 9 inch deep dish pie plate for 10 minutes. Cool completely.

In a large skillet, melt butter. Stir in coconut and pecans. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from heat.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk and chocolate. Fold in whipped topping.

Spoon half of the cream cheese mixture into prepared crust. Top with ¼ cup caramel topping and half of the coconut mixtures. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients. Cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for at least 4 hours or until firm.

Let frozen pie stand at room temperature for 5 minutes before slicing.


Saturday, December 24, 2011

A Very Merry Christmas To You!



Christmas Tree Blessing

Holy Creator of Trees,
Bless with your abundant grace
This our Christmas tree as a symbol of joy.
May its evergreen branches be a sign
Of your never-fading promises
May its colorful lights and ornaments call us
To decorate with love our home and our world
May the gifts that surround this tree
Be symbols of the gifts we have received
From the tree of Christ’s cross
Holy Christmas tree within our home,
May joy and peace come and nest
In your branches and in our hearts
Amen.
- Author Unknown

Merry Christmas!
~Holly

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Merry Christmas?



"Christmas morning she'll be happier with a Hoover".

Really??

So what do you think of this 1960 ad? If you received a vacuum cleaner for Christmas would you be thrilled or thrilled to pick it up and hit your hubby over the head? I don't know. I have a Dyson I love, so if I needed to replace it maybe I'd be happy. But a vacuum is not jewelry!

One year my husband bought me (at my request) a Rowenta iron and an extra wide ironing board. My dad was mortified!! "How could he buy her an iron for her birthday??" No matter how many times I explained it to him that I was using it for my hobby and that I really wanted it, he was appalled! I found it all kind of funny as my dad is really stuck in the 50's in his ideas of what a woman should be in this world. (Although he's softened quite a bit now that he has 4 successful college aged granddaughters.)

I was thrilled with my gift. I still have the ironing board but the Rowenta crapped out just a month or so after the warranty expired. I guess if my husband would have bought me jewelry I'd most likely still have it. But I still think it was a great gift!