Almost Grandma’s Peanut Butter Pie

It is Thanksgiving and I miss my family. Due to all the events of my life and theirs we do not get to spend the holiday together this year. I miss spending days in the kitchen with my mom and sisters preparing for one big pig out. In the past we have spent days menu planning and discussing the finer points of the things we might serve on the relish tray.

This year it is just Tall Dark Handsome and myself, so I was having a hard time justifying the full feast in all its loving hard work. The only thing I prepared for was the turkey itself. It was properly defrosted and in the oven by 11am.

After going for a run, I decided that a pie was definitely on the to-do list. Pumpkin was out because we had none. We did however, have all the things to make a peanut butter pie. I really wanted grandma’s pie, but since I was missing a few things, I worked with what I had.

This pie turned out perfect. Rich, fluffy and sweet with a nutty chewy crust, It was relatively little work and gave me plenty of family time to make a snowman with TDH and the puppy.

Almost Grandma’s Peanut Butter Pie

Crust: grandma used melted butter and graham crackers. Since I was out of graham crackers, I made something up.

• 1c ground walnuts
• 1c crushed saltines
• 2Tb sugar
• 1Tb coco powder
• ½ stick butter, melted

Combine everything for the crust and press into a pie plate. Bake @350 for 10 min. and cool completely.

Filling: Grandma used cream cheese, sugar, 1/2c pb, and Cool whip. I had:

• 1 block of cream cheese, softened
• 3/4c peanut butter
• 2c powdered sugar (can be reduced to taste) + 1Tb
• 1c heavy cream
• Dash vanilla

For the filling, cream together peanut butter, cream cheese, and sugar. Fold in whipped cream (cream+ sugar+ vanilla). Spoon filling into crust and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. To serve, sprinkle with chopped peanuts and drizzle with chocolate.

Eat and give thanks for family that taught you to make pie.