Today my hubby and I hosted a family cookout at our house. It was a warm but blustery fall day filled with good food and conversation. We had homegrown beef hamburgers, hot dogs, creamy potato salad, crunchy pea salad, and baked beans. Dessert was the peanut butter pie listed below and my mother-in-law’s white chocolate peanut butter cookies.
The food fixed at family gatherings is a great reflection of where the family has been. My family (my husband and I) has been together for approximately 4 years; we rely heavily on recipes of our childhood. I fixed potato salad using my mother’s recipe- simple with celery, sweet pickles, and plain mayo. Yum! The baked beans (called Calico Beans by the Rose family) are my mother-in-law’s recipe. Food is a way to trace your heritage. Our food heritage is a reflection of our humble country beginnings. No fancy schmancy food. Beans, potatoes, meat. Simple. Good. Country.
This peanut butter pie recipe is quick, easy, and an excellent make ahead dessert. Mamaw Rose says she makes these in advance in case someone in her very large extended family shows up unexpected. I have always heard about Mamaw Rose’s amazing pie but had never had any myself. I picked the pie as my dessert for this get together because I needed to make something in advance so I could have enough time to clean for the big day. (Every time I have company, especially my family, I try extra hard to make sure everything is squeaky clean.)
Frozen Peanut Butter Pie
- 1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1 (16 oz) container frozen whipped topping
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 (9 inch) graham cracker crusts
- Chocolate shavings, optional
Combine cream cheese and peanut butter in a large bowl. Beat until fluffy. Add whipped topping and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and spoon into pie shells. Garnish with chocolate shavings if desired and freeze at least 8 hours before serving.
I don’t like store-bought graham cracker crusts near as much as homemade. Of course, homemade is always better. Sure it is more convenient to buy but tastes so much better if you just make it yourself.
Graham Cracker Crust (for one pie)
- 1 1/2 cups finely ground graham cracker crumbs (I use one sleeve of the crackers)
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter or margarine, and cinnamon until well blended . Press mixture into an 8 or 9 inch pie plate. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 7 minutes. Cool. If recipe calls for unbaked pie shell, just chill for about 1 hour.
AnnaShortcakes 