Peanut Butter Pie

Peanut Butter Pie

Crust
1-1/4 cup chocolate cookie crumbs (about 20 cookies)
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted

Filling
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup heavy cream, whipped

Several squares of a Hershey Bar

1. Combine the crust ingredients.  Press into a 9" pie plate.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.  Cool completely.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar, butter and vanilla until smooth.  Gently fold in whipped cream (you want to keep it airy).  Carefully spoon into crust.
3. Make thin slices of the Hershey bar (usually on the side of a cheese grater) to top the pie.
4. Refrigerate at least an hour before serving.

Notes: The pie tastes just as good with reduced fat cream cheese and half the sugar in the filling.  I strongly recommend not altering the heavy cream, though.  It really is best with that!  If you've never made your own cream before, it's pretty easy.  Here's a simple video: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/baking/whip-cream-00000000002253/.  You might even break a sweat!  Also, you can use chocolate graham cracker crumbs to make the crust.

Recipe Origination: Doris Doherty

Sweet Potato Muffins

Sweet Potato Muffins

1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup mashed cooked sweet potatoes (about 1 large or 2 small sweet potatoes)
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup canola oil
3 tbsp unsweetened applesauce

Streusel
2 tbsp biscuit mix (like Bisquick, or 2 tbsp flour + 1/4 tsp baking powder)
2 tbsp oats
1 tbsp packed brown sugar
1/2 tbsp cold butter

1. In a large bowl, combine the first 10 ingredients.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, potatoes, water, oil, and applesauce.  Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
3. Coat muffin tins with spray (or use paper liners).  Fill two thirds with mix.
4. For streusel, combine the baking mix, oats and sugars; cut in butter until crumbly.  Sprinkle over batter.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the middle comes out clean.  Cool for 5-10 minutes and then remove from pans to wire racks.

Notes: These also make great mini-muffins.  Adjust baking time to 10-12 minutes.  The recipe makes about 15 normal muffins.

Recipe Origination: "Taste of Home" Fall 2010 with some tweaks