Lemon Cream Pie

1 baked pie crust
 
Topping and part of bottom layer:  
 1 1/2 cups whipping cream 
1/4 cup – 1/2 cup sugar (to taste)  
1 teaspoon vanilla  

Whip ingredients until stiff. You should have about 3 cups whipped cream  

Cream cheese layer: 
1 8 oz. block cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar (more or less, to taste)
1 1/2 cups whipped cream 

Cream the cream cheese with the sugar until smooth. Add whipped cream. Spread into bottom of cooled pie crust.  

Lemon Layer: 
3/4 cups sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2/3 cups cold water
2 egg yolks, beaten
6 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter  

In a medium heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and flour. Stir in water until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer.  

Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Put back on the heat and bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in the lemon juice, and butter. Cover, cool completely.
 
Stir cooled lemon mixture. Spread over the cream cheese mixture.
 
Top pie with remaining whipped cream. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.

Swiss Meringue

This is great if you want to try piping the meringue.  It has a slight crust on it so there's a slight crispness on the outside.

1 cup egg whites

2 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Pinch salt

Whisk together egg whites, sugar, and salt in a metal or glass bowl.  Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water (this is like a double boiler).  Stir the mixture until all the sugar is melted into the eggs (you can test by rubbing some between your fingers…when there’s no grainy feeling, then it’s ready).  This should take about 3-5 minutes.

Remove from heat.  Add vanilla.  Beat on high speed until it is thick and glossy and the bowl is just warmer than room temperature.  This should take about 8 minutes.

Pipe onto pie.  Bake at 350 until it just starts to turn golden.

Chocolate Pie

This is my husband's grandmother's recipe. She's known for this pie! In the picture, I used this Swiss Meringue recipe. It's my first attempt at roses. The girls decorated the smaller pie to share with two friends who are sisters. It's a fun medium to play around with! 

2 store bought frozen pie crusts (regular size) or 1 deep dish, baked

(I use the flat refrigerated pie crust and make one deep dish pie plus miniature pie) 
2 cups sugar
4 egg yolks
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 
8 tablespoons self-rising flour
4 cups milk1 teaspoon vanilla 

Whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, and flour. Add egg yolks and about 1 cup milk. Start whisking into the dry ingredients. Continue to add milk, a little at a time until it’s all mixed into the mixture. You can use your microwave to cook it until quite thick. I put it over medium heat on the stove and constantly stir it. After it is thick, remove from heat (or microwave) and stir in vanilla.  

Pour into pie crust. Top with meringue and bake at 350 until browned.  

Meringue
4 egg whites 
8 teaspoons sugar  

Whip egg whites, adding sugar a teaspoon at a time. Whip until stiff. Spread over pie(s) while filling is hot. Bake at 350 until browned.

Peanut Butter Cream Pie

 This is not your typical heavy, overly rich, gooey peanut butter pie.  It's quite light and fluffy but has a great peanut butter flavor and is plenty sweet and satisfying.  Freshly whipped cream is a must for this!

Crust:
16 oz. Nutter Butter Cookies (minus 5 cookies), crushed into crumbs
6 tablespoons butter, melted

Stir Together.  Pat into bottom and sides of a buttered pie plate.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  Cool completely before adding filling.

Whipped Cream:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup sugar

Whip together until stiff peaks form.  Reserve 1 1/4 cups for decoration.  Use the rest in the filling.

Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup sugar
Remaining whipped cream

Cream together cream cheese, peanut butter, and sugar until well mixed and smooth.  Fold in the whipped cream.  Pour filling into pie crust.  Decorate with remaining whipped cream.

Chocolate/peanut butter drizzle...
1/4 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

Melt together.  Drizzle over pie.  You can also drizzle warmed peanut butter.