VALENTINE – Chocolate Cream Pie

Its no secret its been a long several years of pandemic covid 19 stresses. Some of us have had to learn to cook, eating out has not been a safe option and grocery shopping a whole new learning curve. Who would have thought you would be picking up your groceries in a grocery store parking lot. With Valentines Day and Easter on its way, I wanted to share one of our family’s favorite chocolate pie recipes.

CRUST:

40 graham crackers (10 full cracker sheets)

2 Tablespoons sugar (coconut sugar is also a good replacement for sugar)

2 Tablespoons butter softened

1 large egg white ( 1 use Bob’s Redmill egg replacer-1 Tablespoon)

Filling:

2 Cups almond, oat or soy milk (can use fat free milk also)

2/3 Cup sugar (I substitute 1/2 cup maple syrup)

1/3 Cup unsweetened cocoa

3 Tablespoons cornstarch

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 large egg ( 1 use Bob’s Redmill egg replacer-1 Tablespoon)

2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

1 teaspoon vanilla

Whipped Cream or a dairy free whipped cream

3/4 teaspoon grated chocolate for garnish

Directions

Step 1 Preheat oven to 350°.

Step 2 To prepare crust, place crackers in a food processor; process until crumbly. Add 2 tablespoons sugar, butter, and egg white; pulse 6 times or just until moist. Press crumb mixture into a 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes; cool on a wire rack 15 minutes.

Step 3 To prepare filling, combine 1/2 cup milk, 2/3 cup sugar, and next 4 ingredients (2/3 cup sugar through egg) in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk.

Step 4 Heat 1 1/2 cups milk in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat to 180° or until tiny bubbles form around edge (do not boil). Remove from heat. Gradually add hot milk to sugar mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk. Return milk mixture to pan. Add chopped chocolate; cook over medium heat until thick and bubbly (about 5 minutes), stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour into prepared crust; cover surface of filling with plastic wrap. Chill 3 hours or until cold. Remove plastic wrap; spread whipped topping evenly over filling. Sprinkle with grated chocolate.

The substitutes I have given you will make a delicious chocolate-cream pie without the guilt. Both versions are delicious.

The original recipe is from Cooking Light November 1999.

Thank You for following my blog, please check in next week a update of our Boon Docking location and the View Navion Motorhome Rally!!!

Cheers from Liz

Family Favorite

Jeff’s Favorite no bake 21 Day Fix Cookies

Valentines is upon us and keeping with our healthy regime, I have decided to make one of  Jeff’s favorite cookies and surprise him for Valentines. The last few times we have stayed with my sister in law (Vicki) she has made these cookies for us and believe me it’s hard to limit yourself, they are just that good and a breeze to make. Happy Valentines to all of my friends, family and all who follow my blogging journey. ♥♥♥

Ingredients

1 Cup Organic Almond Butter or Organic peanut butter (or better yet 1/2 cup of each)

3/4 Cup Organic Honey

1/2 Cup Olive Oil or coconut oilp1000970

2 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/3 Cup Chopped nuts (any kind you prefer)

2 1/4 Cups Old Fashioned Oatmeal (not instant)

6 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder (unsweetened)

1/3 Cup unsweetened coconut

Place first three ingredients into a medium saucepan and slowly heat up over low heat, stirring to blend. Remove from heat and add the remaining ingredients into the saucepan and blend. I use a small cookie scoop or a soup spoon and scoop onto parchment paper that has been placed on a cookie sheet.. Spacing each cookie a little apart. At this point be sure to hide from family, these are very addicting. Place in your freezer and freeze for an hour, now they are ready to eat. After the cookies are frozen I put them in the freezer in snack size baggies to keep me and my cookie loving husband from eating them all.

Makes 24 or more depending on the size of balls you scoop. Lately I have been using my littlest scoop and getting 36 cookies.

Note: I also like to add toasted coconut, little mini chocolate chips, etc the possibilities are endless.

The original recipe is from No Bake-21 Day fix Cookies. I have changed it up a bit and added items we feel make it healthier and more organic, which is very important to us..

CHEERS UNTIL NEXT WEEK THE FEATURED RECIPE IS JOSH’S CREAM OF CELERY SOUP-YUM

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