Peanut Butter Pie

This past week we had two very important holidays!  I bet you didn't know that January 23rd was National Pie Day and January 24th was National Peanut Butter Day!  Who knew we had such important holidays!  I am behind a few days so I thought I could combine the two and celebrate by making a Peanut Butter Pie!  This peanut butter pie has long been a favorite of mine. 

The History Behind the Recipe

Peanut Butter Pie Filling

As you know by now, I love the history behind things.  Well, there is a little history behind this pie.  Right outside my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida was a little town called Orange Park, Florida.  In Orange Park there was a little tea room that my grandma, my mother and I would regularly frequent.  It was called, "The Sisters Tea Room". The Sisters was ran by two sisters. Everything was made fresh and from scratch.  It was long known that their specialities were pies and chicken salad.  One just doesn't go to the "Sisters" without having a slice of pie! 

The Sisters put together a little cookbook and sold it.  Thank goodness someone had the sense to get me this as a wedding present back in the day and it has been cherished ever since.

Unfortunately, the Sisters Tea Room is no more.  It closed a few years back when the "sisters", Gwen and Bobbie Jo retired.  Another piece of history gone.  Fortunately a new restaurant bought all the rights to their recipes and opened a new restaurant using some of the Sisters recipes.  I have not had the chance to visit "Honey B's" the new restaurant, but I hope to next time I am back.

The Sisters Peanut Butter Pie was so good, Ronald Reagan even wrote a letter to the Sisters expressing his thanks for the wonderful pies!  Another variation of the peanut butter pie they made was the double trouble peanut butter pie which had a layer of chocolate!

Ronald Reagan's letter to one of the sisters.

Look at those peanut butter "crumbs" that is the best part of this pie!

Above is a picture of the pie I made for you today. The pie starts off as a pre-baked pie crust that has cooled.  Add a mixture of peanut butter & powdered sugar to make "peanut butter crumbs" and cover the entire bottom of the pie crust with these crumbs, saving about 2 T for the topping.

Next, make a basic homemade thick pudding mixture and cool.  Once cooled cover the peanut butter crumbs with this custard filling.

Mix some heavy whipping cream to make a whipped topping and carefully cover the pudding mixture, top with the remaining 2 T of peanut butter crumbs and you have yourself a wonderful tasty peanut butter pie!  For best results cool in fridge for an hour before slicing.

Bake a Pie Today!

Veneto Rescue Beans

Original Veneto Rescue Beans Recipe

Are you looking for a unique side dish recipe?  This bean recipe has a story behind it (and you know I love that).  In the summer of 2001 we were living in Vicenza, Italy because my husband was in the Army and we were stationed there.  Guy's unit had to do a week-long training exercise called "Veneto Rescue".  If  you are not familiar with Italy, here is a brief geographical lesson.  Vicenza is located in northern Italy between Verona and Venice, which is known as the "Veneto Region" of Italy.

Anyway, after the week-long exercise the "unit" and their families got together to celebrate the end of this exercise and we did so with a feast.  One of the things served was something appropriately called "Veneto Beans".  These beans were made by my husband's commander's wife "LIz".  They are absolutely delicious.  They will be on the menu in January as a side to my Sausage & Potatoes meal.  I can't wait for you to try them!  Here is the recipe, the printable recipe can be found here.

Veneto Rescue Beans

Veneto Rescue Beans

1 8 oz can green beans, drained
1 8oz can yellow beans, drained

1 8oz can kidney beans, drained

1 8oz can lima beans, drained

1 16oz can pork and beans

1 C finely chopped celery

5 strips of bacon, chopped

2 C finely chopped onion

1 Can tomato soup

1 C brown sugar

2 tsp mustard

1 tsp chili powder

1 lb ground hot sausage

Mix all except ingredients together, top with bacon and bake 325 for 2 hours.