Chocolate Eclair Pies

Tastes just like an eclair. Makes 2 pies. (I made it with homemade vanilla pudding once and it wasn't as sweet as it needed to be for this recipe--plus it was a lot more work!)

Preheat oven to 400.

Crust
Bring to a boil in a saucepan:
1 cup water
1 stick butter

Remove from heat and whisk in:
1 cup flour
4 eggs

Grease 2 9" pie pans and pour your crust into them, going up the sides and evenly across the bottom (if it's too runny to push up the sides, don't worry about it). Bake at 400 for 22-28 min. After baking, flatten crusts by pushing down on them with a bowl. Cool.

Filling
Mix together and chill in fridge:
5.1 oz. package instant vanilla pudding (I used banana cream pudding once too; yum)
3 cups milk

Add and mix well:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened (I use neufchatel)

Pour into cooled crusts. Top with sweetened whipped cream or Cool Whip. Pour chocolate sauce in a cool design over the top.

Butter Chicken

I don't like the name of this awesome stuff. It just seems to evoke the wrong things for me. Chicken rubbed with butter? In actuality, it's a creamy, tomatoey, savory chicken over rice. I put it in the crockpot while I went to church--chicken breasts on high for about 3 1/2 hours.

Vanilla Shakes

Yummy, simple shakes. I'm excited for the Fall holidays already, and it's only July!

My favorite milkshakes are simply vanilla ice cream blended with canned peaches.

Brazilian Lemonade

Here

Eskimo Cookies (no-bakes)

a childhood favorite--we made these in honor of Mr. Brady being in Alaska

1 1/2 cubes butter (I think less would be good next time)
3/4 cup sugar
3 TB cocoa
1 TB water
2 cups quick oats
1 tsp vanilla

Chill. Roll into balls, then roll the balls in powdered sugar.

Mississippi Mud Pie

There are only a few desserts that I use whipped topping for; this is one of them. My Brady thinks it's the best thing ever. I always think of this in the summertime (from Rebecca).

Preheat oven to 325.

Crust:
1 cup flour
1 cube butter (melted)
1 cup chopped nuts (I like pecans)
Mix and pat into 9x13 and bake for 20 min. Let cool.

First layer:
12 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups whipped topping
Mix cream cheese and powdered sugar. Fold whipped topping in. Smooth over cooled crust.

Second layer:
1 small pkg. chocolate pudding
1 small pkg. vanilla pudding
2 1/2 cups milk
Mix and smooth over first layer.

Put a layer of whipped topping on top, garnish with nuts or shaved chocolate or toffee bits, etc. Chill until serving.

Strawberry Shortcake

This is currently my favorite cake for strawberry shortcake--it's not spongy and not biscuity.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2 1/4 cups white flour (I do some whole wheat)
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups milk
1 tsp. vanilla
3 large eggs

Mix well. Greased 13x9 pan for 35-40 mins. or 9 inch rounds for 25-30 mins.

Sweeten and whip cream. Slice strawberries and if you like them juicy like I do, mash them with a pastry cutter. Top cake with strawberries and whipped cream. Vanilla ice cream optional.