Cheap, Easy, and Delicious Cheesecake Pie

My mom developed this recipe years ago because she loves cheesecake but couldn't afford the ingredients. Cheesecake can be an expensive treat, but this hits the spot without sweetened condensed milk and only one package of cream cheese (if you want). I didn't even know there was such a thing as baked cheesecake until I was about 12 or 13! I have tried other no bake cheesecakes but they are always too light and fluffy for my taste. My feeling is that cheesecake should be dense and creamy. This recipe holds a special place in my heart.

Crust:
1 package graham crackers-crushed
1/3 cup butter, melted

Mix crumbs and butter together to make the crust. Press into a pie tin.

Mix the following ingredients in order in blender mixing between additions:
1/3 cup hot tap water (scant)
3/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp butter, softened or melted
1 2/3 cup instant milk powder
(The above equals 1 can sweetened condensed milk)
then add 12 or 8 oz cream cheese, softened (12 is better, but 8 is cheaper)
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract

Pour mixture into crust and refrigerate at least one hour or until set. Top with fruit if desired. Enjoy!

Super Easy and Delicious Banana Dream Pie

I am usually a big fan of making everything from scratch, but this banana cream pie always gets rave reviews and it is seriously one of the easiest thing to make. To make it even easier, use prepared whipped topping to finish.

Ingredients:

• Nilla Wafer Crust (either homemade or store bought)
• 3 envelopes DREAM WHIP whipped topping mixes
• 3-1/4 cups cold milk, divided
• 1-1/2 tsp vanilla, divided
• 2 pkgs (4-servings each) JELL-O instant pudding, banana flavored
• 1-2 very ripe bananas

Directions:

1. Beat 2 whipped topping mixes, 1 cup of milk and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed 6 minutes or until topping thickens and forms peaks.
2. Add 1-3/4 cups mik and pudding mixes; beat on low speed. Beat on high speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. 
3. Slice ripe banana and arrange the slices to cover the bottom of the nilla wafer crust. Spoon pie filling into crust.
4. Mix remaining whipped topping mix, 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 tsp vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until blended.
5. Beat on high speed for 4 minutes or until topping thickens and forms peaks.
6. Top pie with the prepared dream whip.
7. Refrigerate at least 4 hours.

Pie Crust Cookies

I made these the other day because I had left over crust after making chicken pot pies. They are so amazing that I might make pie crust simply for these cookies! If you want a quick treat use frozen pie crust.

Simply roll out pie crust to about a 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out cookies in desired shapes. Place on greased cookie sheet. Brush cookies with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Bake at 400º for 7 minutes.

Pie Crust
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup shortening or cold butter cut into pieces
6-7 Tbsp water

Combine flour and salt. Cut in butter or shortening. Add water by the Tbsp until moist.

Swedish Apple Pie

My mom brought me a bunch of apples from her tree last week so I needed to come up with creative and healthy ways to use them. I came across this recipe in a cooking magazine and loved it! This recipe is a mix between cake and a crustless pie. The ingredients come together so quickly I couldn't believe it. This is also a great substitute for coffee cake. The best part about it is the 175 calories per slice, most apples pies are between 400-600. I made it even healthier by substituting 1/3 cup agave for the 1/2 cup sugar. If you don't like nuts you can omit them for a cakier pie. I did a half and half since my husband likes nuts and I don't. He said the nuts made it for him, but I liked it without. Serve with vanilla ice cream if you want.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 egg
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 medium apples, chopped
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted
• Confectioners' sugar, optional

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flours, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. In a small bowl, whisk egg and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in apples and walnuts.
• Transfer to a 9-in. pie plate coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar if desired. Serve warm. Yield: 8 servings.