Chocolate Cream Pie

My step mom is a great cook.

She's a southern gal and so most of her recipes sound a bit like Paula Deen.

And I like it that way.

Every now and then, she would stand at the stove stirring a pot for what seemed like FOR-E-VER while my brothers, sister and I would hover around the kitchen salivating.

We knew what was in that pot.

Chocolate Cream Pie

Ingredients:

1 pie shell {I use the western family 2 pack in the refrigerated section}
1 large box chocolate fudge COOK AND SERVE pudding {if you use instant, its not NEARLY as good}
3 cups milk
1 tub Cool Whip
1 bag milk chocolate chips
1 Hershey milk chocolate bar, frozen

Roll out pie crust into deep dish pie plate {if you use a shallower one, you'll have leftover filling} and bake according to directions on the box {450 degrees for 10 minutes is perfect}. Allow pie shell to cool completely. In a saucepan, mix 3 cups 2% milk with pudding mix. Bring to a boil over medium heat stirring constantly {this part sucks and takes awhile}. Before pudding is at a full boil, slowly add chocolate chips a little at time making sure they're melted before adding the next round. If you add them all at once it turns into a gloopy mess. Once chocolate chips are all added and melted, continue stirring until at a full boil. Remove from heat. Mix half the tub of Cool Whip into the pudding mixture and pour into the cooled pie shell. Chill in the fridge for 3 hours.

After 3 hours, spread remaining 1/2 tub of Cool Whip on top of pie. Using a potato peeler, shave the Hershey bar into chocolate curls over the pie {this makes it look purty}.

Place a generous slice in a plate and dig in. Shovels preferred.

♥ K8
p.s. I've given up on photos for now, our camera is being dumb and my phone takes bad pictures.

Steak and Shramp

My dear bloggees, I apologize for my lack of blogging.

Wish I had an excuse.

I've just been lazy.
{and not making anything new}

BUT!

I found a great steak marinade and created a great dipping sauce for shrimp
{or as a friend in high school always called them "SHRAMP!"}

Steak Marinade
courtesy of AllRecipes.com

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups steak sauce {I used A-1, it was most of a 15oz bottle}
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1/3 cup Italian dressing
1/4 cup honey {the original recipe called for 1/3 cup, but I didn't want it that sweet}
2 tsp garlic powder {original recipe called for 1/2 tsp, but I love garlic and it was perfect!}

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend for 10 seconds {my mother in law got me a hand blender for Christmas and this was its inaugural run}. Pour over any type of steak {we used a couple T-bones}, cover, and let it sit overnight** turning occasionally to coat all sides.

** I put ours in a gallon ziplock bag and put it in the fridge for 4 hours. It was plenty of time.

Because of the honey, it has a tendency to burn quickly so keep an eye on it!

SHRAMP! and sauce

Ingredients:

1 lb bag of frozen shrimp {thawed and dried off}
1 box of tempura batter mix {prepared as directed on the back of the box}
Oil for frying
3 Tbsp Mayonnaise
1-2 Tbsp Garlic chili sauce

Holding shrimp by the tails, dip in tempura batter and fry according to directions on the box. Drain on paper towels.

Mix mayonnaise with garlic chili sauce until well combined. Give it a taste. Too spicy? You're a wimp**. Add Mayo. Not spicy enough? Whammy. Add chili sauce.

** I do not mean to offend or belittle with this comment. It's not my fault you can't handle a little spice. Jk. But really.

I didn't know what else to make because, well, it was already a lot of food. So I made some mashed potatoes {real kind! not boxed!} and gravy {yeah, out of a packet}. And since I had all but forgotten about my blog, I didn't take pictures.

HOWEVER! This will be made again, so I'll take pictures.

With the addition of my new hand blender {Cuisinart, love it!}, Multipurpose kitchen thing {it steams! it roasts! it deep fries! it does it all!}, and my rice cooker, I'll be creating more fun recipes and finding fun new ones to share with you, my poor neglected readers.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas!

♥ K8