Just~One~Donna

Ah, peanut butter pie. That rich, creamy comfort food that melts in your mouth and sends shivers of pure happiness down your spine. I, like many, have fallen victim to its tasty charms.  But my obsession wasn't born in any ordinary kitchen. No, it all started many years ago with a bite of Emeril Lagasse's  peanut butter pie at one of his restaurants.  Forget the fork, I practically inhaled that slice! Peanut Butter Pie Perfection Now, replicating a restaurant masterpiece at home can be daunting. Mountains of chopped peanuts? Hours of whisking? Not in my kitchen! I craved that silky, peanut-buttery perfection, but with an easy-breezy twist.  Enter my Emeril-Inspired Peanut Butter Pie Recipe: it makes a symphony of creamy indulgence, made possible with a few strategic shortcuts and a secret weapon you won't believe is homemade. This recipe is all about flavor without fuss. We're talking about a store-bought crust (graham or chocol...

Apple season is here, and there is nothing quite like a homemade apple pie made with fresh apples and a flaky crust. This is the apple pie I make from scratch, but one of my favorite things about this recipe is that you don't have to bake it right away. You can bake your apple pie today or assemble it, freeze it, and bake it straight from the freezer later. That makes it especially handy during the holidays. I can make my Thanksgiving apple pie ahead of time, tuck it into the freezer, and have one less thing to do when the holiday gets busy. Homemade Apple Pie: Bake Now or Freeze for Later (This post contains paid links.) I'll walk you through the whole process, including my homemade pie crust, how I choose and taste the apples for the filling, how I know when I've added enough water to the dough, and how to freeze and bake the pie later. Homemade apple pie doesn't need to be perfect. That's part of its charm. What matters is a tender, flaky crust and plenty of d...

You don't have to wait for blueberry season to make a delicious homemade blueberry pie. This recipe uses frozen wild blueberries, so you can make it any time of year. The challenge with a blueberry pie made from frozen berries is getting the filling just right. Frozen berries release plenty of juice as they bake, and no one wants to cut into a beautiful pie only to have the filling run all over the plate. My solution is Instant ClearJel. It gives me a glossy blueberry filling that holds together without becoming overly thick. Add a flaky homemade pie crust, and you have a reliable blueberry pie that's just as welcome on a Thanksgiving or Christmas table as it is at a summer gathering. How to Make the Best Blueberry Pie with Frozen Blueberries (This post contains affiliate links that support the costs of publishing this blog.) Blueberry pie can be a challenge when you are making it at home because thickening the filling's juice with the right m...

Easy Food Processor Pie Crust Without the Guesswork It's pie season, and if making pie crust makes you nervous, you're not alone. Making pie dough isn't difficult, but there are a few things that can make it go wrong. You can overwork the dough, add too much or too little water, or let your butter and shortening get too warm. The good news is that you don't have to be an expert to make a good pie crust. I use a food processor because it makes quick work of the dough and takes much of the guesswork out of the process. I'll show you what the dough should look like along the way so you can feel confident that you're on the right track.

 A simple pumpkin pie is a quintessential fall dessert.  Most of us only think of pumpkin pie during those few months of the year reserved for all things fall.   Nowadays, you can make pumpkin pie any time of year now that canned pumpkin is readily available all year.   Easy Pumpkin Pie for Fall The spices used in the pumpkin pie filling create a flavor that is for me, uniquely fall. Just gather some cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves, and allspice from your pantry.  You can make your own pumpkin pie spice by following this recipe.   

With Halloween on the horizon, it is time to start thinking about your holiday baking.  Are you hosting a holiday dinner this year?   One of my favorite tasks in planning our holiday menu is thinking about the dessert options.   As you start thinking about the pie selection for your upcoming holiday dinner, are you wondering if you should try a new and different pie, or stick to tradition?  How about trying a spin on tradition with a bourbon pecan pie? A Bourbon Pecan Pie for Your Holiday Dinner Bourbon Pecan Pie One of the traditional pies that are always a favorite on our holiday table is a pecan pie because it is my Hubby's favorite pie.  This Bourbon Pecan Pie recipe adds a twist with the addition of bourbon for flavoring.

Blueberry pie has been one of my all-time favorite desserts.  As pies go, blueberry battles for top billing with apple and lemon meringue.  They each served as stand-ins for my birthday cake when I was a kid.  I've always preferred pie over cake. Have you made a pie lately?  Any time of year is the right time to make a pie, but spring and summer are the best for all the beautiful fruits and berries that are available.  If making pie crust gives you fits, try my recipe for food processor pie crust .  It's easy as pie! How to Make the Best Blueberry Pie (This post contains affiliate links that support the costs of publishing this blog.) A Classic Blueberry Pie is Perfect for Summer Blueberry pie can be a challenge when you are making it at home because thickening the filling's juice with the right mix can be a guessing game.  I've started using Clearjel in my blueberry pie filling to take out the guesswork.  The resulting filling holds ...

How many of you watch America's Test Kitchen shows on your local PBS station?  Show of hands, please.  Well, those of you who don't have your hands raised really should check your local TV listings and catch one of the shows soon.  The programs are full of ideas and tips, like this suggestion that you can make a better pie dough using vodka as one of the ingredients.  I know, sounds crazy doesn't it? Vodka Pie Dough Pie dough is not my thing.  No, not at all.  Yes, I've been known to purchase the prepared pie dough from my local grocery store.  No, I'm not ashamed to admit it, and neither should you be.  My mom, keeps telling me that making pie dough is easy.  Yes, easy as pie.  Well, I'm finally willing to tackle the art of making pie dough.  I actually started about a year ago.  I selected different dough recipes, made some pies and compared the crust results.  I had no clear winner with my first attempt a...

Are you crazy about anything lemon-flavored? You are not alone. My lemon craving reared its ugly head this week when I started to get lemons on the brain.  Thoughts of lemons would enter my head at odd, but frequent moments.  Luckily, this lemon chess pie recipe came to mind.  This Lemon Chess Pie is the perfect antidote to a lemon craving. Lemon Chess Pie for Lemon Lovers You'll be amazed at how quick and easy this pie is to make and it is lemony delicious!