Old-Fasioned Coconut Pie

I was a judge at a ward party last year and had to taste over 20 pies to find a winner. When I tasted Taya Borrowman's coconut pie, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It was like nothing I had ever tasted before. She got my vote for the best pie of the night. (Although my friend Laura Gould's apple pie was heavenly and the best apple pie I had ever tasted.) I asked Taya if I could have the recipe. Instead of just emailing it to me (or referring me to a blog), she actually made a pie for me and dropped it off with the recipe! How amazing is that? This pie has now made it's way onto our exclusive Thanksgiving pie list.

1 stick butter

1 1/2 c. sugar

3 eggs

3 T. vinegar

1 t. vanilla

1 c. coconut

2 T. heavy cream

Blend sugar and butter. Add eggs and blend well. Add vanilla, vinegar, coconut and cream. Put in unbaked pie shell and bake 1 hour at 325 degrees. Top with fresh whipped cream.

Pie Crust

I stink at pie crust-really stink at it. I also really don't love pie crust, which doesn't help motivate me to make it. When my I tasted my friend Taya's pie crust and loved it so much, she gave me the recipe. However, I still haven't quite been able to succeed and make mine as good as hers. Maybe someday I will perfect it, but until now, I will just keep trying.

1 1/4 c. flour
1 T. sugar
1/2 t. salt
3 T. shortening, cut into pieces
4 T. butter
4-5 T. ice water

Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a small bowl.  Add in shortening and butter and mix until you have pea-sized pieces.  Add ice water one tablespoon at a time until a stiff, play dough like dough forms.  Form dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour.  Let chilled dough warm to room temperature.  Roll into pan.  Cook according to pie directions.

Mud Pie

This is the James' Family traditional pie that is made every year for Thanksgiving. Rick grew up with it and it sometimes doubled as his birthday cake (since often his birthday fell on Thanksgiving). My mom was always so sweet to make it when we came to her house for dinner so that Rick would feel at home. It's a big hit with my kids and it's always top on the Thanksgiving pie list.

2 pie crusts, baked
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 c. powdered sugar
2 c. cool whip
1 lg. chocolate instant pudding
1 lg. vanilla instant pudding
5 c. milk
cool whip

Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar and 2 c. of cool whip together until smooth. Spread a layer of mixture on the bottom of the 2 pie crusts. Mix together both packages of pudding with the milk. Pour pudding on top of cream cheese layer. Top pies with cool whip. Chill before serving.

Banana Cream Pie

This recipe is from my amazing sister-in-law, Mary Cozzens, and came from her mom. It's the yummiest banana cream pie I've ever had. Now that I'm thinking about Thanksgiving, I need to make sure this recipe is at my fingertips when I get ready to start the pies.

1/3 c. sugar
3 T. corn starch
1/4 t. salt
1 1/2 c. milk
2 egg yolks, beaten
2 T. butter
2 t. vanilla
2 egg whites with 1/4 c. sugar
2-3 bananas
2 pie shells, pre-cooked
whipped cream

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn starch, and salt until blended. Slowly add milk and egg yolk and whisk on medium heat until thick and bubbly. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla, whisking until smooth. Cover with wrap and cool to room temperature. Beat egg whites & sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites into pudding. Slice bananas into bottom of pie shell; add pudding and top with more banana slices and whip cream.