*Favorite* Family Fudge Pie

As a self-proclaimed chocolateholic family, this fudge pie is the pie to end all fudge pies!  This is seriously delicious.

The baker? .... my husband!  He turned out this perfect chocolate delight one lazy Sunday afternoon between church services when I mentioned to him how "I would just LOVE some chocolate and coffee right now" as we were relaxing.  I heard some littleclanging and rustling in the kitchen and in a matter of 20 minutes he had a gorgeous pie in the oven!! 




I am so blessed to call this man mine!!!

He dug up this fudge pie recipe card we've had for probably a decade or more in my recipe box, but I can't tell you where it came from because I have no idea.  This is a classic fudge pie, not to be confused with chocolate meringue or a brownie pie.  It has a deeply rich center and baked in a pie crust. 

I'll let you in on one of our favorite desserts here... It's this very fudge pie served with a scoop of coffee ice cream, dollup of homemade whipped cream, and chocolate or caramel syrup drizzled all over each piece for an over the top delicious family recipe we endearingly call the "Heath-sinker" after a Pattis 1800 Settlement pie recipe we love. Now that is something to share with your best of people!

This wonderful Sunday he served it up hot from the oven with whipped cream and some favorite dark roast coffee.  Perfection!



The unexpected afternoon nosh definitely hit the spot for my craving and was made for one happy wife!  We watched a good Amazon Prime original show called Doctor Thorne while the kids napped.  It made for a pretty perfect Sunday!

Randomly baking a pie for me..... well to us, that says LOVE.  Almost 12 years married, and I have a man who is just as fun now as ever! 

And just as cute!!!

Just look at the deliciousness going on. Just beautiful!  The pie, too. ;))

That fudge!  Don't you want the recipe???

Here you go.

Family Fudge Pie

3/4 c. butter

3- 1oz. chocolate squares

3 eggs

1 1/2c. sugar

3/4 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. rea; vanilla extract

3/4 c. chopped pecans, toasted

(Roast pecans in a single layer on 350 for 7-8 minutes, stirring once, til toasted and fragrant.)

1 Pie crust (I use the refrigerated roll out.)

Preheat oven to 350. 

Melt butter and chocolate together in saucepan on low heat.

Beat the eggs well at medium speed for 5 minutes with an electric or stand mixer. 

Gradually add sugar til blended.  Gradually add chocolate mixture, flour, and vanilla beating wil blended.  Stir in the pecans. 

Pour mixture into pie plate that is prepared with a crust.

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the center is firm. I personally recommend eating while still warm, but that's how I role.

You are so welcome!

Very Berry Cobbler

Just imagine for a minute...

Summer berries tossed in good ole white sugar and a dash of cinnamon.

Piled into a dish topped with buttery crust and washed with frothy egg. 

Showered in a veil of sugar.

Baked until the crust is golden and crisp, and the fruit is bubbly and oozing from it's pockets.

That dear Friends, is very berry cobbler, and it's a cinch to make.  

Even easier to EAT!!

That said...

Very Berry Cobber

Serves 6

1 pkg. of Frozen mixed berries + extra 1 c. Frozen strawberries, since I love strawberries (Yes, frozen. I said easy!)

1/2 c. granulated sugar

3 Tbsp. cornstarch

Dash of ground cinnamon

1 of your favorite pie crust (I had homemade pie dough in the freezer from months ago.  I use Pillsbury refrigerated usually.)

1 egg

2-3 tsp. granulated sugar

In a large bowl mix frozen berries, sugar, cinnamon and cornstarch together.  Pour into a buttered 8 or 9 inch pie pan.

Roll out your dough generously in flour, if using homemade.  Carefully place overtop.... Imperfect crust is beautifully rustic!

In a small bowl whisk together one egg and a splash of water.  Brush all over the crust.  (You will have leftover egg.) Sprinkle sugar all over to finish.

Bake at 375 degrees F for about 45-50 minutes or until crust is very golden.  Allow to cool for about 20 minutes before digging in this rustic cobbler.  Enjoy a bowl with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Apple Pie & Autumn Days

I Love Autumn!!!

There is something so comforting about fall's sights, smells and, of course, tastes. 

 

 

You know what I mean ... the crisp blue sky and the colors in nature going from summer's green to rusts, golds, plums, and blazing red.  

 

The smell of leaves on the ground (you know what I'm talking about) takes me back to my early childhood.  Jumping in huge piles of freshly raked leaves with my little brother is a favorite memory of mine!  My children are loving the beautiful colored leaves on the ground and collecting them along with acorns for a little fall "display" on our porch!  Precious.

It's pumpkin patch time, and we all go as a family for the very first time!! Here we are riding out to the patch together on a wagon!

 

What a dream come true for us...  Something I've looked forward to for many years! 

 The children's eyes lit up, as did my heart when they ran through the patch finding their perfect pumpkin!!

 

Back at home, get out the comfy throws and add an extra blanket to the bed for chilly nights in our upstairs attic-like master bedroom.  Blankets are my friends in cold weather, just ask my husband! 

 

This time of year our homes begin to smell like Grandma's house with vanilla, cinnamon, and pumpkin fragrances wafting in and out of rooms.  

 

We bring out our cozy recipes that simmer long and slow and start baking desserts that are really our favorite, like pumpkin spice muffins and pecan pie. 

 

And apple pie!  

 

 

Windows are opened again during the day to air out and cool off, and fireplaces are ablaze at night and early morning.  

 

Rainy days that bring in cold fronts give an additional excuse to light our candles and brew afternoon coffee... Such as this particular day last Saturday.  A perfect day!

The children were resting, and Mr. Cozy and I had an impromptu date in our living room!  I made Nana's (perfect) apple pie to really give us a taste of the season.  He made amazing coffee with extra fluffy foam on top.  He topped it off with a dusting of Pennsylvania maple sugar that Papa gave us as a yummy gift. Oh my!!

Melt in your mouth apple pie, perfect coffee, rainy afternoon, candles and sharing it all with the love of my life!.... What could be better?!

My new book, Women Living Well!!!  

When my blog "friend" Courtney Joseph just released her first book, I had to preorder it.  I was thrilled it came in on a rainy weekend so I could really dig in and read!!  

And oh, how it's a good read!

Courtney loves Jesus with all her heart, and she has an amazing online ministry (Women Living Well).  She is so lovely in spirit and genuinely enjoys all things home & family as I do, but she is also very real and relatable!  When I read this book, I feel as though she's talking to me in my own home, as a friend does.  This book is encouraging to read and the more I do the more I want to serve my family and draw closer to the Lord.  She and I have never met, but we certainly could be close friends!

(There are a few of you whom I feel the very same way about:)

Y'all really need to try out Nana's apple pie recipe (delicious!) and also this book if you haven't yet!   

My life has even more facets now, but I still like to keep pleasures simple, and I draw the rest I need from God's love and grace.  He is the only constant in our changing lives, and the return of Autumn reminds me of that. :)

 

If you love apple desserts like we do, you must check out my Caramel Apple Cake and Best Apple Crisp!  

 

 Linking up with friends at:

 

 

 

 

*Best Loved* Derby Pie

 

Dear Ones, this pie is amazing!!!

I wrote about this recipe 3 years ago when I first started this blog, but it's well worth sharing again!  This derby pie is not only a family favorite on my hubby's side, but has become a personal favorite pie of my own! 

 

As you may know, derby pie is a Kentucky favorite that originated in Louisville, Ky.  I've seen recipes of derby pie that seems more like a pecan pie with a custard-like texture and others with the addition of bourbon, but I still think this recipe is the best! 

 

 

If you love chocolate chip cookies at all, you will go crazy over this!  It's full of pecans and chocolate chips and is a little gooey and very rich!  I used refrigerated pie crust that I fluted or "ruffled" and gave a milk bath followed by a sugar shower.  Yes, it's worth the fuss, for this pie is serious business around here!  I adopted this recipe from my mother-in-love, where we usually have it at her Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.  I've had other's children ask me to make this for their birthday, and adults want to pay me to make this derby pie for them!  It is reeeally good!  (And it's super easy to make...ssshhh! ;)

 

If you want a slice of what Kentucky homes taste like at the holiday season, make this delicious pie!  Please enjoy every day of this beautiful Christmas season the Lord has given us, because I know it will slip away quickly into winter solace.  After just putting our tree up, I'm sitting by it now and taking in the moment! 

 

 

*Best Loved* Derby Pie

 

1 c. Sugar

1/2 c. (1 stick) Butter, softened

1 Egg

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1/2 c. Flour

1 c. Chocolate Chips

1 c. Pecans, chopped

 

1 Refrigerated Pie Crust

Half & Half or Cream

1 Tbsp. Sugar

 

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

 

Get the crust out of the fridge and allow to set 20 minutes before using.  Unroll, arrange crust in a pie pan, and flute the edges.  Set aside.

 

Mix all of the pie ingredients together and pour in the pie crust.  Spread out evenly.

 

 

With a pastry brush brush the half and half or cream all around the fluted edge of the pie.  Next sprinkle sugar on top of the crust to give it a gorgeous sheen and sparkle!

 

 

Bake for 35-38 minutes.

Let cool for 30 minutes-- if you can--before slicing and serving!

 

 

 I'm linking up with friends at:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Luscious Banana-Brownie Pie

 

 

If you have wondered where The Cozy Little Kitchen has been, this month is a busy one for us; but it's also a very good one! 

 

Mr. Cozy has been on vacation for the past couple of weeks!  In that time we've taken a wonderful trip to Chicago with his family, and my sister got married in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains last weekend!  (That's a whole other post!!!)  It's been a busy and joyous month to remember!

 

I just wanted to take some time to share with y'all a delicious pie recipe I made recently.  This is a recipe I've been meaning to make for years!  It came out of one of my favorite cookbooks--Keeping Good Company--which is a charming cookbook filled with absolutely delicious recipes and adorable illustrations.  Not to mention, it looks cute on my cookbook shelf!

Back to the pie...YUM!  It starts with a golden crust and filled with layers of brownie, fresh bananas, cream cheese, homemade whipped cream and bits of chocolate toffee bits sprinkled over the top!  It's an easy recipe with a few steps, but all of them are worth it when you have the finished result. 

For the brownie pieces, you can buy 4 brownies at the bakery or just use an inexpensive brownie mix, like I did.  I actually added chocolate chips to the brownie mix to make them a bit richer. 

I recommend making homemade whipped cream for the topping.  It's so easy!  All you do is pour some heavy whipping cream into the bowl of your mixer and add a bit of sugar and dash of vanilla as it's mixing.  Whip on high speed for a minute or so after adding the sugar, or until the mixture is fluffy.  If you mix too long, though, you'll end up with butter.  This extra effort of homemade cream will be what sets this pie apart!

 I made this banana-brownie pie to take to a friend's house, and we devoured it even after the big meal!  It's probably one of the best pies I've ever had!    

 I had to treat myself to a coffee topped with some frothy whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon while I was making the pie....

 

 Here's some snapshots of my messy kitchen as I was making the banana-brownie pie.  It's a good kind of messy when something so wonderful is at the end of it all!

 

 

 

 

I'll be back on here soon to share some pictures of the memories we've made the past few weeks!!! 

 

 

 Banana-Brownie Pie

 

1/4 c. Butter

 

3 oz. Cream Cheese

 

1 1/2 c. Powdered Sugar, sifted

 

1/4 c. Heavy Whipping Cream

 

1/2 tsp. Vanilla

 

3 Bananas, sliced

 

1 (6 oz.) can Pineapple Juice

 

4 Brownies

Cut into 1 in. pieces 

 

1 Baked Pie Crust

(I used refrigerated crust with egg wash)

 

1/2 c. Chocolate-Toffee Bits or Chopped Pecans

 

Whipped Cream, for garnish

(I used homemade.)

 

 

Beat butter and cream cheese together until creamy; gradually add powdered sugar alternately with whipping cream.  Stir in the vanilla.  Set this filling aside.

 

Toss banana sliced in pineapple juice; drain.  Pat sliced dry with paper towels.

 

 

I scored my pie crust before I baked it so the crust wouldn't shrink in the pan. 

 

Spoon half the filling into baked pie shell. 

 

 

Arrange banana slices on filling.

 

 

Add the cut up brownies around on the bananas.

 

 

Top with remaining filling.

 

 

Top with fluffy whipped cream and add chocolate-toffee bits or pecans.

 

 

Refrigerate until serving.  I recommend no longer than 8 hours.  Enjoy the compliments you'll receive for this decadent pie!

 

 

 

I'm linking up with friends at: