3.14 madness

sometimes i go in spurts... like blogging for example. some days i will blog 3-4 posts a day and sometimes as in this blog OR my occupational therapy blog i might wait months. so i have had a 3.14 spurt. i suppose it is my way of getting prepped for the holidays!

first up, from the deceptively delicious cookbook, i bring you banana pudding pie:

this cookbook is supposed to help parents get their kids to eat good food. so the two secret ingredients in this pie are pureed cantaloup and summer squash. strange i know. it was ok tasting. not my favorite. but it did the trick.

the puree mixture... mmmmmm! ha

the reason why it isn't my fav is it called for a ready-made graham crust and due to time constraints i obliged. as my first choice with baking/cooking is homemade all the way. but as i said, it did the trick. so here i have the first step of the pie- bananas covering the graham floor.

and a little photo of the steaming squashy goodness


appetizing? ha, well wait for the next pic. you might change your mind


with a little raspberries, bananas, and mint this little pie is completely metamorphed.

here is the recipe:

1. 2 (3 oz) pkgs instant banana pudding mix
2. 1 1/2 c. cantaloupe puree (cut and core 1/2 med cantaloupe and puree in blender sans rinde)
3. 1/2 c. yellow squash puree (steam about 1/2 to 1 yellow squash with skin and once soft puree in blender)
4. 1/4 c. water
5. 2 large bananas
6. 1 (9-inch) store-bought graham cracker crust
7. 1/2 pint fresh raspberries
8. 8 sprigs fresh mint (optional)

in a large bowl, combine the pudding mix, cantaloupe and squash purees, and water, and stir with wooden spoon until smooth; spread banana slices of 1 banana over the bottom of the piecrust; pour the pudding mixture over the bananas and smooth the top; cover and chill until firm (about 2 hrs OR freeze 1.5 hrs); just before serving, garnish with raspberries, banana slices, and mint.


next up... dinner with julie's pumpkin pie (and let's just say mine doesn't look a thing like hers)

mixing (don't worry, i am still tweaking this food blog and hope to get some good photograph-y ideas from my mother on how to make my pictures a bit more appetizing)

and into the oven it goes... so does it at least count if the filling smelled before i put it in the oven?

it was a sad final product. the poor little middle had a hard time cooking through. i still have been meaning to comment and ask julie for tips. what did i do wrong?


i hate to admit it, but pie numero trois, also from dinner with julie, was a flop. well i think it might have turned out allright... but i have decided that never again will i make a maple pie. never. ever. reason being... who likes to eat a pie whose filling consists of 1.5 cups of pure maple syrup, whipping cream and cornstarch? not i!! bad move on my part. but her picture just looked so pretty.

maple/cornstarch mixture

and again with the pre-made shell. i promise, the next pie i make, the crust WILL be homemade.


again my roommate christine with the doctoring skills turned this little maple madness into somewhat of an appealing treat. i still have yet to comment on julie's blog... she failed to give instructions with the garnish. and i am not dumb. i know mine looks NOTHING like hers. hello julie, throw me a bone here!