late night pudding pie.

i wasn’t going to post tonight, but i figured i may as well let you guys know what i have been up to all day.

the first 8 hours of my day were spent in quickbooks hell.. i was reconciling bank accounts like it was my job. oh.. wait.. it is my job.

after work i came home and ate more granola and cereal than what is deemed acceptable by society. i absolutely, positively have zero self control when it comes to really tasty granola. it’s not a pretty sight.

i made it to the gym today for the first time since last thursday. i still feel like garbage, but i was sick of being a slug. i did a 25 minute biceps/triceps workout followed by 20 minutes on the bike reading a mag. nothing too crazy, but it was good to get moving and work up a sweat.

after the gym i headed to dinner with some lady friends. we went to trio and i had chicken noodle soup, salad, and wine. cure for the common cold? perhaps. i definitely felt better when i left.. but i have a feeling that had to do with the company, not the food.

i still had to swoop by the store on my way home. i finally made it back to my kitchen a bit after 10 PM and i got to work on my late night project… pie.

my co-worker’s birthday is tomorrow, and instead of buying a typical cake at costco, i wanted to make him one of his favorite desserts. my boss is his dad, so it wasn’t too hard to figure out what dessert to make. he emailed his wife and she quickly emailed back a recipe for a dessert i had never even heard of. my boss said they call it better than sex pie. i have heard of better than sex CAKE (and have made it SEVERAL times).. but never better than sex pie.

i haven’t tried this pie, so i am not sure it lives up to its name.. but i guess we will find out tomorrow!

i thought i would share the recipe with you guys.. and i am calling it cream cheese pudding pie until i make my own judgment about the whole better than sex label. i followed her recipe aside from the fact that i made my own whipped cream–i grew up eating fresh whipped cream and i won’t be buying cool whip any time soon. or ever.

recipe from my boss’ wife. makes one 13 x 9 inch pie.
takes about 30 minutes to make, at least 2 hours to chill.

ingredients

for the crust:

• 1 1/2 c (180 grams) all purpose flour
• 3/4 c (6 oz) salted butter, softened

first layer:

• 3/4 c (6 oz) heavy whipping cream
• 3 T sugar/evaporated cane juice
• 1/2 t vanilla extract
• 1 c (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
• 1 c (110 grams) powdered sugar
• milk to thin, if needed

second layer:

• 3 cups cold whole milk
• one large package of jello chocolate instant pudding

third layer:

• 1 c (8 oz) heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 c (60 grams) sugar/evaporated cane juice
• a few chocolate chips

directions

1. heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. combine butter and flour in a mixer with paddle attachment (or mix  by hand.)
3. line a 13 x 9 inch pan with foil or cooking spray. press mixture into pan evenly.
4. bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
5. meanwhile, combine 1/2 c heavy whipping cream, 3 T sugar, and 1/2 t vanilla in a mixer with whisk attachment (or use hand mixer) and beat until it is whipped cream.
6. add cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk (if needed) and mix until combined. you should have a thick, smooth mixture.
7. layer this mixture onto cooled crust.
8. next, combine cold milk and pudding mix in a mixer and beat for two minutes (or mix with hand mixer) until pudding thickens. let stand five minutes.
9. pour pudding over cream cheese layer.
10. combine remaining whipping cream and sugar in a mixer (or use hand mixer) and beat until you have whipped cream.
11. spread the whipped cream over the pudding layer.
12. use a microplane to shave chocolate over the top of the pie.
13. chill for at least two hours before serving (but overnight is best.)

photo tutorial

heat oven to 350 degrees.

combine butter and flour in a mixer with paddle attachment (or mix  by hand.)

line a 13 x 9 inch pan with foil or cooking spray. press mixture into pan evenly.

bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

meanwhile, combine 3/4 c heavy whipping cream, 3 T sugar, and 1/2 t vanilla in a mixer with whisk attachment (or use hand mixer) and beat until it is whipped cream.

add cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk (if needed) and mix until combined. you should have a thick, smooth mixture.

layer this mixture onto cooled crust.

next, combine cold milk and pudding mix in a mixer and beat for two minutes (or mix with hand mixer) until pudding thickens. let stand five minutes.

pour pudding over cream cheese layer.

combine remaining whipping cream and sugar in a mixer (or use hand mixer) and beat until you have whipped cream.

spread the whipped cream over the pudding layer.

use a microplane to shave chocolate over the top of the pie.

i also made a "C" for corey.

chill for at least two hours before serving (but overnight is best.)

i hope this is a hit with the birthday boy (and the rest of the office) tomorrow!

before i go to work, i have a VERY important appointment.. penny and randy have their doggy daycare interview. send us good vibes so they get in!

check ya later.

UPDATE! we just had the pie at the office and it was a major hit. everyone loved it. probably because it is the most unhealthy thing i have made in months.. but that’s okay, right? however.. i still think sex is better. and so is ice cream. but that’s just me.

Q~ what dessert/recipe would you classify as "better than sex"?

xo. janetha g.