No Mess, No Fuss Thanksgiving Pies

Some of us have a "sweet tooth" from way back! With a mother and grandmother who were experts in the kitchen every waking moment, what would holidays be without a little homemade sweetness in our life, anyway? But if staying in the kitchen for hours and hours isn't what we call our best time ever, we have the perfect solution for all us non-cooks out there!

Go ahead and collect all the time-saving recipes out there (who says we always have to have pumpkin pies?) because eventually, someday, we may find ourselves with daughters and daughters-in-love to share something with from our own kitchens. It's a fun, food project to do together, especially this time of year.

Easy, No Mess, No Fuss Pies:

5-Minute Creamy Coconut Pie

1 TB sugar

1/2 c. milk

1- 3oz pkg cream cheese, softened

1-1/3 c. flaked coconut

1- 8oz container of pre-made whipped cream

1/2 tsp. almond extract (optional, but delicious)

9-inch graham cracker crust

Beat sugar and milk into cream cheese until smooth. Fold in coconut. Fold in whipped cream and extract. Spoon into crust. Freeze about 4 hours. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before cutting. Store leftovers in freezer.

No-Bake Cherry Cheese Pie

1- 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened

1- 14oz can Eagle brand, sweetened, condensed* milk

1/3 c. lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 can cherry pie filling

1- 8oz graham cracker crust

Beat cream cheese till light and fluffy. Add condensed milk and blend. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Spoon into crust. Refrigerate a minimum of 3-4 hours. Top with chilled cherry pie filling before serving.

*Note: make sure it's not evaporated milk.

Quick Chocolate Pie

1- 4-1/2 oz pkg of chocolate instant pudding

1 c. milk

1- 8oz container of pre-made whipped cream

1/4 c. chopped nuts (optional)

8-inch pie shell

Prepare instant pudding as directed using only 1 cup of milk. Blend in 1 cup of whipped cream and the nuts. Spoon into cooled, baked pie shell. Garnish with rest of whipped cream and nuts, if desired. Chill at least one hour.

Now, go and enjoy all the tastes of the season!

“My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste” Proverbs 24:13 NLT.