Peppermint Pudding Pie

Peppermint Pudding Pie

Every year around this time, I look forward to making my peppermint pudding pie recipe.  It is super easy to make, and it is reduced fat, and reduced sugar.  And yes, it is still really yummy, you do not even miss any of the extra fat or sugar.  I have a little bit of a sweet tooth, but because I am diabetic I have to really watch what I eat, so I modified this pudding pie recipe.  Here are a list of the ingredients you will be using...
Low fat Cool Whip
2 Packages of Sugar Free White chocolate instant pudding
1 cup Skim milk
2 tsp. Peppermint extract
Roll out dough pie crust
peppermint chips, or crushed candy canes

Before you start mixing the ingredients for your pie, get the oven preheated to 450 degrees.  You will bake your pie crust first.  The Pillsbury Pie Crust work the best, I have tried the off brand, but it is not the same.
Roll out your pie crust, you will only need one.  Then place it in a oven safe pie dish.  You then have to pinch the sides all the way around.

 It looks like this before you smooth it out and pinch the sides.

This is what the pie crust should look like before it goes into the oven.  The directions say to bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  I usually leave mine in for just about 8 minutes.  You just want it to get a slight golden brown like this...

So now while your pie crust is cooling you can get started on the pie filling.

In a large mixing bowl, add 2 packages of the sugar free white chocolate instant pudding, and 1 cup of skim milk.  Mix together until you get a thick smooth mixture.

Once you get this thick smooth mixture, then add the cool whip.  I either use one large tub of cool whip, or two of the smaller tubs.  I mix in a little at a time.  I also now add the 2 tsp. of peppermint extract.

Once it is all mixed together, then add the pie filling into your cooled pie crust.  I then add the peppermint chips, or crushed peppermint to the top.  And it is just as easy as that.  This pie is refreshing and light, and will leave you feeling less guilty about eating a holiday dessert!  Hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and please give this recipe a try, you will not be disappointed.

~Gretchen

These are a few of my favorite things....for the holiday season

So for the holidays I have a few favorite things that I enjoy this time of the year.

1.  Seeing all the beautiful window displays at local antique shops.  This photo was taken of an antique shop window display in New Albany, IN.  My cousin, aunt, mom, and I spent the afternoon shopping at their local boutiques.

2.  Vintage ornaments on my little silver tinsel tree.

3.  I absolutely love collecting Cody Fosters glittery holiday houses.  Each one is so interesting, and tells a story with all its little decorations and details.  This pink one happens to be my favorite!

4.  I love this ornament because of the color combination of red and turquoise.  I love using those two colors together during the holidays.  You should try using red and turquoise while wrapping your packages.

5.  Making ornaments with my boys is a holiday tradition that I look forward to every year.  This year we made these little pine cone elves.  Each one is as individual as my boys are.  I have the directions on how to make these on the previous blog posts.

6.  My glittery, sparkly, shoes are a holiday staple!  I love wearing them every chance I get during the holidays.

7.  Nothing says Christmas more than fresh greenery all around.  I love the way it smells and looks.

8.  Elf on the Shelf is another holiday tradition that we have at our home.  I love to see the look on my boys' faces when they find where the elf is hiding every morning.

9.  This is a garland that I made for my mantel this year.  The garland reads "JOYFUL", because that is what we should feel this time of the year.  I made it with vintage script paper and some scrapbook paper, along with some glittery snowflakes and snowmen.

10.  I try to add a few vintage ornaments to my collection each year.  It is so fun going out antiquing and finding all these lovely treasures.  Each one has such history.

11.  This is an ornament that I made last year at the Creative Connection Event.  I just love little birds, and I adore this little birdie perched on her nest, wearing a crown of course ;)

12.  And last but not least, I love the way department stores decorate for the holidays.  It just makes shopping even more fun.  I enjoy hearing the Christmas carols ring through the store, and all the workers seem happy to help.  Everything seems more magical when you add Christmas lights to it!

I'd love to hear what your favorite things are this holiday season.  I took all these photo's using my iPhone, and they were posted to my Instagram account.  Instagram is a fun iPhone app, that I highly recommend.  If you would like to follow me, I have a link on my blog page(the one with the little camera).   Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season!

Until next time...

XO~Gretchen