White Christmas Pie {Recipe}

This beloved recipe belongs to my husband's family.  Christmas meals would not be considered complete without Grandma Peggy's White Christmas Pie. 

Well, I was curious as to how they came upon this recipe and learned that not only is this a popular pie, there is a book who's title includes this dessert!

You could Google "White Christmas pie" but you may not find this exact version. Every recipe had used ingredients a little differently, but with the same goal in mind. A pie, white in color, creamy texture, coconutty flavor... And a resemblance of a frosty snow covered scene on Christmas morning. 

White Christmas Pie

Ingredients:

1/2 c. Sugar

1/4 c. Flour

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

1/2 tsp. salt

1 3/4 c. Milk

3/4 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. almond extract

3 egg whites

1/4 tsp. cream of tarter

1/2 c. Sugar

1/2 c. Whipping cream, whipped or whipped, cold evaporated milk (Milnot)

1 c. Moist shredded coconut

2 baked and cooled pie crusts 

Directions:

For the filling:  Blend thoroughly in saucepan: sugar, flour, unflavored gelatin, salt. Gradually stir in milk. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils, stirring constantly. Boil one minute. Place pan in cold water. Cool until mixture mounds slightly when dropped from spoon.  Blend in vanilla and almond flavoring. 

Beat egg whites, cream of tarter and sugar until egg whites are stiff. 

Carefully fold filling into the meringue. Gently fold in whipped cream. Fold in moist coconut. 

Pile into cooled baked pie shells. Sprinkle with shredded coconut. Chill several hours until set. 

Serve cold.  

Yield: 2 pies

This was my first time making this beloved family recipe. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Enjoy!

~Meghan

Thanksgiving Traditions

Traditions.  We all have them.  Whether it's feeding our bellies 'til they can't possibly hold down another slice of Grandma's pecan pie or playing football with the family.  Whether it's {dare I say it} looking through Black Friday ads to plan your "great escape" at 2 a.m. or watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while the seasoned cooks of the family get out their magic wands and produce the most delicious food.  Whether it's driving to see loved ones or inviting the neighbors into your home.  Whether it's panic mode as the host or kicking back and enjoying conversation in a slowed down moment.  Or maybe you kick back with a TV dinner.  We all have traditions.

Maybe you don't celebrate much of anything on Thanksgiving besides the prettiest bird on the table.  Or football.  

Anyhow, I have been neglecting putting any thought into the Thanksgiving holiday celebration for a long time and as far as my family goes, I want to bring about a more focused season leading up to it.  And why haven't I bothered to put much thought in to it?  Well, we have been busy (and I am laid up from just having foot surgery)... but that excuse is lame and so I come to you.

My friend, I need your help.

I want to know what traditions you have, if you're willing to share.  Big or small, it doesn't matter.  What is important is that they are special to you/your family in some way. 

So, if you are willing, please share in the comments below.  Others just might benefit from your ideas too!  Thank you ahead of time!!

And in case you are needing an idea or two for your family, here are a couple I found that sounded delightful.  Enjoy!

 I found this on Pinterest and could not find the original source.  The instructions stated that each person around the table would make a page of one thing they were thankful for then put into a book.  They also took a family picture and put it on the last page.  

How fun it would be to look through them each Thanksgiving!

 

The family over at Benedetti Buzz did this cute scavenger hunt with their kids.

We are always overrun by the number of children we try to cram into any of our homes during holidays (they totally outnumber the adults!), so what better way to keep them busy than to do a scavenger hunt!

~Meghan

Valentines Day *Updated*

Today I realize I have gone from one extreme to the other on celebrating this red/pink holiday. When we were newlyweds I thought valentines day was a silly day when people in a relationship selfishly thought they deserved some special gift as an expression of heartfelt love. I thought it ridiculous that there was a day singled out with all this pressure to "purchase our love" for one another.

Yet each year married (8 now) I secretly had wished we did something more for one another. It wasn't a big deal to me... Or so I thought. One year I will admit to selfishly being let down by unfulfilled expectations. There were tears. When did I start to want a piece of this celebration?  *added note:  Now I am thankful for the holiday, only to remind me of 3 things... 1)I am loved by God in Christ 2)I get yet another opportunity to show love to my husband (and children) 3)I have been so blessed to experience the love of my husband. 

Regardless, here I am at a new phase of life. Four children in our nest, two of them in school where they DO participate in some form... With class parties and valentines for friends. So I knew I should be on board for celebrating in some way. But this year I wanted something more, once again.

I wanted to redeem valentines day. As far as my children understand it is a day to share (get) candy or treats from others. But my heart longs for them to know of my love for them. I fail at showing that every day. And greater yet, I want them to know the love their Heavenly Father has for them. This is my prayer this Valentines day and every day to come.

Since having baby #4 in December I have not been able to keep up with things at home. With three kids it was easier to pretend little messes weren't there. Now it is blatantly obvious! So I managed to do one thing with the kids to celebrate and the house is a disaster. *sigh*

Here's some pics from our day.

Can you tell we had melt-downs?

Taste testing helped calm down a demanding toddler.