Oreo Pie (also known as Dirt Pie)

This recipe was submitted by my great friend and co-worker, Dessi. It's simple and easy to make. If you're in a rush you can buy and use ready-made Oreo crust. Also, instead of using the 13x9x2 pan, you can use a trifle bowl and make multiple layers - no crust needed, just use all the crushed cookies for your layers. For Halloween, try adding a few gummy worms!

1 lb of Oreo Cookies
2 cups of sugar
2 8 oz of whipped cream
1 8 oz of cream cheese whipped
1 package of instant chocolate pudding (vanilla pudding is good too)
1 cup of margarine (I really use only half a cup)
1 13x9x2 pan

Crush 1 pound of Oreo cookies.

Set aside 1 cup crushed cookies. Put the rest of the crushed cookies in the pan and add margarine. Press cookies to make the crust in the pan (refrigerate for 30 min to an hour).
In separate bowl mix 1 cup of sugar, 8 oz of whipped cream, and 8 oz of cream cheese.

Layer the mixture over cookie crust. Mix chocolate instant pudding for 5 min and layer over the cream cheese mixture. Then, spread the other bowl of whipped cream over the layer of pudding and sprinkle the 1cup of cookies over the whipped cream.

Spinach and Bacon Quiche

Quiche is one of the easiest dishes to make. Simply combine ingredients for the filling, pour into a pie crust, and bake. Be creative with the filling. Try using some of your favorite foods. Broccoli, ham, tomatoes, Swiss cheese, asparagus, garlic, sausage are just a few examples of items that can be used.


6 oz Frozen Spinach, cooked and drained well
1/2 lb. Bacon, cooked & crumbled
5 Eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 c. Fresh Mushrooms, sliced
1 c. Milk
1-1/4 c. Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
2 Scallions, chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 9" Pie Crust, uncooked


1. Combine first 7 ingredients.
2. Pour mixture into pie crust.
3. Bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes or until middle is done.

Beef Bourguignon

While my daughter was visiting we watched the Julie/Julia movie which is about a woman, Julia, cooking through Julie Child's entire cook book and then blogging about her successes, mishaps, and down right disasters. The movie inspired me to try my hand at Beef Bourguignon, which was the first major meal Julie Child cooked. With Michael's help, the meal was a great success. We served it with garlic mashed potatoes and french-style green beans.


2 lb topside or round steak, cubed
Plain flour seasoned with salt and pepper
3 Tbsp. oil
4-5 slices of bacon
12 small pearl onions
1-1/4 c red wine (I used a Merlot)
2 c beef broth
1 tsp dried thyme
6 oz button mushrooms
2 bay leaves
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion salt

1. Heat oil in large pan and fry bacon until crisp. Take out of pan and crumble into medium-sized pieces. Set aside.
2. Toss the beef in the seasoned flour shaking off excess and brown each side well in same pan that you fryed bacon in. Remove and set aside.
3. Add onions to the pan and cook until golden.
4. Add remaining ingredients, still leaving beef and bacon aside.
5. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered for 1-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally and adding the beef and bacon the last 15 minutes.
6. Enjoy!