November 26, 2013

Time flies...and ice cream pie

I can hardly believe Thanksgiving is upon us again.  We've all been talking about Thanksgiving being "late" this year but I still feel like it got here in a big hurry.  I wish I could somehow will time to slow down but it does just the opposite.  I have to admit that it makes me a little sad in a way...life seems to whiz by faster and faster every year.  How is my son eight already (...never mind my own age!) and how does one calendar and school year seem to clip right along one after another.
Keeping it simple - Ice cream pie, with oreo cookie crust and vanilla chocolate chip ice cream
Alright, let me snap out of it because this is no time for wistfulness!  The best thing to do is to enjoy life to the fullest, take each holiday and celebration as a blessing.  While Christmas is my true love, I still think Thanksgiving is a lovely holiday for family and feasting, and I feel lucky to have a very long list of things to be grateful for.

So I'll be in the kitchen on turkey, gravy, and biscuit duty and then I'm off to enjoy an eclectic family feast of Asian-American goodies.  So it's time for turkey, it's time for sides, and it's time for pie!  
For dessert, I'm keeping it basic with a simple ice cream pie.  I've tried my hand at pumpkinchocolate, and brownie pies (in the days before this blog, there was once a sweet potato pie, too) but in thinking about the little ones in our extended family, I know ice cream will be a true crowd-pleaser.  It's never too cold and you're never too full for ice cream, right? So for my Thanksgiving dessert contribution this year, I went with a simple ice cream pie, made with an Oreo cookie base, filled with homemade vanilla chocolate chip ice cream.  So easy and practically stress-free!

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope your day is filled with good eats and great company.  May your meal meal fill you up in more ways than one.


Crust:

My son loves Oreo cookies so this one's for him.  I processed about 20 of them (use Oreos or any other chocolate cream-filled cookies) with 3 tablespoons of melted butter in a food processor.  I say "about" because would you believe I went to Target about a week ago and they were out of regular Oreos!  In the interest of keeping things stress-free and going with the flow, I bought a couple of bags of mini Oreos instead and used those along with the handful of regular size cookies (they were actually Joe-Joe's) I had at home.  In case anyone wants to know, 4-5 minis equal a regular size.  I used 4.
I pressed the crumbs into my pie pan and baked it for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees, until fragrant.  Let cool at room temperate and then chill the crust before adding the ice cream.

Ice cream:

Fill the pie with whatever ice cream you like, store-bought or homemade.  I went with homemade vanilla chocolate chip.  I used this very simple, very easy Philadelphia-style (no egg) vanilla ice cream recipe.  At the very last couple of minutes of churning, I added 4 ounces of finely chopped dark chocolate into the machine.
Now the pie's all wrapped up tight in the freezer, ready to go for Thursday.  I love a simple make-ahead!  


Recipe:

Ice Cream Pie
Crust recipe adapted from The Pioneer Woman; Ice cream recipe from The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz

- For one 9-inch pie - 

For the Crust:
20 whole Oreo (or other chocolate-cream) cookies
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grind the cookies in a food processor until fine.  Add melted butter and pulse to combine.  Turn the crumbs onto a 9-inch pie plate and press firmly down and up the sides of the pan.  Press pie pan onto a baking sheet and bake until fragrant, about 10 minutes.

Let cool to room temperature and then chill in the fridge for at least an hour or two before adding the ice cream.

For the ice cream:
1 quart store-bought (softened until just spreadable) or homemade ice cream 

I used homemade vanilla chocolate chip ice cream.  The vanilla ice cream recipe is: here.  About a minute or two before the ice cream is finished, I added 4 ounces of finely chopped dark chocolate. The consistency of the just-churned ice cream is perfect for filling into the pie.

Spread ice cream evenly into the chilled pie crust, using an offset spatula to smooth over the top. Cover and place in the freezer for at least a few hours before serving.  






48 comments:

  1. I agree, this year does seem to be flying by so quickly...I can't believe it's almost December already!
    This pie looks so good and refreshing Monica! I love ice cream and would rather have this as my dessert after a heavy meal. You can never go wrong with an Oreo crust either :) Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with lots of laughter and yummy eats:)

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    1. Where did this year go, right Kelly?! My son is eagerly awaiting his slice of ice cream pie. It's always nice to gather around the table. Thank you and you have a wonderful weekend!

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  2. The ice cream pie looks freaking good!

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  3. I agree, it's never too cold for ice cream! I love this ice cream pie, looks easy and absolutely delicious! Happy Thanksgiving Monica!

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    1. Thanks, Nazneen. I just felt like making a sure-thing and something really easy this year. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, too!

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  4. Happy Thanksgiving Monica!!!!!!!!!!!! :) This ice cream pie is just sooooo cool! I've never made one before but after reading your post I'm definitely giving it a try! I have a tub of strawberry cheesecake in my fridge can't wait! :D

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    1. Appreciate it, Samina. I hope you make your own ice cream pie soon. Couldn't be much easier and you can absolutely have fun with the ice cream flavor. : )

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  5. I love the holidays! As soon as Halloween comes, the rest of the year flies by. Thanksgiving certainly helps to remind us what we are thankful for, even though we should give thanks 365 days a year. Being with family surround by food is my kind of day, holiday or not, and this pie would be a perfect addition to any dessert table! Yummy!
    Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

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    1. You said it perfectly, Tina. I'm thankful everyday, too, and it's nice to have a non-gift-giving holiday to show the kids it's nice to just get together with family, have a nice meal, and talk about how lucky we all are. Time really flies. The last quarter goes in a heartbeat...and it's definitely my favorite time of year. I can never wait til Halloween is over. : P

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  6. You are definitely never too cold or full for ice cream! This pie looks so good! For my birthday when I was little my mom always bought an ice cream cake or made an ice cream pie - and I always loved it. And you're right - time is just flying flying by at warp speed. I'm trying to just enjoy every minute of the holidays!

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    1. My birthday's in August so I'm huge on ice cream birthday cakes, too! I've also been making an ice cream cake for my son the last few years and it's so fun (he has a summer bday too) to pick the flavor and stuff. I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving. As busy as everyone is, I think we're all trying to savor it as much as possible. Have fun!

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  7. It's so true that time just seems to whiz by these days. I was reading something once that tried to explain it and it made sense- When you're 2 years old, it takes forever for a year to go by because it's half of your life! 1/4 of your life when you're 4, etc. But for us older folks, a year is such a minute percentage of our lives that it really is nothing at all. I guess that's why it's so important to really be present and savor the day-to-day events, something that my husband is constantly reminding me to do!
    Anyway, moving on to this pie :) It looks so yummy, and I could certainly eat ice cream all year long. What a great idea for a Thanksgiving dessert!

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    1. Oh gosh, that does make a ton of sense! No wonder it feels faster and faster each year when the year itself is always the same length! I thought I was going insane or somehow having a child just makes time speed up! I just realize that all I can do/control is how I enjoy my life - it still goes by too fast but I am making every effort to be in it and to enjoy it. Thank you, Amy! Have a great Thanksgivukkah!!

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  8. That pie looks amazing! I haven't had ice cream pie in . . . well, in a very long time. Thanks for the inspiration, and happy Thanksgiving!

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    1. I remember buying those ice cream pies in the freezer aisle. You're right...I haven't had one in a while too. Good thing I can grab a slice very soon. Thank you for stopping by! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  9. This year went by so fast! I can't believe it's Thanksgiving either. Crazy! Love the pie!

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    1. So true...way too fast but we just can't seem to stop it. Enjoy the holiday season!

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  10. Can I come to your Thanksgiving gathering? This looks amazing! And yes, even though it is "late" this year, Thanksgiving definitely came quick!

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    1. lol...I'm sure your Thanksgiving gathering will be amazing. Thanksgiving definitely doesn't feel "late" to me but what can you do but just enjoy every second of it. Thanks, Dawn.

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  11. This pie looks like the perfect Thanksgiving dessert, indeed! It sounds lighter than most, so it's definitely a nice choice!
    I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving, Monica! x

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    1. Thanks, Consuelo. I went with the no-egg ice cream since it's a tad lighter. It's also very quick and easy to make! I'm all about keeping things calm and enjoyable this time of year. Anyway, lots of things to eat coming up. Have a great one! : )

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  12. Happy almost Thanksgiving, and compliments on your pretty pie!

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    1. You enjoy yours, Alyssa! Happy Holidays! : )

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  13. Happy Thanks giving Monica, the pie looks good!

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    1. Same to you, Balvinder. I hope you have a wonderful day with your family.

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  14. Time does fly Monica especially if you have little ones to share it with. This is such a lovely make-ahead dessert and definitely a crowd pleaser. The pie crust is my favourite part...how delicious! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

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    1. Thank you and same to you and yours! I finally realized you can't stop time even when you sit still and try to so I'll just live it to the fullest and eat plenty of dessert! : )

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  15. haha that is so true- there is ALWAYS room for ice cream :) Even when you've been stuffed with dessert! I've never thought of using ice cream as a filling for a pie, but I reckon this is an amazing idea! And the pairing with the oreo crust makes it even better! Must give it a go some day ;)

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    1. Hi Von - thank you. It turned out amazing! I must not have had an ice cream pie in ages because it was way better than I expected it to be. haha

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  16. Time does fly fast monica ... It was like yday I came to USA.. today I am celebrating my 3rd thanksgiving here.. its always exciting and full of yummy foods :) This pie really looks pretty :) I love it

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    1. Wow - I hope you enjoyed your 3rd Thanksgiving in the States! It's a nice holiday...

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  17. This will be my brother's favourite. He loves cookies and cream.. Although Thanksgiving isn't big in Asia but it's catching up now. Thanks for coming over to my blog. Truly appreciate the support given. Stay in touch. ♥ Jo

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    1. Hi Joanna - it was my pleasure. I'm glad I saw your lovely crepe cake! : ) Thanksgiving is a holiday we adopted when we moved here as well when I was a kid...I really like the sentiment behind it. : )

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  18. You are so right Monica, this year is just flying by too fast. Don't know why.
    An icecream pie is perfect after a warm and cozy dinner. I love how your pie looks.
    Have a great THANKSGIVING and a great weekend.

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    1. Thanks, Asha. I hope you're able to slow things down a bit and savor the moments. I know you do, with all the great meals you create and share with your family.

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  19. wow, finger licking good!!!
    what a great idea, will be the crust is still crunchy until you put it back to the freezer????

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    1. Hi Dedy - yes, the crust is still crunchy and the pie slices quite nicely and stays intact. Of course, it's not exactly a fresh Oreo cookie in texture but it is still crunchy and just frozen and compact. I hope that makes sense. It was really terrific! The kids flipped over this simple, easy ice cream pie like they never would if I were to have made some "real" serious pie concoction. : )

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  20. Hi Monica. Time is flying by! I think it flies even faster once you have a little one. This pie looks heavenly. A perfect treat in honor of your son! Thank you for sharing it with us!

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    1. It does go by so fast and picks up speed with the little one, for sure! They keep you so busy!! My son and his cousins devoured most of this pie! They really loved it so much - it warmed my heart. And it is so simple, with such a huge payback. : ) Hope you had a great Thanksgiving with Lucy!

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  21. What a fun Thanksgiving dessert! Ice cream is always a crowd pleaser!

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    1. Hi Christin - thank you. Ice cream is comfort food, I think. :)

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  22. It's freakishly scary how quickly time is passing by. I could have sworn November just started like it was yesterday and now we are moving into December. Where did the time go? I can see why this pie was successful with the kids. Homemade ice cream? Then you have an Oreo cookie crust? Never mind the kids, this will be a success with adults too! :) Love this pie Monica. Great post!

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    1. This last quarter of the year - particularly end of Nov through New Year's is just a blur! Let's all try to enjoy it as much as possible and live in the moment. That means lots of Christmas treats and hot chocolate. Ice cream pies, too! Thanks, Anne!!

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  23. i'll tell you what: i wish someone had made ME an ice cream pie for thanksgiving. :) that's a great choice for a holiday usually filled with regular pies which aren't cold and frosty like this one. i love it.

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    1. This pie was a lot of reward for not very much work! I plan to make the kids another ice cream pie for our x'mas party. Can't go wrong with go 'ole ice cream! : )

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