Coocoo for Coconuts

Happy Tuesday, dear, dear readers.  I hope the beginning of your week is going along smoothly.  I didn't go in to work yesterday, so it's basically my Monday, though it hasn't been as bad as the usual Monday.  *whew*  I'm also on the late shift at work so I don't have to be here at the crack of dawn...so...YEA!!

Anyway...Saturday was game night with the bestie and her hubs (which also happens to be bestie with my hubs).  I don't know what it was about Saturday, but I just wasn't feeling it.  It was probably because I was stressed after a little trauma involving my little boy (he's ok, but it stressed me out).  Either way, I didn't have as much fun as I usually do.  I'm getting sidetracked.  They came over for dinner and since we usually have them over to our place, we told them it was their turn to bring dinner.  They brought delicious potato soup (I'M STILL WAITING FOR MY RECIPE BEN!) and Italian bread.  We provided the salad, some protein (the hubs insisted that bacon in the soup was not enough protein) and dessert.  After dinner, and after the kids went to bed, we played my new Trivial Pursuit game: Bet You Know It.  We had a lot of fun with that - it's a *little* different than the typical TP games, but it was still full of great questions.  Once we'd had enough of that, we went on to Rock Band - good times were had by all - except for Ben.  He slept on the couch.  What an old man!!  They didn't end up leaving til about 2:30.  Let me say this: I am too old to stay up past 2 in the morning!!  Maybe without the kids, but with the 1- and 4-year-old waking up at 6:30, notsomuch.

I wanted something different for dessert so I went surfing my fave recipe site: Allrecipes.  After much searching and tossing a couple recipes to the side, I landed on Coconut Cream Pie.  My mom isn't a fan of coconut, so we didn't ever have this pie around the house.  My sister and I really like coconut, so I did this for her (even though she lives 800+ miles away). 
  
Coconut Cream Pie 

3 cups half-and-half
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup flaked coconut, toasted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 (9-inch) pie shell, baked
1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed 

In a medium saucepan, combine half-and-half, eggs, sugar, flour and salt. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in 3/4 cup of the coconut and the vanilla extract. Pour into pie shell and chill 2 to 4 hours, or until firm. 


Top with whipped topping, and with remaining 1/4 cup of coconut.

To toast coconut, spread it in an ungreased pan and bake in a 350 degree F (175 degrees C) oven for 5 to 7 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. 


NOTES:  I took the suggestions from some of the reviews and instead of flour, I used cornstarch, a can of coconut milk and half-and-half to make up the 3 cups. 

By the time we got around to having pie, I didn't feel like toasting the coconut to put on top.  I don't think it made that big a difference - it just made the whole pie kinda boring to look at.

 

This was really good - especially for my first time making a cream pie.  I think next time I'll try banana cream pie. Mmmmm!! 

Speaking of my mom...she started her own blog yesterday.  It's called More Than Quilting and you should go over there and take a look!  What can I say?  I'm just a bad influence.

And while we're on the topic of pimpin' blogs, go check out one of my favorite cooking blogs: From the Kitchen of: Mrs Bettie Rocker.  She's hosting a giveaway of a $40 CSN Stores gift card.  This place has it all: furniture, cooking tools, clothes, fun stuff for the house.  So, stop on by her blog, follow her (if you want) and tell her I sent you.

Sorry for the blah pictures.  The pie was better tasting that the pictures suggest.  I'm off to get some work done.  Imagine that!  Have a terrific rest of your Tuesday.  See you tomorrow for Workout Wednesday!

I am *fighting* with Blogger today.  Is anybody else having issues???

Listening to: A Bad Dream by Keane
Mood: Monday?