Puddin 'n' Pie From 'Mother Daughter Dishes'
"[Photograph: Erika Shafer ] Pudding and pie: it's the best of both worlds. Mother Daughter Dishes takes a salty crust made of crushed pecans, spreading a layer of sweet cream cheese, vanilla pudding, and finally, whipped cream, atop it. The entire thing is chilled until set, to form thick squares of cool, sweet richness. Why this recipe works: * * Though the components of the pudding pie are very different, they're united by the flavor of vanilla. It's mixed into the whipped cream, and the pudding. The pecans and cream cheese fit right in. * * The only reason to turn on the oven is to bake the pecan crust; after that, the oven can be switched off, and the refrigerator can do the rest of the work—ideal for summertime desserts. Excerpted from Mother Daughter Dishes by Cheryl Najafi (CherylStyle Publishing). Copyright © 2014. Photographs by Erika Shafer...."