Cookie Pie & Deviled Eggs for Labor Day!

Hoping everyone had a great Labor Day!  I know we did.  Started the day off with a trip to the Saluda River with some friends.  We brought our Kayaks, they brought their canoe and we launched at the Saluda shoals park in the St. Andrews area of Columbia.  It was gorgeous, we headed down river with the current, surrounded by the wide breadth of the river, and lush green trees.  We paddled to a place called Corley Island where there are a bunch of large rocks for sunning and plenty of fishing holes to cast into.  We spent a few hours there swimming and hanging out then headed back up against the current, with the thunder clapping around us and we even managed to paddle through a few minute rain shower which was beautiful.  As the drops fell from the sky and landed on the water they sparkled like diamonds, this was because there still was a bit of sun as it rained.  After the rain cleared the combo of the cold river water and the warm rain made an eerie fog that drifted over the surface of water just ahead of us.  There was a feeling of mystique and beauty as things appeared and disappeared before us. We also discovered a rope swing where kids were jumping off a huge tree that bent over the water.  There were boards hammered up the length of the tree to assist climbers to the farthest point over the deep water, then swoosh a blurred human falling, screaming as they descended to the water with a splash.  It looked like a blast but we had our fun and were ready to head home, head home to prepare for a Labor Day Picnic at our friends!  I had already decided I would bring Dill Pickle Chips (my new fave by Lays), a jar of pickle spears, deviled eggs & cookie pie!  It was time to get off the river and home to COOK!  Nothing like a day at the river to build up a good appetite for some good ol' picnic food!  There was lots of great food at the picnic which I had meant to capture with my camera, but a few too many libations and a lot of fun distracted me from the task at hand.  Oh well, you got to live in the moment and have no regrets.  So here you have it, the items I brought to the affair and their recipes.  ENJOY!

Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are that comfort food from childhood. So simple, yet so delicious.  I think they are also an appetizer to get creative with.  I went basic on this recipe but just imagine adding chopped jalapenos for a little kick, or cilantro instead of parsley, how about bacon?, or chopped honey smoked ham.  These little guys lend to a lot of creativity, open up your minds!

1/2 dozen eggs put in a pot of water on the stove & turn on high.  When water comes to a boil, turn down to a low boil and cook for 13 minutes.  The last three minutes I crack the eggs lightly with a spoon and put a tablespoon of vinegar in the water to help loosen the interior egg membrane for easy pealing.  This is an important step especially if you buy farm fresh local eggs like we do.  Otherwise you will have a disaster peeling the eggs, the membrane won't separate.

Peel eggs, rinse, slice in half and scoop cooked egg yolks into a separate bowl.

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp Mayo
2 tsp dijon mustard
1/2 tsp cider vinegar
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried or fresh chopped parsely

Add ingredients to cooked yolks and smash together with a fork til smooth.  Spoon into cooked egg whites and sprinkle with paprika.  Serve cold on a beautiful platter.  Deviled eggs are a hit at every party!

Cookie Pie
Cookie Pie is an invention out of my great, great love of cookies. To me the thought of biting into a thick piece of cookie disguised as pie couldn't get any better.  It is the ultimate decadence of cookie eating.  It is hard to explain.  Give it a try and you will see!

Preheat Oven to 375'

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of butter
1 cup brown sugar or turbinado
1/4 cup unsalted organic peanut butter
1 Tbsp Oil
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp almond extract
2 cups Flour
2tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips

In a large bowl melt 1/2 cup butter, with your electric mixer add and mix sugar, then add Peanut butter, oil, egg, vanilla & almond extracts and mix. Then add flour, baking powder, salt (sifted together) stir til nice and moist. Add chips.  Then press batter into a greased pie pan. Bake for 18 minutes. Cool slightly and serve in slices, with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.  YUM!