Cheap and Easy Recipes: Emergency Pie

The name says it all. “Cheap and Easy,” which could be the name of an Eagles song. However, inn this case, it is a way to make a pie: The Emergency Pie.

Presented to me as a pie one makes when they have forgotten to make something for Christmas, a dinner party, the make or break garage sale, you name it.

Now I can live up to the promise I made to a friend, after complaining that a party would have no punch and no pie. I am not coming through on the punch. I’m sorry, Emily. I failed.

Here’s what you need

• Pie crust
• One can of condensed milk
• ½ cup lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 package of cream cheese

That’s it. For an entire pie.

I decided, though, to jazz it up. A little high-end living. I sliced up strawberries.

Now pay attention, this gets complicated:

Put everything (minus the crust) in a bowl and thoroughly combine.

Still with me? I know this is not Cordon Bleu, but I trust your stirring moves.

In the crust lay down the pie filling you’ve recently created. If you want berries, almonds, chocolate chips or Hasbro brand Furbies, go for it. Or, if you feel daring, maybe peanut butter cups. Whatever it is, add them here as you lay down the filling.

 

You can see I felt ritzy and threw some on top. Mismatched, out of line strawberry slices.