Birthdays are special and need to be celebrated. And my lady friends and I always celebrate birthdays with luncheons. No presents -- just cards and sometimes they are rather "naughty"!
Friend Anne's birthday was last week and I had originally planned to celebrate on Saturday when we dined together at a restaurant. But, alas, she and her husband had other plans! So Birthday Anne was put on hold!
Until Friday when a group of us met at The Grind (our town's luncheon/sandwich shop) with cards in hand. Usually the kind folks at The Grind do a cake but I had a plan . . . a special dessert for Anne.
She had visited a restaurant in Bentonville, The Station Cafe, had a piece of their walnut cheesecake pie and fell in love. As she related to me, I don't like any pies but fruit pies!
And when we were down in Arkansas, we had to go to the restaurant, and had to have a piece of that pie.
The recipe, it seems was a secret for she had politely asked if he would share it. And he wouldn't. The waitress even told her that he wouldn't even give it to them!
I savored each forkful of my piece of pie trying to figure out exactly what it was and how I could recreate it -- for I know that Anne's birthday was a few weeks away.
It was a "two layer" pie -- the bottom layer being a pecan like pie only made with walnuts and the top layer was cheesecakey.
I googled to see if I could find a recipe (now wouldn't that be simple) but alas, there was none!
So with some thought and some googling, I came up with what I thought was a way to make this very special pie for Anne.
And for her birthday luncheon on Friday, I took this pie . . .
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| It's fun to try to replicate something you've eaten! |
Which I shall call Anne's Walnut Cheesecake Pie! Friend Anne deserves to have her pie named after her! I thought it was good but not quite the same as the one in Arkansas. She was kind -- she thought it was better!
As she wrote me:
TIM ASTOUNDED with Martha's incredible effort
and success for creating an even more yummy version on our
Bentonville treat! Truly ASTOUNDING! We can never underestimate you!
And the pie . . .
ANNE'S WALNUT CHEESECAKE PIE
8 ounces package cream cheese, softened
4 large eggs, divided
3/4 c. sugar, divided
2 t. vanilla, divided
1/4 t. salt
1 1/4 c. chopped walnuts
1 cup light corn syrup
Preheat oven to 350.
Beat cream cheese, 1 egg, 1/2 c. sugar, 1 t. vanilla and salt at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Put aside.
Whisk together corn syrup and remaining 3 eggs, 1/4 c. sugar and 1 t. vanilla.
Put walnuts in the bottom of the pie crust in the pie pan. Pour corn syrup mixture over the top. Dollop blobs of cream cheese mixture over the walnut filling.
Bake at 350 for 50 to 55 minutes or until pie is set. Cool or a wire rack 1 hour or until completely cool.
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| Anne's Birthday Arkansas Walnut Cheesecake Pie |
There was a little left and it went home with her. The TIM in her email refers to her husband. I haven't shared the recipe with her yet -- just the pie. But I will, oh, yes, I will!
And I really think the name should be changed to Anne's Birthday Arkansas Walnut Cheesecake Pie!
7 comments:
Lucky Anne to have a friend like you! She must have been thrilled when this dessert appeared.
I can only imagine! (Until the right occasion comes up to make "Anne's Pie"!)
I so envy your ability to taste and create, Martha. What a thoughtful and special gift you gave your friend.
Thanks for sharing the recipe.
What a unique pie! Success--you had it!
This morning I am trying a sour cream raisin pie. I had one years ago in Branson tea room that was best ever...cook left and too the recipe! The internet helps but I have not seen exact stuff. So like you, I am piecing together from recipes ane memories...hope this works to SOME degree!
Martha,
The renaming of the pie is "quite a mouthful", dear friend! I never underestimated that you wouldn't be able to come up with the recipe!!! Indeed the owner would have been much wiser to have given the recipe to you! Look how many people would have come to his establishment when in the area for a piece of HIS...now YOUR delicious pie! Thanks for sharing the recipe!!!
Fondly,
Pat
The pie sounds delicious!
Wow does this look great! Thanks for sharing and thanks for your visit too!
How sweet to create a special pie for your friend!
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