#377 - Caramel Apple Pie

(by Shirley McNevich)

35 Kraft caramels, unwrapped
3 TBSP milk
1 graham cracker pie crust
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 cup milk
1 - 4oz. package Jell-O instant vanilla pudding/pie filling
1 1/2 cups thawed Cool Whip
1 - 21oz. can apple pie filling

Place caramels and 3 TBSP milk in medium microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute or until caramels are melted--stir until smooth. Save 1/3 cup caramel mixture in small microwaveable bowl--cover it and refrigerate. Pour remaining caramel mixture into pie crust and top evenly with pecans. Pour 1 cup milk into large bowl and add dry pudding mix--beat with wire whisk 2 minutes. Gently stir in Cool Whip. Spoon this mixture into crust. Freeze 4 hours (preferably overnight). The next day, spoon apple pie filling over frozen pie. Microwave reserved 1/3 cup caramel mixture on high 30 seconds or until caramel is smooth. Drizzle over pie filling. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before serving. Store leftover pie in the freezer.

#375 - Banana Pudding Squares

(by Shirley McNevich)

35 finely crushed Vanilla Wafers (use a Ziploc bag and rolling pin to crush them)
1/4 cup melted butter
1 - 8oz. package Philly cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup Domino's powdered sugar
8oz. thawed Cool Whip
3 ripe bananas
3 cups milk
2 small boxes Jell-O instant vanilla pudding/pie filling
1/2 square Baker's semi-sweet baking chocolate, grated

Crush vanilla wafter in a Ziploc bag using a rolling pin--mix crushed wafers and butter in a bowl--press into the bottom of a 13 x 9 x 2 baking pan. In a bowl, mix cream cheese and powdered sugar until well blended, then stir in 1 1/2 cups of Cool Whip. Spread this mixture evenly over the crushed wafer crust--set aside. Cut bananas in half crosswise, then cut each piece lengthwise in half. Arrange over the cream cheese mixture. Pour milk into large bowl, and add dry pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes, then spoon over bananas. Spread remaining Cool Whip over the top. Sprinkle evenly with chocolate. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving.