Thank A Cop With Pie Day

When I was on Facebook on Saturday one of my darling neighbors posted that it was National Tell a Police Officer "Thank-You" Day.  So I thanked her husband, a state trooper, and I thanked her and her girls.  I think Micheal is a great cop and I attribute part of that to the support he gets from his beautiful family.  I had purchased ingredients for peach pie on Saturday so I decided to make one for them.  Evidently pie is like puppies - two is no more trouble than one!  I don't even remember the last time I made a single pie!

My neighbors were actually the inspiration for my pie making before the Thank A Cop part came into play.  Todd and I had been over at their house for some of the best smoked chicken and ribs you can imagine and we ended up talking about this recipe.  I'd told them the story about how Todd's mom had always made German chocolate cake for him for his birthday.  Because I love him and want him to be happy I gladly picked up the tradition.  Year after year I made a big fat German chocolate cake.  One year I decided to ask what he'd like for his birthday dinner and he replied, sweetly of course, "I don't care what you make for dinner, but could you please make something besides German chocolate?  I don't really like it that much."  Ha!! Ya think you know a guy!

When I told the neighbors that he requested a peach pie that my mom makes (he doesn't really care for cake - who IS this guy?!) we started talking about the recipe and the next thing I know I'm at the grocery store buying the ingredients.  This one is so simple and delicious you'll wonder why you haven't been making it every day.  The crust is less crust-like and more muffin-like, the peaches aren't overwhelming, and it is all topped with a fantastic cream cheese mixture.

Todd's Favorite Peach Pie
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp butter
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 3.25 oz pkg Cook 'n Serve vanilla pudding (NOT instant)
1 15.25 oz can peaches in heavy syrup, drained, preserve syrup
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 9" pie pan.  Combine first 7 ingredients.  Beat 2 minutes on medium speed.  Pour into prepared pan.  Place sliced peaches on top.

Combine cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar and 3 Tbsp of the heavy syrup from the peaches.  Beat 2 minutes on high speed.  Spread mixture on top of pie/peaches to within 1/2" of the edge of the batter*.

Combine the remaining 1 Tbsp sugar and the cinnamon.  Sprinkle over cream cheese filling.  Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown.  Let cool before serving.

* I find that the crust often puffs over the edge of the pan.  You can 1) use a bigger pan or 2) place foil or a baking sheet under the pie to catch any spillover.

I told Todd I'd made one for the neighbors and he said, "Oh!  So yesterday was Thank A Cop Day and today is Thank A Cop With Pie Day!"  Such a good idea I've put it on the family calendar!  What are you waiting for?! Get out there and thank a cop!  With pie!

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