Sumptuously Simple Pies for Spring
by Michelle Jones

Perfect for Spring and Summer holidays... easy, elegant desserts start with Mrs. Smith's pies - Spring is in the air! It's time to kick back, stop and smell the flowers. Meals should be simple and hassle free.

Mrs. Smith's Restaurant Classics pies are the foundation for delectable dessert recipes perfect for springtime entertaining.

Surprise family, friends and chocolate-lovers alike with a Mrs. Smith's French Silk Chocolate pie. Add a Bananas Foster topping and they'll never be satisfied with just ice cream again. And, because this gourmet dessert is so simple to prepare, you'll still have time to enjoy a spring walk or bike ride with the kids.

Other Restaurant Classics pies include Authentic Key Lime, Cappuccino and Peanut Butter Silk. Each is created with the highest quality ingredients for the rich, sumptuous taste found on gourmet restaurants' dessert menus.

You can "quick-serve" a Mrs. Smith's Restaurant Classics pie by thawing one slice at a time and returning the rest to the freezer (not recommended for Authentic Key Lime). Or, thaw an entire pie in a few hours by transferring it from the freezer to the refrigerator.

The recipes below give you a few simple ways to add your own touch to Mrs. Smith's Restaurant Classics pies.

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French Silk Chocolate Pie with Bananas Foster Topping
1 Mrs. Smith's Restaurant Classics French Silk Chocolate pie, thawed according to package directions

3 large bananas

2 tablespoons orange juice

3 tablespoons butter

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup toasted coconut

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon coconut extract

Peel and cut bananas into 1/2-inch bias-cut slices. Place banana slices in a bowl and drizzle with orange juice; set aside. In a 2-quart saucepan, heat butter with brown sugar and toasted coconut until the sugar has dissolved, approximately 5 minutes. Add the cream and heat approximately 2 minutes more. Add cinnamon, vanilla and coconut extracts and bananas. Continue to heat and mix together lightly. Let mixture cool slightly before serving over slices of Mrs. Smith's French Silk Chocolate pie.

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Authentic Key Lime Pie with Tropical Fruit Topping

1 Mrs. Smith's Restaurant Classics Authentic Key Lime pie, thawed according to package directions

1/4 cup lime juice from concentrate

3 tablespoons powdered sugar

1/2 cup refrigerated papaya slices

1 star fruit, sliced

1/2 cup strawberries, sliced

1 kiwi fruit, sliced

Mix together lime juice and powdered sugar; gently stir in fruit. Chill. Serve with a slotted spoon over Mrs. Smith's Authentic Key Lime pie.

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Cappuccino Pie with Crispy Chocolate/Espresso Sauce

1 Mrs. Smith's Restaurant Classics Cappuccino pie, thawed according to package directions

2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup old fashioned rolled oats (available in whole food markets and health stores)

1 cup heavy cream

6 ounces dark chocolate chips

2 tablespoons espresso

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter and mix with sugar and nutmeg. Place oats in a 13"x9" baking pan and drizzle with butter mixture. Place in the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown. Remove and cool. Heat heavy cream to a simmer. Add chocolate chips and espresso; mix well stirring until smooth. Drizzle sauce over a slice of Mrs. Smith's Cappuccino pie and garnish with toasted oats.

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Courtesy of ARA Content, www.aracontent.com, e-mail: info@aracontent.com