Friday is PIE DAY!

This week's pie was inspired by 3 things.  First of all, I had about a cup of dates left over from last week's baking.  Not that I can't eat a date all on it's lonesome, but they just seemed to be whispering their desire to make it into a pie.  Secondly, I recalled a date and orange pie recipe that I had seen in a church cookbook. My recollection was of this pie being a custard like filling, and I wanted to switch that up a bit, and add some coconut (is it coconut or cocoa-nut?). My third inspiration was a method used in the mini cakes that I made last week.  I liked the idea of mixing the egg yolks in with the main stuff, then beating the egg whites and folding them into the filling.  This creates a sponge-y, or cloud-like, layer on top of the pie.

Date Coconut Cloud Pie

1 9 inch pie crust
1/2 c butter
1/ 1/4 c sugar
4 eggs, separated
1 c chopped dates
1 c coconut
1 T orange zest
2 T orange juice concentrate

-cream butter and sugar
-add egg yolks and blend thoroughly
-stir in dates, coconut and orange
-beat egg whites in separate bowl until stiff peaks form
-fold egg whites into date mixture
-pour into prepared pie shell
-bake at 300 degrees for 50-55 minutes

I LOVE it when a pie surprises me, and this one certainly has.  Honestly, I wasn't sure if this one would pan out.  It seemed like it might be a pie that was good enough, but nothing great.  Wrong.  I love this pie.

Make one for your mother this weekend, and she'll know that you love her.