THE SUN IS OUT! 
I think we’ve gone six straight days in dreary darkness, so this day couldn’t come quick enough. It’s absolutely gorgeous outside – it least 50 degrees too!
I celebrated by cutting up a fresh pineapple this morning and snacking on it for a light breakfast while I prepared some dinners for the upcoming week. 
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – the world would be a much happier place if we could all have fresh pineapple every morning!
Around noon, Ben and I went over to my parent’s house for lunch – my Aunt’s Italian Sausages, Coleslaw and Fresh Fruit were on the menu!
My Mom made this simple coleslaw salad by combining a bag of pre-cut coleslaw with dressing made with a little sugar, vinegar, olive oil and other spices – including dry mustard, which tasted really, really good!
Like mother like daughter – she had fresh pineapple and strawberries for us too! Us Iowans know that when pineapple goes on sale at the grocery store – you snatch it UP! 
And those unforgettable Italian Sausages…omg… Local, spicy Italian sausage links, simmered in homemade marinara sauce. Unreal! Usually I eat them with a nice, crusty roll and some melted provolone cheese, but I was saving my carbs for…
Chocolate Mint Pie!!!!
Seeing as how St. Patrick’s Day is this week, I thought a fun, minty and greeeeen dessert would be fun to bring. 
St. Patrick’s Day Chocolate Mint Pie
Ingredients:
1 package sugar-free, fat-free instant chocolate pudding
1 1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 teaspoon mint extract, divided
1 1/2 cup whip cream, divided
green food coloring
12 mint Oreo cookies
1 pre-made Oreo cookie pie crust
Directions:
1. Place Oreos in a plastic bag and crush until the cookies pieces are the size of marbles.
2. In a medium sized bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Whisk for 2 minutes, or until it is soft set. Fold in 3/4 cup cool whip and 1/4 teaspoon mint extract. Gently fold in 1 cup of crushed Oreos.
3. Pour filling into pre-made pie shell and spread until even.
(spatula licking is mandatory!)
4. In a separate bowl, combine 3/4 cup cool whip, 1/4 teaspoon mint extract and green food coloring. Pour on top of the pudding and spread until even.
5. Top with remaining Oreo cookie pieces and chill for it least 1 hour before serving. Enjoy!
Sweet, crunchy, chocolaty and minty – what more could you ask for?!
This tasted just like a big, Thin Mint – oh.yum! The best part is that it came together in mere minutes and is perfect for a quick & easy St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Give it a try!
Well, it is too gorgeous a day to be stuck inside – so I’m heading outdoors. I’m taking my new kicks out for a run!
See you!
You are a baking genius! Wish I could have tried a slice:)
That pie looks killer!!
I love anything chocolate mint!! That pie looks AMAZING!
Can I come to your mom’s for sunday lunch???
That pie looks awesome – perfect for St. Patty’s Day! I love pineapple too, such an awesome tropical snack.
Ooops! I initially mistook those pineapple slices for french fries. Forgive me for my dirty mind.
That pie looks amazing! I LOVE the combination of mint and chocolate…enjoy the nice weather!
Good gosh woman, how good does that pie look!? I’ve never seen a green and black dessert look so delicious! Lucky you
Your mom’s sunday lunch always looks so yum. Especially that sausage.
Pineapple is so delicious! I wonder if its more delicious than that pie though because that sure does look tasty
your pie looks delicious!!
- I’m glad you’re having a nice day! I think we got your rain (here in Ohio) though– it’s been non-stop for two days. Cold and dreary
Yummy! About a week ago, strawberries were on sale – delicious, red, ripe strawberries. They were absolutely heavenly. Like your pineapple, I imagine. Ooo, we (husband and I) tried your pulled pork last night. It was a HUGE hit! And now we have some portioned for the rest of the week, and some in the freezer for later. Amazing.
Hope you’re enjoying your run.
Look at you and your beautiful pictures/recipes! I agree with you about pineapple! It’s almost as good as fresh mango!
that pie looks incredible!! perfect for st. patty’s day and today (happy pi day!)
I buy up Pineapple on sale too. I love to eat a ton of it. Much better than canned.
[...] Oh and some fresh pineapple that I cut up this weekend! [...]
I am totally making this recipe tomorrow or wednesday!!! great step by step instructions.
i made the oreo pie tonite, but with a few alterations:
my grocery store did not have any mint oreos, so i used keebler grasshopper cookies instead (like thin mints). the only bummer is that i dont get the nice green color from the oreo cream filling
i also used mint chocolate chip instant pudding instead of plain chocolate. i am so excited to try it tomorrow! thanks for the great ideas!
Oh my gosh- I can’t believe I am just now finding your blog, especially since it looks like we frequent some similar ones. The more I read/look through posts the more I love! Once I saw this post I had to add you onto the ol’ Google Reader- I LOVE< LOVE< LOVE mint chocolate! SO think you might have just won my heart! hehe!
Can't wait to read more! ~ Christie
http://rollerkoesterrun.wordpress.com/
I made the pie! Best thing ever. people at work are devouring it.
[...] In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I made Kristin’s chocolate mint pie. [...]
[...] this weekend, so maybe i’ll get a pic up! anyways, it was a chocolate mint pudding pie, a la Kristin and with a few [...]
Quick question — what size instant pudding box? The grocery store had two sizes, so I bought both. You didn’t specify and I tried to save/zoom in on the picture but it’s too blurry
I’m making it today, so I appreciate a response, please. Thank you so much!
P.S. You’ve hooked me (and my boyfriend, after he closed his eyes to drink his first one) on green monster smoothies
can i use vanilla extract instead? i realize it won’t taste as minty, but do u think that’d be alright?
Kristin- I’m making the mint oreo pie tonight for guest dessert! (only change I’m making is to make the top whipped cream layer with ice cream instead). I appreciate all your dessert ideas- they always turn out great. Thanks!
[...] as a St. Patrick’s Day dessert. I was tempted by this super fast and delicious-looking Chocolate Mint Pie, but I really needed something from scratch (premade Oreo pie crusts are few and far between in [...]