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It’s been a minute since Jennifer Garner treated us to an “episode” of her Pretend Cooking Show, but the wait was worth it.
In a new Instagram video posted on July 26, the The Last Thing He Told Me actress, 51, brings on a special guest—none other than her mom, Pat Garner—to share their family-favorite recipe for peach chiffon pie (well, in this case, strawberry).
“Summertime for the Garner Girls: There was always a garden. Farmers markets were king. We ate dinner on the deck my dad built. And for dessert, we had mom’s chiffon pie,” Jen writes in the caption.
“Mom’s pie had an irresistible crunch [to] chew ratio,” she continues. “Just sweet enough, not a bit more. And the filling—peaked whipped cream with berries and/or whatever stone fruit smelled fresh at the fruit stand—absolute summer heaven. Perfect for company, but with middle-of-the-week ease, this Southern Living standard felt just right for a Pretend Cooking Show with Pat Garner.”
In the video, Jen and Pat don coordinating embroidered sweaters to demonstrate the recipe, which originally came courtesy of Mrs. Clifford B. Smith, Sr., of White Hall, Maryland, and Southern Living Cookbook, 1989. “Do you have it memorized?” Jen asks her mom, who replies, “Even if it’s memorized, it’s good to check the recipe.” (A woman after our own heart.)
Luckily, you can check the recipe yourself, since the 13 Going on 30 actress shared it in the Instagram caption:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°F.
Step 2: Beat egg whites (at room temperature) at high speed of an electric mixer until foamy.
Step 3: Gradually add 1 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until stiff peaks form.
Step 4: Fold in cracker crumbs, pecans, baking powder and vanilla.
Step 5: Spoon meringue mixture into a buttered 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 30 minutes; cool.
Step 6: Meanwhile, beat whipping cream at high speed until foamy; gradually add 2 tablespoons sugar, beating until soft peaks form.
Step 7: Fold in sliced peaches and spoon evenly over meringue crust.
Step 8: Chill pie until ready to serve.
Step 9: Yum.
Perhaps the sweetest thing of all (besides the pie, obvi) is that Instagram user @clifford.b.smith left a comment on the video, saying, “That is my grandmother's recipe! So amazing to see it still being enjoyed!”
