this is an *ABSOLUTE* favorite of mine. you know how second graders ask you what your favorite (number, color, animal, football team, pop artist...) food is? i often say "pomegranates" because they might just be. and it's nice to say your favorite food is a fruit, all healthy and shizz. but if we can call 'chocolate pie' a food, then this might be it. maybe a favorite food is "that which awaits an occasion to justify its creation." if so, this is most definitely my favorite food.
~ zach's baptism brunch? "great! i'll make lynda's chocolate pie."
~ The Help book club? "i'll bring "not-minnie's chocolate pie."
~ found a few pounds of butter under the frozen chicken breasts? "i'll make PIE!"
disclaimer: this deliciousness is not without teeny drawbacks, and i don't just mean that I can't count high enough to add up the calories. no. just that the pie contains nuts and raw eggs.
now, we could counter one of these issues by moving to Minnesota where they stock pasteurized eggs. but i've done that math and decided it's not quite worth the moving expenses. you might also suggest using BetterNEggs, etc., but i've tried that in an attempt to avoid the will-they-get-sick-from-my-raw-eggs? anxiety. using fake eggs is not natural/doesn't let the filling set properly. but if you're okay with a mousse-y chocolate filling, i'm not judging. chocolate is good in almost all states. i'm just sayin that if you want to follow the recipe the first time, you're gonna have to risk the raw eggs or move to minnesota (feel free to comment if your state also is wid-it). if you're here with me, i have a work-around.*
as for the nuts, well, that's simple enough: you can just forsake them and go with a strictly nilla wafer crust. worse things have happened. like your foregoing the Actual Pie. *GASP*
Crust:1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped pecans
25 (~4 oz.) vanilla wafers, crushed
1. Mix all in a pie microwavable plate, then press against the base and up the sides of the pan to form the crust.
2. Microwave for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes to set the crust. The center will burn, if you cook too long, so check it periodically.
Filling:3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cup sugar, fine baker's sugar if possible
3 (1 oz.) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs (fresh from your favorite city-chicken raiser, if possible!)
1. Cream together butter and sugar, until smooth.
2. Mix in melted chocolate and vanilla.
3. Add eggs one at a time, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl and mixing for 3 minutes after adding each egg.
4. Pour mixture into pie crust, smoothing over the top. Shave a little chocolate onto the top for decoration, if desired.
5. Refrigerate overnight, and up until serving. If you're getting all fancy and stuff, consider serving with whipping cream, oooh, and maybe some sliced strawberries (pronounced with a British accent)!
*oh, and that "work-around?" i figure it's just my duty to eat quite a bit of filling while mixing the pies (yes, plural; you might as well double the recipe), so that if someone's going to experience (delicious goodness twice, er...) digestorial disturbances, it'll be me, and I can warn the guests.
BOOKISH - Renamed "Not Minnie's Chocolate Pie" this was served at The Help.
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