Chocolate Pie

In the South, recipes are almost always associated with somebody. It's not just a Lemon Cheese Cake—it's Aunt Vivian's Lemon Cheese Cake. And they're not just baked beans—they're Aunt Joyce's baked beans. This chocolate pie recipe is rumored to have come from our friend Billie, who is a legend in my hometown. We have all memorized her bakeware so we can spot her food at church socials. Mama, my cousin's wife, Jenny, and I got a little too anxious for a piece and didn't let it set entirely. That is NOT Miss Billie's fault. She can't help it if we lack self-control. (Special thanks to Jenny for stepping in as photographer so that I could focus on the chocolate. That's her with her husband—the aforementioned cousin—serving my wedding cake a few years back. Jenny and I, it seems, have a history with dessert.)

COOKIN' IT UP

STEP 1: Separate two eggs, dropping whites into a "perfectly clean" stainless steel bowl and yolks into a separate small bowl. Set aside.

My Two Cents: If you've never mastered the delicate back-and-forth flipping of the eggshell halves to separate eggs, you can actually crack a raw egg into your cupped hand and let the whites slide through your fingers, leaving the yolk in your palm. It looks and feels disgusting. But it'll get the job done. You'll definitely want to wash up with soap and water afterward.

STEP 2: Use a fork to prick bottom and sides of a "bought" refrigerated pie crust. Bake at 450 till crust is a light golden brown.

Mama: "I just judge it."

My Two Cents: Check it every 10 minutes or so—maybe a little more frequently when it starts to brown—to avoid that burnt-to-a-crisp look that I'm so good at. It should take 15-20 minutes, which will give it time to cool a little while you make the filling and meringue.

My Other Two Cents: Prepping for a church social, I once overcooked a cobbler, which Daddy assured me was still perfectly edible. "But it's Billie's recipe," I said, "and she might be there." Daddy thought it over and came up with the perfect solution: "Put her name on your dish." (Like anybody would believe Billie has ever burned anything.)

STEP 3: Sift the following dry ingredients into a small mixing bowl: 1 cup sugar, 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa, a pinch of salt. Use a whisk to thoroughly mix them together.

 

 

STEP 4: Whisk egg yolks into 2 cups of milk, then SLOWLY add egg/milk mixture to dry ingredients, whisking together as you go.

 Mama: "You can't cook with skim milk. I sent your daddy to the store for whole milk for this pie."

My Cousin Jenny's Two Cents: "I'll tell you what, I threw that whisk out and got myself a spoon. Everything gums up in a whisk."

 

 

STEP 5: Cook chocolate filling in a boiler on medium-high heat, stirring constantly, till it thickens into the consistency of, well, oozy mud. The more it thickens, the more you need to stir.

STEP 6: When it's thick enough to "sheet off the spatula," add 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1/2 stick of butter. Stir till butter completely melts. Pour into pie crust and set aside while you make the meringue. Preheat oven to 350.

 

 

STEP 7: Add a pinch of salt and 1/4 tsp cream of tartar to egg whites, and beat at high speed with an electric mixer. When soft peaks begin to form, gradually add 1/4 cup of sugar, beating as you go, until you have stiff peaks.

Mama: "If it's a cloudy, humid day, don't even start a meringue."

 

STEP 8: Spoon meringue over chocolate pie filling.

Mama: "What you want to do is seal your edges with your meringue. And try not to get your chocolate mixed up in your meringue." [She uses her spoon to press the meringue down around the edges, sealing in the chocolate filling.]

STEP 9: Bake just until meringue is slightly golden brown—about 10 minutes.

Mama: Don't open your oven door so much because it lets the heat escape. Just use your oven light and look through the door.

STEP 10: Place pie in fridge, and don't go near it till it has completely cooled and set. Yeah, right.

 

Comments

[Jenny]

Val, the pie was delicious even though we didn't wait long enough. Who cares!!!!

[valerieluesse]

Daddy issued this invitation to somebody a couple of days later: "Hey, you want to come out and have a glass of chocolate pie?" Guess we'd better let it set a little longer next time!