Readers often admit that they are scared to attempt to bake bread. I've baked bread since I was ten years old and have made every kind of blooper in the book. Yeast holds no power of intimidation over me.
But apparently, I have a fear of chocolate pie.
My husband loves chocolate pie. Most Christmas meals are not complete without a piece of his mother's chocolate pie. When we married, it was one recipe that he wanted me to get from his mother.
I planned to learn to make chocolate pie. I love cooking to please my husband. Besides, I loved chocolate pie as much as Ed did. But something held me back.
Was it fear of failure? Was it intimidation of his mother's wonderful flaky pie crust? Regardless of the cause, the result was that I never made chocolate pie.
Last year, I told Ed I'd try to make him a chocolate pie for his birthday, but I broke my word and made cheesecake instead. Surely after almost ten years of marriage, I could have mustered up enough courage to tackle my husband's favorite recipe!
But birthdays have a way of coming around again and this month, I finally did it. I actually made a chocolate pie. The result - a pie every bit as good as Ed's mothers (well, maybe the crust wasn't quite as good, but Ed didn't complain.)
The worse (or best) part - it was easy! I have no idea why I waited so long to make chocolate pie. It was almost embarrassingly easy.
I wonder how many of my other fears would be so easily conquered if I only made the first attempt?
Now I'll share the recipe with you, so you too can enjoy an easy chocolate pie! But I should note that this recipe could strike fear for another reason, it contains raw eggs. I don't have a problem with eating homegrown raw eggs, but if you do, you just missed the opportunity to eat a wonderful chocolate pie.
Chocolate Pie
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 T milk
2 T sugar
4 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla
4 egg whites
baked pie crust
Melt chocolate, milk, and sugar at low heat or on double boiler. Cool slightly. Beat egg yolks into chocolate one at a time. Stir in vanilla. Beat egg whites until stiff. Fold chocolate and egg whites together. Pour into pre-baked pie crust and chill. Serve with whipped cream.
Looks delicious, Gina! The recipe reminds me of one for chocolate silk pie that I used to have. It was yummy!
ReplyDeleteGina, this looks like a lovely pie. :)
ReplyDeleteEven if I don't have any room to talk, I'd suggest grabbing your mother in law's recipe though! I have so longed to make a really good flaky pie crust, and I would be so grateful to have a sweet lovely lady teach me. :)
We have used some very nice recipes though, and our folks seem satisfied too. But you know how it is... I want the "good" recipe... :)
By the way, your crust looks perfect. I really think it looks delicious.
And as one of my dearest friends would say, your pie looks "absolutely divine". :) It looks delightful Gina, thanks for sharing.
That is mouth-watering! I am glad that you gave it a go. I always love having a new recipe. I must admit I do have a fear of raw eggs sovI probably won't be trying it, but that doesn't mean I can't try to substitute. :-)
ReplyDeleteAlicia
Oh Gina. :) For those who are squeamish of raw eggs how do you think this would work baked? Kind of like meringue?
ReplyDeleteThanks Carra
Carra
ReplyDeleteI have no idea. You would probably be better off finding a recipe for a baked chocolate pie.
Gina
Well done Gina! Looks wonderful, but thankfully it passed the Ed test- that's all that matters, right? :)
ReplyDeleteI tried a chocolate pie this summer that had raw eggs beaten to a frenzy and you could never have guessed that there were raw eggs in it. Of course, with farm fresh eggs, I wasn't concerned about getting ill and because of it I was able to convince myself it was a healthier pie ;) But oh my was it rich and delicious!!
Quinn-
ReplyDeleteI should have noted that you can't tell at all that this pie has raw eggs. I admit to thinking raw eggs are rather yuck myself, but after eating this pie, the rich deliciousness won me over!
Gina
Just a note for folks who fear raw eggs - - try pasteurized eggs. In my area, they are available in the same section of the grocery store as regular eggs. Pasteurization heats the eggs to a high temperature briefly before cooling them. They look and perform the same as other eggs.
ReplyDeleteBad news: these are not cheap eggs. If you do a Web search on how to pasteurize eggs at home, you will find directions on how to do this with regular eggs. I just found this out, so I've not tried it yet, but it looks feasible.
I can sympathize with fear of a Mother in law's recipe. For me it was her chocolate whoopie pies. I think it took me 3 years to ask her for her recipe. I am glad I did.
ReplyDelete