Today’s recipe is from The Book Club Cookbook by Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp, a compilation of 100+ recipes from favorite classic and contemporary novels. The thoroughly delicious book review is up at Bookshelf Bombshells.com.
I simply could not resist trying Demetrie’s Chocolate Pie from The Help by Kathryn Stockett. If you read the book (it must have been in the movie, too) you know the pie I’m talking about — the best chocolate pie south of the Mason-Dixon line — with a little extra bit of something dark and rich in it if you happen to be a nosy racist b*tch.
1 2/3 cups water
5 tbsp. Sweetened cocoa powder, such as Ghirardellis (must not contain milk)
3 tbsp. Cornstarch
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
3 egg yolks, beaten
2 tablespoons butter
1 tsp. Pure vanilla extract
1 9-inch ice shell (plain or graham cracker) **See graham cracker recipe below
whipped cream (or if it’s not too humid, you can top with meringue)
- In a medium-size cool saucepan, mix water, cocoa, and cornstarch with a whisk until all the lumps are gone, making a paste. Stir in condensed milk and egg yolks. Heat to just under a boil and stir until it’s thick.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in butter. Add in your good vanilla, and keep stirring well. Turn off the heat and let it cool some. Pour into a prebaked pie shell, store-bought if that’s how you do things.
- Let the pie set up in a cool spot, like a plug-in refrigerator, covered with waxed paper so you don’t get a skin. Dollop cream on tip, or top with meringue.
Yield: One 9-inch pie, 6 to 8 servings.
**Now, needless to say, I made the scrumptious chocolate pie sans the special ingredient. (If you read the book, you
This is simply the best damn pie crust in the world. It’s easy (as pie!) to make and makes everything taste better. Everything. {Sorry Mom, the secret is out. . .}
prep time: 5 minutes
bake time: 10 minutes
9 whole graham crackers (1 1/3 cups crumbs)
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 stick melted butter or margarine ( 1/2 cup)
**optional 1/4 cup shredded coconut
*If starting with whole graham crackers, put them inside a gallon sized ziploc bag. With a meat mallet, or wooden rolling pin mash to fine crumbs. {Great way to get out stress for a minute!}
Mix together crumbs, sugar, and cinnamon. Add melted butter/margarine. {I usually pour all but 2ish tablespoons in and mix. It should be moist, but not soggy. Add in the rest if necessary.}
Press mixture firmly and evenly on bottom and up the sides of a greased pie pan. {sometimes wax paper or foil helps, but this is easy}
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
Check out the FULL BOOK REVIEW @ BOOKSHELF BOMBSHELLS and make your next book club meeting a feast for your brain and your palate.
and for more ideas check out The Book Club Cookbook.com
