Chocolate Cream Pie

I know we should be still deep into fruit pies. . .

but every now and then, I need a cream pie.

Chocolate Cream Pie is so simple. .

you can use a frozen purchased crust .. . or make your own.

While it is cooling. . . .pop this chocolate cream into the microwave.

I've posted this pie crust recipe before. . but it never hurts to have it in two places. .

Dorothy's Pie Crust

• 5 cups flour
• 4 teaspoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 pound cold lard
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• enough cold water to make 8 ounces with  the egg beaten a bit .. and the vinegar.

1. In a large bowl .. .or your kitchen Aid Mixer . . measure the flour, the brown sugar, the salt and the baking powder. . .
2. Cut in the lard which you've already cut into cubes with a sharp knife. If you have a large food processor you can do it in there. . .just pulse until it looks like oatmeal. .
3. The rest of you .. .use a pastry cutter. . and cut until it looks like oatmeal .. or use the paddle of the free stand mixer and again . ..slowly mix until all the bits of lard are mostly the size of oatmeal.
4. Put the egg into the measuring cup. .add the vinegar and then add enough water to make 1 cup.
5. Then. . slowly pour in the egg/water/vinegar mixture. . .and stir with a fork just until all the bits are combined and moistened.
6. Dump out onto a counter. . and pull together to form a ball.
7. Divide into 5 pieces. . .shape them into discs .. and wrap them separately in plastic wrap.
8. Refrigerate them or freeze them until you need them .. .let them thaw in the refrigerator.

This should give you a nice flaky crust.

To Bake a pie shell. . .Heat your oven to 400. Roll your dough out to fit a 9 inch pie plate.

Ease it in without stretching. . and to bake it empty. . just line with aluminum foil pressing it against the edges. . and bake it for 10 minutes. Remove the foil. . and bake until brown. Cool.

Chocolate Cream Filling

• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups of whole milk. . .you can use 2% but it won't be quite as rich
• 3 beaten egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate. . .chopped fine

1. In a large glass bowl, combine the sugar, cornstarch, salt.
2. Slowly add the milk and the egg yolks.
3. Add the chopped chocolate.
4. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. . .stir .. .repeat until it is hot and bubbling. About 10 minutes total.
5. Add the Vanilla and Butter and stir until smooth. Pour into the cooled pie shell and Chill.

Top with whipped cream. . .and chocolate shavings.