Chocolate Pie

My dear husband is going Christmas shopping with they guys tonight. I think the kids and I will have an easy supper (maybe something from the quesadilla maker) but today I am making a pie for the teachers luncheon at school. This is an easy, never-fail chocolate creme pie. I will list the recipe as given to me by my mother and I will list my changes at the end.

1 1/4 c sugar
3/4 c SF flour
3 T cocoa powder
3 eggs, separated
2 1/2 c milk
2 T butter
2 t vanilla
1/2 t cream of tartar
1/2 c sugar

Mix first 3 ingredients in a saucepan and set aside. In a bowl combine egg yolks and milk, mix well. Add to sugar mixture, mix well, add butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick (really thick, like wallpaper paste). Remove from heat and add vanilla, mix well. Pour into a pie crust (unbaked) and set aside. In a cold metal bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tartar and sugar on high until stiff peaks form. Spread over chocolate filling and bake at 325 for 25-28 minutes.

Now, I usually use chocolate chips (about a cup) or baker's chocolate squares (3) instead of cocoa. We like our chocolate really dark, so I use unsweetened or semi-sweet chocolate squares. If you use chocolate instead of cocoa you can omit the butter.

Enjoy the pie while it is warm.