Mom's Chocolate Pie

• Serves: 6 to 8
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30-40 minutes not counting chill time

Ingredients

• 4 Tablespoons Cocoa powder
• 4 Tablespoons flour
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 cups (divided) milk
• 3 beaten egg yolks
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1 tsp. desired flavoring

Instructions

Prick pie crust with a fork in several places. Pre-bake pie crust at 350 degrees until lightly browned, remove from oven and set aside to cool.

For filling: Mix all dry ingredients together in a medium sauce pan.

Add 2 & 1/2 cups milk and stir.

Add 3 beaten egg yolks to the other 1/2 cup milk and stir well.

If you plan to make meringue reserve the egg whites in another bowl.

Mix egg yolks and milk and set aside.

Cook the first mixture until it begins to thicken, stirring to keep it from sticking.

Temper the egg yolks and milk with several spoonfuls of the hot mixture and stir well.

Return this tempered mix to the hot mixture, and continue to cook, stirring frequently until it reaches a full boil and is thick.

Stir in butter and flavoring; e.g., vanilla extract, almond extract, orange extract

Pour into baked, cooled pie shell. Allow to cool to room temperature, then chill in refrigerator for at least two hours before serving.

For meringue, beat the reserved egg whites until they are creamy, add a teaspoon of sugar, and continue to beat until the meringue stands in glossy peaks. To brown meringue, place pie in broiler for a very short time. Be sure to keep an eye on it, you only want a slight browning.

For the whipped topping, you may use Cool Whip, or a canned whipped topping, or make your own.

To make whipped cream topping, chill beaters and bowl in freezer for 30 minutes. Pour 1/2 pint whipping cream into and beat at high speed. As the cream begins to thicken add a teaspoon of sugar and continue beating until topping is stiff and forms peaks. Spread evenly on pie and garnish with chocolate curls or sprinkles. Serve immediately.

For a cherry or orange topped pie, just spread the cherry pie filling over the chocolate filling, or arrange the orange slices in a decorative pattern on the chocolate. You could still serve this with a dollop of whipped cream.