Bittersweet Chocolate Silk Pie Food

CHOCOLATE SILK PIE

Steps:

• Fill a medium pot with 1 inch water over medium heat. Whisk the eggs with 1/2 cup of the sugar and the water or coffee in a large heatproof bowl that will fit over the pot without touching the water. Place the bowl over the simmering water and continue whisking constantly until the eggs become thick and fluffy, and a drizzle of the mixture will hold its shape and sit on top of the custard, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool, whisking occasionally so the eggs do not scramble.
• Combine the butter, salt and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a large bowl and beat in a stand mixer or with hand beaters on medium-high speed until fluffy. Pour in the chocolate and 1 1/4 teaspoons of the vanilla and continue to beat, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until combined. Add the custard and continue to beat until the filling is thick, fluffy and smooth, about 5 minutes.
• Spread into the pie crust and cover with plastic wrap. Chill until cold and set, 2 to 3 hours. Before serving, whip the cream with the confectioners' sugar and remaining 1/4 teaspoon vanilla until it forms soft peaks. Spread over the pie filling and garnish with chocolate shavings.

CHOCOLATE SILK PIE

Steps:

• Make Crust: Roll pie dough to a 1/8-inch thick circle and place inside a greased 9-inch metal pie pan. Cut excess dough, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Fold overhang under itself, creating a thicker ring of crust around the edge. Crimp edge. Grease a sheet of aluminum foil liberally with butter. Place the buttered surface inside the pie shell, allowing the crust to come in direct contact with the foil. Freeze for 1 hour or overnight. Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake crust with foil for 20 minutes. Remove foil and use a spoon to press down any areas that have puffed up. Return to oven for an additional 13-15 minutes, until the crust is golden brown all over. Set aside to cool.
• Make Filling: Bring 2 inches of water to boil in the bottom of a double boiler. Whisk together eggs and sugar and place over double boiler, whisking regularly until the mixture reaches 165°F. Remove from heat and allow to cool until just warm.
• While egg mixture is cooling, chop the chocolate and place in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 20 second intervals at 30% power, stirring in between each interval, until mixture is completely melted. Pour egg mixture over melted chocolate and whisk until fully incorporated. Whisk in espresso powder. Allow to cool completely to room temperature.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until fluffy. With the mixer on low, slowly pour in chocolate mixture. Scrape down sides of the bowl with a spatula, and increase the speed to medium-high, beating until the mixture increases in volume and lightens in color, 5 minutes.
• In a clean bowl, beat together cream and powdered sugar to stiff peaks. Gently fold half of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Add remaining whipped cream and gently fold until no streaks of cream remain. Pour filling into crust, leveling the surface with a spatula. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Garnish with whipped cream and cocoa powder or shaved chocolate, if desired.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE SILK PIE

Steps:

• In medium bowl, combine flour and salt.
• Using medium side of box grater (side used to shred carrots), grate cold butter into flour, tossing frequently.
• Cut shortening into chunks.
• Using a pastry blender, cut shortening into flour until pea-sized clumps form.
• Using fork to toss flour, stir in ice water until dough just starts to form.
• Press dough into smooth, flat disc.
• Wrap disc in plastic and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• On lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 13-inch circle.
• Transfer dough to 9-inch pie plate.
• Trim overhanging dough to 1 inch; roll and crimp overhang to make decorative edge.
• Refrigerate pie shell for 30 minutes.
• Place rack in center of oven and preheat to 400°.
• Prick chilled pie shell all over with fork.
• Line pie shell with foil; place pie weight or dry beans or rice in shell.
• Bake for 20 minutes; remove foil and weights and bake for 10-15 minutes more, until pie shell is golden.
• Let pie shell cool for 15 minutes before filling with chocolate mixture.
• In small saucepan, heat cream and sugar together over medium high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• Bring mixture to a boil.
• Turn off heat; stir in chocolate until melted and smooth.
• Stir in butter until melted and smooth.
• Scrape chocolate mixture into 4 1/2-quart bowl of heavy-duty electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment.
• Let chocolate mixture stand until just warm, about 20 minutes.
• Beat chocolate mixture at medium speed for 2-3 minutes, until bottom of bowl is no longer warm.
• With mixer running at medium speed, begin pouring egg beaters down side of bowl in slow, steady stream. This will take 2 minutes.
• Continue to beat for a few more minutes, until mixture just begins to thicken around the outside edge of bowl and becomes paler in color.
• Pour mixture into prepared pie shell and refrigerate for at least 4-6 hours.
• Just before serving pie, beat heavy cream with sugar until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes, in heavy-duty mixer and 5 minutes with hand-held mixer.
• Mound whipped cream onto chilled pie.
• Garnish with chocolate curls.

CHOCOLATE SILK PIE

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 425°. , Line crust with a double thickness of foil. Fill with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice. Bake on a lower oven rack until edges are golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Remove foil and weights; bake until bottom is golden brown, 3-6 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack., Meanwhile, in a heavy saucepan, combine marshmallow creme, chocolate chips, butter, unsweetened chocolate and coffee; cook and stir over low heat until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Cool. Fold in whipped cream; pour into crust., For topping, in a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Spread over filling. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving. Garnish with chocolate curls if desired.

CHOCOLATE SILK PIE WITH MARSHMALLOW MERINGUE

Steps:

• Microwave 4 oz. chocolate in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 to 1-1/2 min. or until melted, stirring after 1 min. Add cream cheese, half the marshmallow creme, dry pudding mix and milk; beat with mixer until blended. Pour into crust.
• Beat remaining marshmallow creme with COOL WHIP in separate bowl until blended; spread over chocolate layer in crust.
• Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm. Meanwhile, use remaining chocolate to make chocolate curls. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Garnish pie with chocolate curls before serving.