Chocolate Cashew And Maple Pie Food

CHOCOLATE, CASHEW, AND MAPLE PIE

Steps:

• Make crust:
• In food processor, pulse flour and salt until combined. Add butter and pulse just until mixture resembles coarse meal with some small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps. Drizzle 3 tablespoons ice water evenly over mixture and pulse or gently stir with fork until incorporated.
• Squeeze small handful of dough: If it doesn't hold together, add more ice water 1/2 tablespoon at a time, pulsing or stirring until incorporated. Do not overwork dough, or pastry will be tough.
• Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface, gather into ball, and flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 1 hour. (Dough can be made ahead and frozen up to 1 week. Defrost in refrigerator before proceeding.)
• On lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 12-inch round, then transfer to pie pan. Trim edge, leaving 1/2-inch overhang, then fold overhang under and crimp edge decoratively. Prick bottom and side of shell all over with fork, then chill shell 30 minutes. (Shell can be assembled to this point ahead: Wrap entire pan well in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 2 days, or freeze up to 1 week. Defrost in refrigerator before continuing.)
• While shell chills, preheat oven to 425°F.
• Line shell with foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans, then bake until pastry is set and pale golden on rim, about 15 minutes. Carefully remove foil and weights and bake shell until pale golden all over, 5 to 7 minutes more. Cool on rack.
• Make filling and bake pie:
• In medium saucepan over moderately high heat, simmer maple syrup, uncovered, until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 10 minutes. Carefully whisk in butter (mixture may splatter), then sugar and salt. Remove from heat and let cool to warm room temperature.
• In medium bowl, whisk together eggs and brandy. Whisk egg mixture into cooled maple syrup mixture.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Spread chopped chocolate in even layer over bottom of prepared crust. Sprinkle nuts in second even layer, then pour filling over nuts. Bake until filling is puffed and center is just set, 45 to 60 minutes. Cool in pan on rack. (Pie can be made up to 1 day ahead. Let cool, then cover loosely and store at room temperature.)
• To serve:
• Using electric mixer, beat crème fraîche until it holds soft peaks. Serve with pie.

CHOCOLATE CASHEW PIE

Steps:

• Prepare pie crust for one-crust filled pie using 9-inch pie pan.
• Heat oven to 325 F.
• In large bowl, combine corn syrup, sugar, margarine, vanilla and eggs; beat with wire whisk until well blended.
• Reserve 2 tablespoons chocolate chips for topping.
• Stir in remaining chocolate chips and cashew halves.
• Spread evenly in crust-lined pan.
• Bake at 325 F.
• for 45 to 55 minutes or until pie is deep golden brown and filling is set.
• Cover edge of crust with strips of foil after 15 to 20 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning.
• Cool 2 hours or until completely cooled.
• eanwhile, line cookie sheet with waxed paper.
• In small saucepan, melt reserved 2 tablespoons chocolate chips over low heat.
• Dip each whole cashew in chocolate.
• Place on lined cookie sheet.
• Refrigerate 15 to 20 minutes or until chocolate is set.
• Garnish pie with whipped cream and chocolate-dipped cashews.
• Store in refrigerator.
• To flavor whipped cream, fold in sweetened cocoa mix, grated citrus peel, spices or a favorite liqueur.

MAPLE CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Prepare the pastry in a food processor, combine the walnuts and sugar and pulse until the nuts are finely ground. Add the flour and salt and pulse to incorporate. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture is the texture of coarse meal with pea size pieces. Add 2 tablespoons of ice water and pulse until the dough is evenly moistened. The dough should hold together when squeezed, but not be too wet. Add up to 2 more tablespoons of ice water, if necessary. Tip out the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap and using the plastic to gather the dough together, form it into a disk. Chill for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. (Alternatively, you can freeze the dough for up to 1 week).
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a 12-inch-diameter round (about 1/8 inch thick). Transfer the dough to a 9-inch standard pie plate. Trim the excess dough and fold it to make a decorative edge. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 15 minutes. Line the frozen shell with parchment paper or foil and fill with pie weights. Bake the crust until the edges are lightly golden and the crust beneath the parchment is dry, about 25 minutes. Remove the parchment and weights and continue to bake the crust until it is golden brown about 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Set a fine mesh sieve next to the crust for later.
• Prepare the filling: In a small saucepan, bring the maple syrup to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Continue to cook the syrup until it has reduced by about half, about 12 minutes. (You can occasionally pour the syrup into a glass measuring cup to check the volume.) In a medium saucepan (away from the stovetop), whisk the egg yolks with the cornstarch until smooth. In a slow stream, while whisking, add the milk and cream. Add the salt, butter, and reduced maple syrup. Don't worry if the syrup seizes. It will smooth out in the next step when you heat the custard. Cook the milk mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it has thickened and come to a low boil, about 7 minutes. Cook the custard for 1 minute more and then pour it through the sieve into the cooled crust and spread it out evenly.
• Press a piece of waxed paper directly onto the surface of the custard and transfer the pie to the fridge. Chill the pie for at least 4 hours or up to overnight. To serve, top the pie with whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE, CASHEW AND COCONUT PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375ºF.
• Prepare crust in 9-inch pie plate as directed on package for one-crust filled pie.
• Whisk next 4 ingredients and 1/2 cup cream in medium bowl until blended. Add sugar and flour; mix well. Stir in nuts and coconut. Pour into crust.
• Bake 40 to 45 min. or until top is puffed and lightly browned. Cool completely.
• Microwave chocolate and remaining cream in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until chocolate is almost melted; stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Pour over pie; spread to completely cover pie.