Dads Chocolate Cream Pie And Variations Food

DAD'S FAVORITE COCONUT CREAM PIE

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment and set it aside.
• In a food processor, combine the chocolate cookies with the coconut oil and salt and pulse until the mixture is sandy and starts to clump together. Add the coconut and pulse just a couple more times to get it evenly distributed.
• Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan, pressing it up against the sides to give it a 1- to 1 1/2-inch-tall crust. Bake until set, about 25 minutes. Let it cool.
• For the filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together the milk, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, salt and egg yolks. Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the shredded coconut and pour into the cooled crust. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours. (This can be done up to 2 days in advance; keep covered in the refrigerator.)
• For the topping: Toast the coconut in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Let it cool.
• With an electric mixer or in a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the heavy cream to stiff peaks. Spread it on the pie, then sprinkle with the toasted coconut flakes. Top with shaved chocolate or chocolate sprinkles. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• When you're ready to take it out of the pan, run a small offset spatula around the edge and carefully remove the sides. Enjoy!

OLD FASHIONED CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Whisk dry ingredients with milk in a large glass heat-proof bowl and cook on high in the microwave.
• Whisk every 3 or 4 minutes.
• Separate eggs and beat egg yolks in a medium bowl while the liquid cooks.
• When the liquid begins to thicken, wisk ladle-fulls of the hot liquid into the beaten egg yolks.
• Strain the egg mixture back into the microwave bowl, whisking again to keep it smooth.
• Continue to microwave until the filling begins to look sort of "cakey" around the edges.
• Whisk to return it to the creamy texture.
• After cooking it this way once, you will become accustomed to consistency and appearance at certain stages.
• When the pie filling is quite thick, remove it from the microwave and add butter and vanilla.
• Pour into the baked pie crust and cover with meringue.
• Prepare meringue while the filling cools: Beat egg whites until "peak" stage.
• Add sugar gradually, beating constantly.
• Add vanilla.
• Spread meringue on pie and bake in a 400° oven 8 to 10 minutes until the meringue has toasty peaks.

CREAM PIE (CHOCOLATE, COCONUT, AND BANANA VARIATIONS)

Steps:

• In a microwavable bowl, mix sugar, flour, and salt.
• In a separate bowl, whisk milk and eggs or egg whites. Add to dry ingredients.
• Microwave for two minutes and stir.
• Return to microwave for one minute intervals, stirring in between, until custard starts to cook. (3 or 4 more minutes. I generally quit cooking after a 1-inch ring of cooked custard forms around the edge of the bowl.).
• Remove from microwave and add margarine and vanilla.
• Cool slightly and pour into pie crust. Cover with wax paper and refrigerate 2 hours before serving.
• *Chocolate Cream Pie: Add 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips with margarine and vanilla and mix until chips are completely melted. Pour into crust.
• *Banana Cream Pie: Slice 2 or 3 bananas into bottom of pie crust before pouring pie filling over top.
• *Coconut Cream Pie: Add 1/2 cup coconut with margarine and vanilla and pour into pie crust.
• Serve with whipping cream and garnishes of your choice.

DAD'S CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE AND VARIATIONS

Steps:

• MIx cornstarch, 1 cup sugar and salt.
• Melt unsweetened chocolate in scalded milk.
• Gradually add milk.
• Cook in double boiler till thick, about 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Slowly add small amount of hot mixture to egg yolks.
• Stir into remaining hot mixture.
• Cook 5 minutes.
• Cool.
• Add butter and vanilla.
• Pour into shell and spread with meringue made out of whites and 6 Tablespoons sugar.
• Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes.
• ** For Butterscotch: Omit chocolate. Substitute brown sugar for white sugar and increase butter to 3 tablespoons.
• ** For Caramel: Omit chocolate. Decrease sugar to 2/3 cup and caramelize 1/4 cup of sugar and add to scalded milk.
• *** For Coconut: Omit Chocolate. Decrease sugar to 2/3 cup. Add 1 cup moist, shredded coconut to filling. Sprinkle 1/2 cup coconut on meringue before browning.