Michael Symons Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Food

PINE NUT TART

Steps:

• For the tart crust: Add the flour, granulated sugar and salt to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until combined. Add the butter and pulse until small pebbles form. With the machine running, add the egg yolk, vanilla and water and pulse until the dough just comes together. Remove to a piece of plastic wrap and press together into a dough ball. Flatten into a disk then refrigerate, at least 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the honey and pine nut filling: Add the honey, brown sugar and salt to a medium saucepan over medium heat and whisk to combine. Cook, whisking occasionally, until the sugar melts, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the butter and whisk until melted. Pour the mixture into a large bowl and allow to cool for 25 to 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to a 13-inch circle and place in an 11-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Chill 30 more minutes.
• Prick the bottom of the tart with a fork. Place a piece of parchment in the center of the tart and fill all the way to the top with dried beans. Bake until the crust is set but still slightly pale, about 15 minutes. Allow to cool, then remove the parchment and beans.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, whisk the heavy cream, egg yolk, lemon zest and juice into the cooled filling. Place the cooled tart shell on a rimmed baking sheet and scatter the pine nuts inside the shell. Evenly pour the filling into the tart crust and bake until the top is golden brown, the filling is set and the very center still has a slight jiggle, 50 to 60 minutes.
• Cool completely before slicing, at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour. Serve dusted with confectioners' sugar.

NO-BAKE BLUEBERRY LEMON PIE

Steps:

• For the blueberry puree: Set up a grill for cooking with direct and indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• To a saucepot, add the blueberries, sugar, lemon juice and salt. Place on the direct heat side of the grill and bring to a boil, then move to the indirect heat side and simmer until the blueberries begin to burst and thicken, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Pour into a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into a small bowl and chill until completely cold.
• Make the crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter and salt and mix to combine. Pour into a 9-inch springform pan and press into the bottom and up the sides to form a crust. Use the bottom of a 1-cup measuring cup to help smooth the bottom.
• Make the filling: In a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the cream until it holds medium stiff peaks. Scoop into another bowl and set aside.
• In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the milk and gelatin. Allow to stand for 3 to 5 minutes to bloom. To the mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the cream cheese, sugar, lemon zest and juice and beat until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the milk mixture and half the whipped cream, and mix until smooth. Fold in the remaining whipped cream by hand, then pour the filling into the prepared pie shell. Smooth the surface, then spoon the chilled blueberry puree in thin lines across the surface. Use a toothpick or a wooden skewer to drag the blueberry puree in the opposite direction of the lines, creating a swirled pattern randomly on the surface. Chill for 3 hours or up to overnight. Remove the sides of the pan, then slice into 8 or 10 pieces and serve.

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
• Whisk together the butter, both sugars, vanilla and salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the baking powder, baking soda and chocolate pudding. Add the eggs, one at a time, using a wooden spoon to mix well after each addition. Stir in the flour, chocolate chips and pretzels.
• Lightly spray a 1/2-cup measuring cup with cooking spray. Fill the measuring cup with dough, pressing it in until the dough takes on a biscuit shape. Unmold the biscuit into a cast-iron pan and repeat with the remaining dough until you have 8 cookies.
• Place the skillet over indirect heat, close the grill and bake, about 30 minutes (see Cook's Note).
• Remove the pan from the grill and sprinkle the cookies with flaky sea salt. Serve with scoops of frozen whipped topping.
• (Alternatively, you can bake these in a 350 degrees F oven for 25 to 30 minutes.)

MICHAEL SYMON'S CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• For the Pie Crust: Combine the flour, salt, sugar and butter in a food processor and pulse until coarse, with small marbles of butter remaining. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the ice water and pulse until crumbly, and dough holds when squeezed together. Add another sprinkle of water if too dry, but do not overmix.
• Transfer dough to a plastic bag, press into a disk, and refrigerate for one hour.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Roll out dough on floured surface. Press into pie plate, trim to leave 1-inch excess around edges, fold under and flute edges. Cut a piece of parchment or nonstick foil to the size of the pie, and use to line pie crust. Fill with pie weights, and bake until golden, about 15 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 325°F.
• For the Pie Filling: In a double boiler, melt chocolate and butter, stirring frequently until smooth, and remove from heat.
• In a large bowl, mix together the pumpkin, evaporated milk, light brown sugar, eggs, cornstarch, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Fold in the chocolate mixture, and pour into pie crust. Place pie pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 325*F until center of pie has set, about an hour. Refrigerate until cooled completely to serve.