Southern Livings Never Fail Chess Pie Food

SOUTHERN LIVING'S NEVER-FAIL CHESS PIE

Steps:

• 1. Combine everything (except pie shell) and blend thoroughly.
• 2. Pour into unbaked pie shell.
• 3. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until done. My oven usually runs low so I'll go as long as 45 minutes sometimes. The center of the pie should puff up but still be moist. It will sink and crackle as it cools.

CHESS PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the piecrust into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate (no more than 1 ¼" deep). Tuck the edges under and crimp as desired. Freeze for 20 minutes. Prick the bottom of the crust 8-10 times, all over, with a fork.
• Line the frozen piecrust with parchment paper and fill with pie weights. Place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes just until the edges of the crust are dry. Carefully remove the paper with weights. Return to the oven for 3-5 minutes until the bottom of the crust is dry and the edges just start to turn light brown. Let cool slightly. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
• Place the melted butter and sugar in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Whisk in the eggs, then the cornmeal and flour. Add the milk, lemon juice, vanilla extract and pinch of salt and mix to combine.
• Carefully pour the filling into the crust. Bake for 45-50 minutes, until the edges and center of pie are set completely. (Tent the pie with foil towards the end if either the crust or surface of the pie look darker than golden brown). Let the pie cool completely, about 2 hours. Garnish with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, if desired.

SOUTHERN CHESS PIE

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients.
• Bake in 450 degree oven until crust begins to brown (about 10 minutes).
• Reduce heat to 350; bake about 40 minutes until the pie does not shake in the middle. It will look very dark, and will fall some after you take it out of the oven.