Velvety Chocolate Custard Food

RICH AND VELVETY CUSTARD PIE - 2003 1ST PLACE CUSTARD

Steps:

• Crust:
• Mix all the dry ingredients together and cut in the shortening to resemble course crumbs. Beat the remaining ingredients, except the egg white, together and add to flour. Stir only to incorporate. Wrap in plastic and chill for several hours. Roll out and line pie dish. Bake crust (halfway) in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Brush with an egg white and bake an additional 5 minutes.
• Filling:
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Scald the milk and half-and-half.
• Mix together the eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla. Add the hot milk. Very carefully pour through a fine strainer and into the pie shell. Grate nutmeg over the top of the filling.
• Bake for 10 minutes on the bottom rack and then move to the middle rack and reduce the heat to 325 degrees F. Bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until knife inserted in the middle comes out clean or until the middle of the pie is almost set. It will continue to cook after it is taken out of the oven. Cool on a rack.

CHOCOLATE VELVET DESSERT

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine wafer crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1-1/2 in. up the sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. , In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Cool. In a small bowl, combine the egg yolks, cream and vanilla. Gradually stir a small amount of mixture into melted chocolate until blended; gradually stir in remaining mixture. Pour into crust., Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight., In a large bowl, combine the butter, confectioners' sugar, cocoa and enough milk to achieve a piping consistency. Using a large star tip, pipe frosting on dessert.