In the mood for baking and chocolate? I was recently; and here is something that fits both those desires perfectly. This recipe has been in our family so long I have forgotten where the original came from. It can be made with a store bought pie crust but this time I was really in the mood for baking and made mine from scratch. It has been awhile since I did this and I forgot how fun it can be plus how nice it is knowing exactly what is in the crust you are eating and being able to pronounce all the ingredients ( which isn’t very many).

I will start with the pie crust.

Four ingredients that’s all:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup cold butter, I cut mine and put in freezer a short time

4 to 5 tablespoons cold water

Mix together the flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or fork until it resembles coarse crumbs.

Add water just enough water, with fork, to moisten the flour.

Divide dough in half and wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate for 2 hours to overnight.

Roll out a ball of the dough to fit in a 9-inch pie pan, so roll to about 12 inches.

Trim the edges and press around the edges with a fork, or fold the excess dough up and flute the edges.

Now for the filling:

• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2t flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 lg eggs
• 2t vanilla extract
• 1 cube butter, melted
• 1 unbaked 9 inch pie shell

Mix cocoa, flour, and sugar in a medium bowl. Add eggs, vanilla and butter.

Mix well. Pour into the pie shell.

Bake at 350º about 25 minutes.

It is delicious warm, on its own or with ice cream.

After trying it, you will come to realize why our father nicknamed it “good-bye” pie…

Dare I say it is as “easy as pie”, and sure to impress.

May your chocolate dreams come true.

~ Susan