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Chocolate Meringue Pie

Servings: 6-8
Comments:
If you have chocolate lover's among your family and friends, then this is the pie to make that will satisfy all of them, a creamy chocolate filling with a lovely meringue topping over a delicious graham cracker crust.


Ingredients:
For The Crust:
1 store-bought ready-made (6-ounce) graham cracker crust

For the Filling:
2 cups milk, divided
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Meringue:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
8 large egg whites
1 teaspoon cream of tartar


Instructions:
To Prepare The Filling:
Combine 1/2 cup milk, 2/3 cup sugar, and next 4 ingredients (2/3 cup sugar through egg) in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk.

Heat 1 1/2 cups milk in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat to 180 degrees F (82 C) or until tiny bubbles form around edge (do not boil). Remove from heat. Gradually add hot milk to sugar mixture; stir constantly with a whisk. Return milk mixture to pan. Add chopped chocolate; cook over medium heat until thick and bubbly (about 5 minutes); stir constantly. Reduce heat to low; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour into crust; cover surface of filling with plastic wrap. Chill 3 hours or until cold.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C).

To Prepare The Meringue:
Combine 1 cup sugar and water in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until candy thermometer registers 240 degrees F (115 C). Beat egg whites and cream of tartar at high speed of a mixer until foamy. Pour hot sugar syrup in a thin stream over egg white mixture; beat at high speed until stiff peaks form. Remove wrap from filling. Spread meringue evenly over filling; seal to edge of crust.

Bake at 350 degrees F (180 C) for 15 minutes or until lightly browned; cool on a wire rack. Chill until set.

Makes 6-8 servings.


Source: DianasDesserts.com
Date: December 1, 2002