Gluten-Free Chocolate Chess Pie

    So, I happened upon a photo of what looked like a delicious pie called a "chess pie". I looked at the recipe and thought it seemed interesting, so then I do what most people do and Googled "what is a chess pie"....or is it only homeschoolers who want to know everything about everything? N-E-Who.....

   The all knowing Wikipedia told me that chess pie originated in England (think of all the custard pies they make!), but is known as a Southern U.S. pie. The chess pie is a little different than a regular custard pie though in that it also includes cornmeal. Not sure why exactly, but that seems to be the ticket to make a chess pie a true chess pie! Vinegar seems to be a thing that isn't as standard, but it seemed interesting to have it in a pie, so I wanted mine to include it. 

    And the filling of a true (cornmeal) chess pie is naturally gluten-free, which seemed like a good starting point to making the whole thing gluten-free! I have a lovely gluten-free pie crust that I make, and making the pie filling was simply a matter of taking a few recipes and smooshing them together so that it suited me! And I had seen regular chess pies, and chocolate chess pies, so of course I wanted a chocolate pie, duh. : )  

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chess Pie

​Ingredients:

For the pie crust

• 1 cup shredded coconut
• ⅔ Cup quick oats
• ⅓ Cup butter, melted 
• 1 Egg white

For the pie filling:

• 1/4 Cup butter, room temperature
• 1 Cup white sugar
• 1/2 Cup chocolate chips, any sweetness you prefer
• 4 Eggs
• 2 Tbsp cornmeal
• 1 Tbsp vinegar

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
2. In a medium sized bowl combine the coconut, oats, melted butter and egg white. Press into a pie plate, and bake for 10 minutes. It will come out looking a little puffy. Just gently (using a wooden spoon) press the crust back and down so that it's no longer puffy. Set aside to cool while you make your pie filling
3. Turn oven up to 375 degrees
4. Beat softened butter & sugar together, set aside
5. Melt chocolate chips slowly and stirring often in the microwave or in a small saucepan on low heat, then beat the melty, chocolate-y goodness into the butter & sugar mixture
6. Add eggs and beat well until nice and creamed
7. Add the cornmeal and vinegar and and mix well
8. Pour pie filling into readied pie crust and bake for 10 minutes, then reduce temperature back to 325 degrees and bake for 30 minutes more, until pie is set
9. Top with whipped cream, ice cream, or enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea, or nothing at all! Just enjoy it!​

   My gluten-free Caleb ate 2 pieces of pie for dessert, then at bedtime asked for another piece (I said no), and when he saw it at breakfast he asked for it again (...I said no again...)! So, it's safe to say he liked this pie! I made it for guests one evening and they all liked it too (none of them are gluten-free eaters regularly). So, it is a well-received gluten-free pie! 

   The way this pie turns out is like a custard, but without so much jiggle. That doesn't make as much sense as I had hoped it would....but, I'm sticking with that description! You can see that it has a dense, moist, fudgy consistency, and the gluten-free crust has just a subtle taste to it that goes splendidly with the chocolate-y filling. You could also make this pie in a gluten-free pastry crust, or if you're not gluten-free you could make it in a regular pastry crust!  

   Oh, and the name "chess pie" is still a mystery! There are a few ideas as to where this pie found it's name, but no-one seems to know for sure, so I shan't be able to help you there! I feel like it bothers me more than it would others that I can't find a reason for the name though...? Yes? I know there's got to be people out there like me who want to know the "why" behind meaningless things like the origin of a pie name!!! 

    Ok, well, this weekend is the callbacks for The Music Man (The Belleville Theatre Guilds spring 2016 production), and I am looking forward to it! I'm not trying out for the show this year, I'm just the choreographer!  Haha, "just"!  It's hard work doing choreography! Anywho, I love callbacks because you get to see everyone together that you've narrowed down from multiple auditions and there's singing and dancing and script reading, and everyone is so nervous that it's just so exciting!  

    Have a great weekend whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you're doing (....I feel like I'm about to start singing a Backstreet Boys song.....yes? Anyone...?)

​   K, g'bye! 

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