Chocolate Chess Pie and Hoosier's German Chocolate Pie

Bring on the chocolate!  And bring on the pies, chocolate pies that is!  This Hoosier's German Chocolate Pie combines three of my very favorite ingredients; chocolate, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk.  The Chocolate Chess Pie is a wonderfully rich chocolate pie, especially when topped with whipped cream.  A maraschino cherry atop the whipped cream would add a special touch.

HOOSIER'S GERMAN CHOCOLATE PIE

This is from an old Indiana Rural Co-op Newsletter

4-oz pkg German Sweet Chocolate

1/4 cup butter

14-oz can sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 tbsp cornstarch

1/8 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 9-inch unbaked pie shell

1 1/3 cups shredded coconut

1/2 cup pecans

Melt chocolate with butter over low heat until melted.  Remove from the heat and gradually stir in the milk.  Mix sugar, cornstarch, salt, eggs, and vanilla together.Gradually blend in the chocolate mixture.  Pour the mixture into pie shell.  Mix coconut and pecans and sprinkle over filling.  Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until the top is puffed.  Filling will be soft but will set while cooling.  Cool at least 3 hours before cutting.  If the top starts to get too brown during baking, cover loosely with foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.

CHOCOLATE CHESS PIE

1 baked 9-inch pie shell (very lightly browned)

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tbsp all-purpose flour

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter,  melted

3 eggs

1/4 cup milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

Whipped cream for garnish

Place oven rack in the lowest postion and preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, cocoa and flour until it is lump-free.  Stir in the melted butter.  Mix the eggs, one at a time, into the sugar mixture; mix until smooth.  Stir in the milk and vanilla.  Pour the mixture into the baked and cooled pie shell.  Bake on the lowest rack of 350 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack and garnish with whipped cream.  Top whipped cream with maraschino cherries, if desired.

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Old Fashion Recipes for Never Fail Cake and German Apple Cake

These cake recipes will take you back to the days when mom and/or grandma baked delicious desserts just for you.  Perhaps the 'never-fail cake' will remind you of a birthday cake she made for one of your early birthdays.  Or a delicious piece of white cake topped with fresh fruits or berries from your backyard garden or orchard could be a favorite memory.  

Perhaps the apple cake will remind you of picking apples in the fall and coming in from the cold to the scents of apple desserts coming from grandma's kitchen.  One of the best things about vintage recipes is the memories they bring to mind.  Of course the tastes are special, too!  Get the kids in the kitchen and let them bake up some memories of their own with you.  While working together, you can share some of your poignant memories with them.  It's a great thing to pass family stories down to your children or grandchildren.


OLD FASHION NEVER FAIL CAKE


1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or lard
1 egg
3 tbsp cocoa
3/4 cup sweet milk*
1/2 cup boiling water
1 tsp soda
1 rounding cup flour
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream sugar and butter, add unbeaten egg and beat. Add cocoa to egg mixture, blend well. Add flour and milk alternately. Last add hot water with soda dissolved in it. (Batter will be thin.) Pour into a 9x13-inch prepared baking pan. Bake 35 to 40minutes at 350 degrees. Frost with your favorite frosting.

*This is regular milk; not sweetened condensed milk. The old-timers referred to regular milk as sweet milk vs buttermilk.


GERMAN APPLE CAKE


This recipe is said to be from an old church cookbook. I have no way to trace its origins.

2 large or 3 small eggs
1 cup salad oil (butter flavored)
2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups thinly sliced apples
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat eggs well, then add oil. Continue to beat while adding 2 cups sugar. Add vanilla and the sifted dry ingredients, mix well. Add the thinly sliced apples and walnuts. Pour into a 9x13-inch baking pan that has been greased and lightly floured. Bake 40 to 60 minutes until done.

ICING:

2 small packages of cream cheese
2 tbsp melted butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup powdered sugar.

Mix all ingredients well with an electric mixer. If too thin, add powdered sugar until of the right consistency to spread. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts, if desired.
Enjoy!

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