Although a Chess Pie is not much to look at, it is a truly decadent recipe using only humble ingredients from the pantry. A diamond in the rough, so to speak. It makes me feel like a queen when I indulge in a slice of this gooey, fudge bomb of a pie. It doesn’t matter that I am trapped in the house with my teenagers who make me want to pull every hair out of my head. This pie is like Calgon, it takes me away from all of their bickering, demanding of snacks, t.v. time, sulking and pouting.  I take a bite and savor a brief moment of solitude, locked in my office before they come knocking on the door, yelling , “Mo-om! Where are you???” 

No need to go to the supermarket for supplies, social distancing and wiping down carts, you likely have everything you need for this sweet treat already in your pantry. So, Keep Calm and Bake On.

Chocolate Chess Piemakes one 9″ pie1 unbaked pie shell (pie crust recipe to follow)1/2 cup butter2 (1) ounce squares unsweetened chocolate OR 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa and 2 tablespoons oil1 cup firmly packed brown sugar2 eggs, beaten1 teaspoon flour1 tablespoon milk1 teaspoon vanilla1/8 teaspoon saltPreheat oven to 325 degrees.Melt butter and chocolate in a small sauce pan over low heat. Remove and allow to cook for at least 5 minutes. In a medium sized bowl, combine sugar, eggs, flour, milk, vanilla and salt. Gradually add chocolate mixture and stir to combine. Pour into pie shell and bake for 40-45 minutes until puffed and cracked on top. Let cool for 20 minutes or so before serving or serve at room temperature. Top with whipped cream, ice cream or whatever your taste buds require.Pie Crust(makes enough for 2 pie shells)2 cups flour, plus extra for rolling2/3 cup Crisco4 tablespoons cold butter, cubedpinch of salt1/2 cup cold waterPlace flour in medium sized mixing bowl. Add Crisco, cubed butter and salt. Combine using 2 forks or a pastry cutter until mixture resembles small peas. Make a well in the center and slowly add water, gently stirring to combine. Add only enough water to bring mixture together. Pat crust into a ball and cut into 2 pieces. Flatten pieces into discs and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate up to one day, until ready to roll out. Or freeze for up to a few months. For the Chess Pie, roll out one disk, place in pie plate, crimp edges, pour filling into pie shell and bake.