The One and Only Chocolate Pie (recipe: Chocolate Fudge Pie)
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In the early 60s, my mother worked as the secretary to the Medical Director of the Tuberculosis Hospital in Mobile, AL. Fortunately, the disease is much better controlled now and there’s no longer a need for a specialty hospital in Mobile. One of her job responsibilities was patient admissions. There was one patient admission that swallowed her up emotionally. The patient being admitted was named Payton Phillips. She knew the answers to a lot of the questions that needed to be asked of him to complete the admission process. She didn’t call him Mr. Phillips. She called him Daddy. Granddaddy’s doctors in Geneva, AL had found a suspicious looking spot on his lungs. After consultation with several doctors, they recommended that he be admitted to this hospital in Mobile. He never had a confirmed diagnosis of tuberculosis but yet he stayed in this hospital for a full year. Granddaddy’s story had a happy ending. He lived a long full life and until the age of 90 and died surrounded by his loved ones. During that year of his hospitalization, Granny lived with us so she could be as close to Granddaddy as possible. She and I shared a room. I loved having Granny around. I was sad Granddaddy wasn’t with us. Children weren’t allowed in the hospital. He would come to a balcony sometimes and Mama would have us stand down below so he could see us and wave to us. For a solid year, all I could do was wave to my Granddaddy. That’s as close as we were allowed to get to him.
During that year, Granny cooked most of our meals. I remember her making buckwheat pancakes for breakfast before she sent us off to school. She would busy herself in the kitchen, whistling and singing her hymns. ”This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior, all the day long.” That was a particular favorite of hers. She would bellow to rooftop! What a glorious sound filled our kitchen.
These days were the glory days of S & H Green Stamps. They were given out by retailers, primarily grocery stores. You were given a number of stamps according to the amount of your purchase. The stamps were collected and glued into books which could then be traded for merchandise either at the S & H Green Stamp store or through their mail order catalogue. The stamps were redeemed for popular items such as clocks and luggage. One peculiar item that my mother swapped her green stamps for was a yellow multi-shelved rolling serving cart. She thought it would be handy to load all the food in the kitchen on the serving cart, transport the food to the dining table and then return the used dishes to the kitchen. It may have used three times for that purpose before it was permanently parked and used for storage.
During the short lifespan of the serving cart being used as a serving cart, I remember being at the dining table as the cart was wheeled in with the night’s food offerings. My eyes immediately locked on the chocolate pie that was the solitary dish on the bottom shelf. As we ate our supper, Granny and Mama talked about the pie. So it seems, the chocolate pie that Granny made was a big deal for no other reason than Granny didn’t like chocolate. This recipe in the newspaper caught her attention. She wanted to make this pie she wouldn’t eat. I couldn’t understand anyone not wanting to eat pie of any description. I wanted supper to be over because that chocolate pie on the bottom shelf was calling my name. It was the color of fudge and looked to be rather dense. Some cracks in the filling showed off the inside enough to see how firm it was. The fluted pie crust surrounded the dark chocolate filling with nice contrast. I needed some of that pie.
As pieces of the pie were being passed around the table, I could smell the warm fudgy pie before my piece ever got to me. The first bite didn’t let me down. It was moist and chocolatey and just perfect. This was Granny’s grand opening and grand closing of the chocolate pie business. She never made another one. She went out in a blaze of glory as far as I was concerned. Maybe my mind remembers the splendor of this pie because of the special transport to the table or perhaps it was the revelation that Granny made a pie she wouldn’t want to eat. What ever the reason, I savor the memory. The S & H Green Stamp Company has no idea of the value of the yellow serving cart they traded my mother for her books of green stamps. They definitely came out on the short end of that deal.
Y’all come see us!
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Chocolate Fudge Pie
I’ve had this recipe in my files for many, many years and I don’t know the source. The pie is fairly basic and I’ve seen similar recipes. Most Southern cooks will have a chocolate pie recipe in their collection. I’v e added the use of Dutch processed chocolate which makes the filling very dark. I also add some flavored instant coffee powder which I think magnifies the chocolate flavor.
1 unbaked pie crust
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup Dutch processed unsweetened cocoa
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon Maxwell House International Cafe` Francais (optional)
pinch of salt
Set the pie crust aside.
Whisk the eggs and sugar well in a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and whisk until smooth. Pour into the unbaked pie crust.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the filling is done. Remove from the oven when done and cool completely before cutting. It’s normal for the filling to rise and then fall once it’s cooled.
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Yummy, looks sort of like a chocolate chess pie. I’m sure it didn’t last long!
Alan,
The consistency is a little more dense than a Chess Pie and it doesn’t have any cornmeal in it. It reminds me of a Brownie Pie. If you love chocolate, this pie’s for you plus it’s really easy and quick to put together.
Pass me a piece of that and a fork please!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jean,
Coming right up!
Funny, I don’t remember chocolate pie being served by my Mama or my Grandma – if we had pie it was lemon or coconut. I have made chocolate pies, but since my husband is not a great chocolate fan either, I usually don’t make a lot of chocolate stuff, I just eat it when I am out or eat something someone else has made – that’s probably a good thing, cause I happen to love chocolate!! Looks yummy, and if my daughter were here I would definitely make for her – she loves it too!!!
Ann,
I don’t think my grandmother had chocolate growing up because it was too expensive. She never developed a taste for it. I hope you will try this recipe for your daughter the next time you have a chance. It is tasty and easy to put together. It transports well, too, since the filling is rather dense. No sloshing around!
Thanks Jackie, you ‘ve done my menu planning for the day. Cubed steaks with a little pan gravy and chocolate pie!
Mary Ann,
I hope you have a wonderful dinner! Please let me know how it turns out.
I loved reading about the your granny and grandfather-and the history of your family. The pie looks good too : )
Thanks, Tipper! I write about Granny and Granddaddy a good bit. I was blessed with wonderful grandparents!
The pie looks so good and easy to make!! I remember S & H Green stamps and also Quality Stamps. I “bought” many a thing with those stamps!!!!! Wish we still had them, loved looking thru the stamp catalogs & planning my purchases! Speaking of planning I need to check my supplies and make this pie. Thanks for another great recipe and another trip down memory lane!
Mary,
Thanks so much for reading! I’m blessed by you everyday!
Wonderful story Jackie..My grandmother never cooked pies just cakes and cookies so I usually got my chocolate pie fix from my mom or at Morrisons cafeteria in Orlando. Most of the Southern (older) Baptist ladies in my area usually made this pie for Sunday dinners or social gathering. My mother in law (now passed away) always made a wonderful chocolate pie when I would visit. I remember the flaky white crust was outstanding with that dark chocolate after it had been sitting in the refrigerator for a day and my fork would just glide right through that pie. Oh my..
Don’t know how many trips I made with my mom to the S & H store. I can remember when they pulled out pages out of the book and count the stamps (putting one aside if questionable like you were cheating them) and half of the books were all torn up and we used old rubber bands to hold them all together rather pitiful. My mom always had a ton of them from everywhere and I believe most of our kitchen accessories including a pale ivory yellow cart like the one you described was probably from S & H stamps? (lol) Hers had shiny chrome poles on the side and the shelves were all painted enameled with chrome & black wheels. I fixed it a few times over the years rebuilding it as the screws were always coming loose. She used it to store her bowls and dessert plates and a few other things in the corner of her dining room. Big hug and thanks for the southern memories now gonna have to make me some chocolate pie.
)
Tom,
People treated their Green Stamps like they were a part of the family! They had a special place for them in their house. Even if you only got 2 green stamps with a small purchase, those Green Stamps were carefully tended to until they reached their dutiful place with the rest of the Green Stamps. I had forgotten about the books being torn up until you mentioned it. Some of the exchanges required a portion of a book: 27 1/4 books, 46 1/2 books. I wonder why S & H did that??
It does sound like your Mother had the same serving cart we had. I don’t know what finally happened to ours. Mama kept it for a long, long time.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Tom. I greatly appreciate you.
The pie sounds delicious. My mother never made cream pies. But I like any kind of pie.
I bet it was great to have Granny living with you.
The pie looks delicious, Jackie! I have two fun memories of S&H Green Stamps. My mom saved enough stamps back in the 60′s to get herself some cut “crystal” goblets and parfait glasses. I’m the proud owner of them now. And even as recently as the 70′s, I saved enough to buy myself my very first cookbook before I got married. A Betty Crocker cookbook. I still have the “innards” of that cookbook today but the cover is long gone. Thanks for a yummy pie recipe.
Val,,
I think it’s great that so many of us shared the S & H Green Stamps experience! I hope you try the pie. It is really good and so easy to put together. It’s an old, old Southern recipe.
I remember going to the Green Stamp Store with my mom to go shopping with those stamps. What fun! Your childhood memories always make me smile.
Chris,
I remember the Green Stamp store, too! Those were some really good times.
We used to sing ”This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior, all the day long.” in the small country church I grew up in. One of my favorite hymns.
I can’t wait to try this….and I like that it doesn’t have “calf slobber”. That’s what my daddy used to call meringue when I was growing up.
Tammy,
I thought about putting “calf slobber” on it! I actually love it. I decided against it because I think “calf slobber” goes better with creamy pies and this filling is more dense. “Calf slobber”. I love that!
LOL! My daddy raised cows when I was growing up, hence him calling meringue “calf slobber.”
Tammy,
I figured he was a rancher or cattleman. I love plain spoken language.
Thank you for the delicious recipe Jackie. It’s very different
from my Chocolate Cream Pie with the Mile-high Meringue, but
it sure sounds like it’ll be a hit around our bunch of young
people.
As always, you delight me with your lovely story telling. I love
the sweet old-fashioned way you have of sharing your life and
memories with us, and thank you for being so generous.
If you write a book, I’ll happily be your first customer.
Julia
Julia,
Once again, you have left me such a sweet, sweet comment! I hope you and your family enjoy the pie. My bunch certainly loved it! Thank you for being such a blessing to me!
Instead of cocoa powder, will melting chocolates suffice? Guess, it’s best to melt chocolate slowly to ensure a smoother finished product.
Lotuschocolate,
I think melting chocolate would work fine. You might have to cook the pie just a little longer than normal to account for the extra liquid. If you make this pie,, please let me know how it turns out. I will be most interested in “the melting chocolate” experiment. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
I so love how your stories always seem to trigger memories of my grandparents. I can see those green stamps plan as day all pasted up in a stamp booklet and slid behind my Mee Maw’s yellow flour container,that’s where all her important papers went. Funny how her little hiding spot is also mine.. something I just realized.
I am going to have to try this pie ..I love chocolate and pie !
I recall my Mee Maw making a chocolate silk pie when I was a kid along with the many others.. like pecan ,lemon meringue, apple and so many more.
Thank for the walk down memory lane… Ginger
Ginger,
Green Stamps were an icon that mostly have been forgotten. From all the comments that I’ve received, I can tell they played a role in a lot of people’s lives.
It’s been our pleasure finding innovative recipes.
Mmmmmm…..! I’ve never had a chocolate pie…and I think that tragedy needs to be rectified. ASAP.
Looks gorgeous.
Oh, Jen! You better get on that right now! This pie is a good place to start, too. It’s easy to out together and comes out great! Please let me know what you think of it.
I am making this today. My 4 kids will love it. Especially my three teenaged girls. Thanks for great recipe and story.I do realize you wrote this post over a year ago. Funny.
Correction–Almost a year ago:)
Karen,
I hope you and your daughters love this pie as much as we do!
I found this on pinterest this morning! My MawMaw who has been gone for a very long time used to make a chocolate pie. She made it from memory and no one in the family knew how to make it. I haven’t had her pie in soooo many years. The other day at work, someone had brought in a store bought chocolate fudge pie. I took one bite out of a store bought pie and it took me back to my MawMaw…I could see her standing at the stove baking the pie.
I am going to try one of your recipes for Thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing your story and recipess!
Hi Bailey,
It never ceases to amaze me how powerful both the sense of smell and taste are. They can spark parts of your memory that you thought were long forgotten.
I wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings. I hope you’ll come back after the holiday and let me know which recipe you tried and how it turned out for you.
Welcome home, Bailey!