TOLL HOUSE PIE
PIECRUST
1 cup sifted flour ½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
2-to-2 ½ tablespoons cold water
Combine flour and salt in medium mixing bowl. Cut in shortening until mixture is the consistency of coarse cornmeal. Gradually sprinkle with cold water, tossing mixture lightly and stirring with a fork until moist enough to hold together. Shape dough into a smooth ball.
On lightly floured surface, roll pastry to 1/8-inch thickness, making an 11-inch circle. Fold in half and ease into 9-inch pie pan. Unfold and gently press out air bubbles. Fold under edges of crust and press into an upright rim. Crimp edges as desired and refrigerate until ready to fill.
FILLING
2 eggs
½ cup flour
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar, packed
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 cup melted butter
1 package (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
Heat oven to 325 F. Beat eggs until light. Beat in flour, both sugars and almond extract. Blend in melted butter chocolate chips and nuts.
Sprinkle a tiny bit of flour over the bottom of the crust before adding the filling. This helps keep the crust crisp. Pour filling into piecrust and bake 1 hour. Cool to room temperature on a rack. This also helps keep the crust from becoming soggy.
TOPPING
½ cup whipping cream 1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla
½ square unsweetened chocolate, coarsely grated
In chilled bowl, beat whipping cream, sugar and vanilla until stiff. Use to garnish pie and sprinkle with grated chocolate.
— Melba
Y’ALL, COME!
DEAR MELBA: We’re planning our Carter County Arts and Crafts Festival from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, at Hardy Murphy Coliseum, 600 South Lake Murray Drive, in Ardmore. Admission to the festival is free, and parking is $3 per car. This will go to the Carter County 4-H Clubs. We’ll be selling our cookbook, “Our Excellent Recipes,” for $15. We have sponsored this festival for 46 years and it’s always a big hit. — Kay Seeliger, Ardmore
If you have a problem other readers might help solve or an idea you’d like to share, email mlovelace@oklahoman.com or write to Melba’s Swap Shop, Box 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Please include your name and address.