Party Pairing Monday: Valentine's Fudge Pie

This pie may not be as pretty as boxed chocolates, it may not be as luxurious as cake, nor as sexy as melted chocolate with strawberries. But, this fudge pie is rich and delicious. Plus, it’s quick and easy to make, which leaves you time for, um, other romantic things. It can easily be made in the morning to be eaten in the evening after a dinner date, or can be enjoyed still warm from the oven.

From the Novice Nosher

I actually got this recipe from my boyfriend, who got it from his mom. So it has a special place in both my boyfriend’s and my hearts. It reminds me of the different kinds of love that exist: between girlfriend and boyfriend, mother and son, heck even mother and son’s girlfriend.

I don’t like to tweak much without the BF Mom’s approval, but I do like to add a little bit extra to give it my own touch. When I don’t have time to make a pie crust from scratch, I like to use a pre-made crust that can be found in the baking aisle. But I love to make a graham cracker crust that goes great with the chocolate in the filling. And to put on top of that fudge filling, I like homemade whipped cream, with a touch of vanilla. But Cool Whip can serve as an easy, time-saving and equally delicious creamy topping. I’ve included the recipes for the graham cracker crust and for the whipped cream, just in case you want to go that extra mile for your valentine.

Fudge Pie

Ingredients

• 1 stick of salted butter (melted)
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 unbaked pie crust (or 1 pre-baked graham cracker crust)

Directions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Mix all of the ingredients except for the pie shell in a medium-sized bowl. Pour the mixture into the pie crust. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Graham Cracker Pie Crust
Ingredients

• I box of graham crackers (at least 24 crackers)
• 6 tblsp. butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Optional: cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice

Directions
Melt the butter. Crush the graham crackers in a bag with a rolling pin until it's in fine pieces. Measure 1 1/2 cups of the crumbs and pour into a medium-sized bowl. Add the sugar and the melted butter. Mix the ingredients together to blend, then transfer to a pie pan and press into it firmly. To pre-bake, bake it in the oven for 8-10 minutes at 350F.

Whipped Cream

Ingredients

• Heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

DirectionsWhip the cream in a stand mixer until almost stiff. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat until the cream holds peaks.

WinoBee's Pairing

It's Valentine's Day so anything goes, especially anything thats sensual (as I'm sure you saw from our featured pairings in Redbook last week - winky, winky!) So why not tickle your tastebuds with some SEX. Yes, SEX!!

M. Lawrence SEX is a brut rose made in Michigan (can you believe that?) and I just discovered it last night while serving at @TishWine's "Sexy Wines" tasting at VinoVino, but it was quite the hit. Made from 100% locally grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, you'll get a beautiful salmon color on the eye, sensual raspberry and strawberries notes on the tongue and a crisp finish.

Team it up with this Fudge Pie and you're guaranteeing the ultimate foodgasm!

Cost: $15/bottle