Mrs. Phillips' Black Bottom Pie

Total Time: 5 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 5 hrs Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 (1/4 ounce) envelope unflavored gelatin
• 1/4 cup rum
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 2 cups milk
• 4 egg yolks, beaten
• 2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 egg whites
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup sugar

Recipe

• 1 combine the first 3 ingredients (butter, sugar, flour) until the dough forms coarse crumbs.
• 2 press the mixture into a large pie pan - 10 inches works best.
• 3 bake at 375 degrees f for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
• 4 allow to cool completely.
• 5 combine the gelatin and rum in a heatproof cup. place the cup in a pan of simmering water. leave to simmer while preparing the rest of the filling.
• 6 pour the chocolate chips into a large heatproof bowl. set aside.
• 7 add 1/2 cup sugar, the salt and cornstarch into a large saucepan.
• 8 gradually add the milk while cooking over low heat - stirring constantly. this takes quite a long time and cannot be hurried - otherwise lumps will form.
• 9 when the mixture is thickened, remove pan from heat and add egg yolks. stir thoroughly.
• 10 return pan to heat and cook through for 2 minutes.
• 11 remove from heat again. scoop out 1 1/2 cups of the heated and thickened custard and add to the chocolate chips. stir until the chips are completely melted.
• 12 mix in the vanilla extract.
• 13 pour the chocolate mixture into the cooled pie shell. chill thoroughly.
• 14 while the chocolate layer of the pie is cooling, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until frothy.
• 15 gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar. beat until stiff peaks form. set aside.
• 16 remove the gelatin-rum mixture from simmering water. add to the saucepan containing the remaining custard. stir thoroughly.
• 17 fold this mixture carefully into the egg whites. chill for 15 minutes.
• 18 pour this chilled mixture over the pie completely covering the chocolate layer.
• 19 chill for several hours before serving.