Normally, I like to accompany my recipes with step by step pictures, but not today…

I made this pie for Thanksgiving while up in Ventura at my in-law’s house. With so much cooking and baking to do, I didn’t have the time or energy to take detailed pictures of each step, but what the heck,…I’m going to post it anyway, just because it’s so delicious!!

This is the background to this glorious, custard-y dish of delight…

My sweet Grandma Ruth has made this pie,… since ever!! It is what I have known,… it is what’s familiar to me,… and it is what’s a STAPLE at ALL holiday dinners in our family. And get this,….supposedly it is what caused my Grandpop to marry my Grandmom. She said she had only known my Grandpop for a week or so and when she made him this pie, he dropped on his knee right then and there and asked her to marry him. True story…. not exaggerated one bit. Well,… maybe a bit, but just a little bit. He did eat her pie and he did ask her to marry him… shortly thereafter. Just not right after he took the first bite… maybe a couple days later or so…

The funny/sad part to the story is that my Grandpop and Grandma Ruth divorced about 20 years later, but he still always loved that pie! In his old age, he developed diabetes which didn’t allow him to have many sweets, but every time there were holiday gatherings he’d still try to sneak my Grandma’s pie,… even with my step grandmother peeking over his shoulder.

So, as you can see,… this pie is pretty much what our family is built on (ok, that may be pushing it a little bit!) but,… it’s really, really, really good! And, you should make it!

Grandma’s Chocolate Sundae Pie

1 c. evaporated milk

1/2 c. water

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

3 eggs (separated)

3/4 c. sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

1 envelope knox’s gelatin dissolved in 3 tbsp. cold water (dissolved about 5 minutes before egg mixture is combined)

1 tbsp. vanilla

1 baked pie shell

Cool Whip topping or Heavy Whipping Cream

Unsweetened Chocolate

Directions:

-Mix together milk, water, and nutmeg in double boiler on low heat (or a regular pan on very low heat)

-In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks until light in color, then add in salt and sugar.

-Pour the hot milk mixture over the egg mixture (making sure to do it gradually, a little at a time).

-Return mixture to double boiler.

-Cook until mixture resembles a fairly thick cream and coats back of spoon.

-Remove from heat and add gelatin which has been soaking in cold water for about 5 minutes.

-Add vanilla into mixture.

-Let mixture cool completely

-When mixture is cooled completely, beat remaining egg whites until peaks form.

-Fold stiffly beaten egg whites into mixture, carefully.

-Pour mixture into baked pie shell and set in fridge for a few hours.

- Before serving, cover with cool whip and top with shavings of unsweetened chocolate.

Believe me. The time it takes to make this is worth every minute,…