THE BROWN DERBY’S BLACK BOTTOM PIE

BROWN DERBY'S BLACK BOTTOM PIE

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

2 tablespoons cold water

1/2 cup milk

2 tablespoons sugar

Dash salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg yolk

3 ounces sweet or semisweet chocolate

2 cups whipping cream

1 (9-inch) baked pie shell

Soften gelatin in cold water. Bring milk to boil in top of double boiler. Beat together sugar, salt, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and egg yolk until light and creamy. Add small amount of milk to egg mixture, blending well.

Return to remaining milk in pan. Cook, stirring, over hot water until mixture barely comes to boil. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin until dissolved.

Grate 2 ounces chocolate. Add to custard and stir over hot water until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and beat with rotary beater until custard is smooth.

Chill until custard reaches cream-like consistency. Whip 1 cup cream until stiff and fold into custard with remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Turn into baked pie shell and chill until firm.

At serving time, whip remaining 1 cup cream until stiff and spread over filling. Shave remaining 1 ounce chocolate and sprinkle over top of pie. Makes 1 pie.