Did You Say Pie?

Oh my yes, please! Recently we came home to find a flyer on the door. It was from a girl scout who was going through the neighborhood selling cookies.

Hubby and I have always been big supporters of scouting. We believe in the positive influence scouting has on our children. Neither of us are wild about the merging of scouts – boys in girl scouts and girls in boy scouts. I’m sorry, but there are differences. That’s neither here nor there, but just the observations of a traditionalist.

Hubby asked me if we should order cookies. I made a face. We’ve both put on a few much enjoyed pounds over the holidays. Maybe cookies wasn’t such a good idea. Besides, National Pie Day was coming up and I had plans to make an over-the-top Mousse Pie.

Oh yeah, Hubby laughed – pie had far fewer calories than cookies. Hum, maybe we’ll watch our diets later. Much later.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Pie
Chocolate Cookie Base
25 Oreo Cookies
5 tablespoons Butter
1 tablespoon Sugar

In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade, crush cookies. Melt butter, add to the cookies alone with the sugar. Pulse several times to blend.

Press base mixture into the bottom and slightly up the sides of a deep dish pie pan.

Peanut Butter Mousse
2 cups Powdered Sugar
6 oz Cream Cheese, room temperature
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Creamy Peanut Butter
2 large Egg Whites
3 tablespoons Heavy Cream

Sift powdered sugar, reserve 2/3 cup of sugar once sifted. Let cream cheese come to room temperature to soften. Separate egg whites from yolks. Reserve yolks as part of the chocolate mousse.

In a bowl, cream together 1-1/3 cup sifted powdered sugar, peanut butter and cream cheese until smooth. Set aside.

Beat egg whites in a medium bowl until soft peaks from. Gradually add the reserved powdered sugar to the egg whites. Continue to beat until stiff and shiny. Fold whites into the peanut butter mixture in 2 additions.

Remove base from freezer. Spoon the peanut butter mousse over the cookie base. Smooth top. Return to the freezer, freeze until mousse is firm, about an hour.

Chocolate Mousse
8 oz Bittersweet Chocolate
1 Egg Yolks (total 3)
1 cup Heavy Cream
1/3 cup Sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons Instant Express Powder
2-1/2 tablespoons Hot Water

Chop chocolate. Separate egg, discard white. Add yolk to the reserved yolks, set aside.

Heat heaven cream with sugar in a small heavy bottom pan over very low heat, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Transfer warmed cream to a medium mixing bowl, refrigerate until well-chilled.

Melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Let cook for 5 minutes. Dissolve espresso powder into the hot water in a small bowl. Whisk yolks int the espresso. Add yolk mixture to the warm chocolate, stir until smooth and slightly thickened. Let stand until chocolate has cooled to room temperature but not fully set.

Beat chilled heavy cream to soft peaks. Fold cream into the chocolate mixture in 2 additions and streak free.

Remove peanut butter pie from freezer. Spoon chocolate mousse over the frozen peanut butter mousse. Smooth top. Place pie in freezer until firm, at lease 2 hours or longer.

Chocolate Ganache
5 oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate
5 tablespoons Butter
2/3 cup Heavy Cream

Finely chop or grate chocolate, set aside. Dice butter into small pieces.

Heat cream with the diced butter in a medium saucepan over low heat until the cream begins to simmer and the butter is melted. Turn off heat. Add chocolate, whisk until smooth. Let cool until thickened but still of pouring consistency, about 90 minutes.

Remove Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Pie from freezer. Pour Ganache over the top of the frozen pie, beginning in the center. The Ganache will begin to set almost immediately. If desired, finish the top with white chocolate curls or chocolate sprinkles for an attractive presentation.

Place in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight for the Ganache to fully set. To serve, remove pie from the refrigerator, dip pie plate for a few minutes in warm water to loosen cookie crust. Slice and serve.

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In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do Your will, O my God, is my delight,
and Your law is within my heart!