A Toast To Mother
French Silk Chocolate Pie Recipe

By Doc Lawrence

Ed and Sue Auler’s magnificent Fall Creek Vineyards has a Mother’s Day feast each year at their Texas Hill Country estate surrounded by verdant vineyards, blooming bougainvilleas, and gorgeous views of Lake Buchanan. Their objective is to lavish mother and her family with a memorable three-course lunch by Austin, Texas’ acclaimed Chef Rob McMahon. Each course is paired with their wines, some which have been served in the White House. The gourmet event is on the lovely mist-cooled winery courtyard, and the menu is notable for local products including wines:

Arugula, with shaved fennel and Parmesan salad with Champagne vinaigrette is enjoyed with their Chenin Blanc. The main course is herb roasted breast of chicken drizzled with balsamic reduction, accompanied by fruited Orzo pasta with Roma tomatoes, Mandarin oranges, dried currants, golden raisins, and scallions tossed in a citrus vinaigrette with Gremolota zucchini, along with generous pours of Fall Creek’s velvety Merlot wine.

Dessert is lemon meringue tart accompanied by the Auler’s Twin Springs Sweet Red.

Lecia Duke, the acclaimed Fredericksburg, Texas chocolatier remembers her mother by serving her French Silk Pie (see recipe and photo below), a recipe that has been handed down for generations. Ms. Duke, a legendary Lone Star State businesswoman, recommends a late harvest Riesling wine, found in abundance in nearby Hill Country wineries.

Mother’s Day should showcase gentler wines that go with almost all food, some standing alone as an aperitif like Riesling, either from Germany, Alsace, or from New York or Washington state. Riesling from the Texas Hill Country where German heritage is pronounced, is often spectacular.

For German Riesling, be aware of the label which is determined according to harvest ripeness. A Splatlese is made from fully ripened grapes and may be dry or even off dry. Kabinett is usually dry and light-bodied and is the style usually served with food.

Chianti is an easy-going red wine. A Classico will cost a few bucks more, but mom is worth it.. If lamb is on the menu, regal Bordeaux is always going to work well. There is no need to be extravagant. Some Bordeaux are less than $20 dollars and they will be well received. Bordeaux is always a good choice as a Mother’s Day gift.

The feast for Mother’s Day should include dessert and a dessert wine can steal the show. From late harvest to ice wines, the list of selections is vast. They all taste wonderful and add enormous pleasure as we celebrate mom.

Recipe courtesy of Lecia Duke, acclaimed Texas chocolatier. Photo courtesy of Pillsbury.com.

Lecia says, "This is a traditional "wink-of-the-eye-ice-box" pie! This recipe comes from the French side of my family - my mother's recipe. The French are known for their rich sauces and delectable decadent desserts, and this pie doesn't fail in that regard! Slice it in small delicate portions. It also is magnificent as a "tassie" - small miniature tarts where the pie crust is baked or pressed into a mini-muffin pan. Pairing with a wine is what makes it all worthwhile (and healthy too)!

Recipe Type: Pie, Chocolate, Dessert
Yields: 8 servings
Prep time: 20 min


Ingredients:

Pastry for 9-inch one crust pie or Graham Cracker Pie Crust
1/2 pound (8 ounces) butter
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3  (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs
1 cup prepared whipped cream
Chocolate Shavings or Curls
Roasted Pecans (optional)

* Learn How To Melt Chocolate.

Preparation:

In the bowl of your mixer, cream the butter approximately 1 minute. Add sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, and continue to beat approximately 3 to 5 minutes or until light and fluffy.

Using low speed of your mixer, slowly add the melted chocolate and vanilla extract to the butter mixture until the chocolate is well blended and the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each egg before adding the next egg.

Pour the prepared chocolate mixture into either a baked pie shell or graham crack crust (your choice). Refrigerate until set.

Served with prepared whipped cream, chocolate curls or shaving, and/or roasted pecans.

Makes one (1) pie, approximately 8 servings.