Things are returning to normal. The pictures are pretty much hung on the wall in our new place and we even had friends over for dessert last night after going out for Mexican food. We have been in our new home for a week now and I am feeling a little more settled. Of course, the first thing I want to do after the boxes are unpacked is bake. Last night, because I haven’t totally restocked the panty yet, I just made the easy chocolate cake on the back of the Hershey cocoa can. To dress it up a bit, I baked it in 3 layers instead of 2 and frosted it with vanilla buttercream frosting (which is on the blog) between the layers. Then I added 3 sq of semisweet chocolate to the remaining vanilla buttercream and frosting the whole thing with the chocolate buttercream, drizzling a little leftover vanilla buttercream over the top. They thought I had sent all day in the kitchen. I fooled them, it took only abut an hour to do hat, but it looked really pretty. I have figured out that just putting your desserts on a fancy cake plate can make even the plainest cakes take on a fancy look.
For the last couple of months, traveling around from state to state, I collected quite a few new recipes from different places and one of those was this amazing looking pie. As soon as I can get to the store, this will be my next dessert.
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 1/4 cups sugar, divided
1 1/2 cups finely chopped toasted pecans, divided
1 (4 oz) bar semi-sweet chocolate bar, chopped
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
4 large eggs
1 teas vanilla
3/4 teas salt
3 cups marshmallows, cut in half horizontally (spray scissors with Pam before trying to cut, makes it so much easier)
2 cups miniature marshmallows
Chocolate Frosting
Stir together first 2 ingredients then add 1/4 cup sugar; press on bottom and up 2″ of side of 9″ spring form pan. Sprinkle 3/4 cup of pecans over crust..
Microwave chopped chocolate with 1 cup butter in microwave glass bowl until chocolate and butter is melted.
Whisk flour and next 4 ingredients and then the remaining 2 cups sugar into the chocolate mixture. Whisk until blended and pour into prepared crust.
Bake in preheated 350 oven for 1 hr to 1 hr an 15 min.. Remove from oven to cool for 20 minutes.
Preheat broiler with oven rack on lowest level from heat. Place the pan on a jellyroll pan. Toss together, both sizes of marshmallows
and mound on top of chocolate filling, leaving about 1″ edge. Broil 30 seconds to 1 minute or until marshmallows are golden brown and have begun to melt. Remove from oven and immediately remove sides .o pan. Cool on rack for 10 minutes. Prepare chocolate frosting and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup pecans. Drizzle chocolate frosting over the pie.
Frosting:
1/4 cup butter
3 tables unsweetened cocoa
3 tables milk (I like to use half & half or whipping cream for a creamier taste)
Combine the above 3 ingredients in small saucepan and stir until combined. Whisk together over the heat for about 3 minutes, then remove from heat and pour over 2 cups powdered sugar. Add 1 teas vanilla. When well blended drizzle over pie.
Chocolate Castles as wel 