Today would have been Minnie Pearl's 100th birthday and it reminded me that about 18 years ago I went to a trade convention in Nashville, Tennessee, and at a catered banquet we were served one of the best pies I've ever had.

It was a variation of a chess pie with chocolate chips in it, but I've never quite been able to replicate that flavor and texture. It was like eating chocolate chip cookie dough, but better.

Here is Toll House Pie from Nestle. It's not quite the thing I was looking for, but good all the same.



Nestle Toll House Pie

1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell *
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup (6 oz.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup chopped nuts
Sweetened whipped cream or ice cream (optional)

PREHEAT oven to 325° F.

BEAT eggs in large mixer bowl on high speed until foamy. Beat in flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat in butter. Stir in morsels and nuts. Spoon into pie shell.

BAKE for 55 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between edge and center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Serve warm with whipped cream, if desired.

* If using frozen pie shell, use deep-dish style, thawed completely. Bake on baking sheet; increase baking time slightly.

Since I never quite found what I wanted, this Jefferson Davis Pie with Additions is as close as I could come.

Jefferson Davis Pie with Additions

2 eggs
1/2 to 1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups milk
(Chopped pecans)
(Chocolate chips)

Combine all ingredients except the nuts and chocolate chips and cook until slightly thickened. Pour into an unbaked pie shell and bake at 350 degrees until done. Stir in the nuts and chips after about 15 minutes, if used, so the chips retain their chippy quality.

Not that I'm in a pie-making mood. I feel more like making one of those quick, guilty pleasures. Good thing I'm just about out of chocolate chips because I don't need the calories, but this is a good one.

Saltine Chocolate Pieces

1 sleeve saltines
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 10 by 15 inch cookie sheet with foil and spray very lightly with cooking spray. Cover with saltines. Boil sugar and butter for 3 minutes. Pour over saltines and spread evenly. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and let set 1 minute, then spread chocolate with a spatula. Sprinkle the nuts evenly over all and press down lightly. Cut on diagonal immediately or cool until firm, then break up. Can be frozen.