This decadently rich chocolate pie recipe has an ingredient that that is going to surprise many of you! When I told my trainer, Mr. Strong...

...about this pie, he was extremely skeptical because that surprise ingredient is “silken tofu”. Having never tried tofu, Mr Strong had no idea what to expect and was very hesitant to give it a try. When he tasted it and then asked how to make it, I knew we had a winning dessert!

Tofu comes in different consistencies. If you have never bought tofu before, it is essential for this recipe to buy the “silken” tofu (which is also used to make delicious smoothies!) Look for the word “silken” on the packaging.

The filling for this pie is all made in a blender. You will need:

• 16 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
• 1/3 cup of coffee liqueur (Khalua) or strong black coffee)
• 1 block of silken tofu
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon of honey

You will also need a 9-inch graham cracker pie crust (or 8-10 mini size) which you can make yourself or buy pre-made.

I recommend using semi-sweet chocolate chips, although you could use just about any chocolate you prefer. The chips are more economical than buying a premium chocolate bar. (Use semi-sweet chocolate or a combination of bitter sweet (4 ounces) and semi-sweet (12 ounces).

Put the chocolate bits into a microwave safe bowl.

Microwave the chocolate, for about 1 minute and 30 seconds. Give it a stir. If it’s not smooth and melted, zap it again, in 15 second increments, until it’s completely melted.

Meanwhile, cut out a small corner of the silken tofu container and drain off the excess fluid - only about 2-3 Tablespoons.

Measure out the coffee liqueur (Khalua), honey and the vanilla.

Now, put the tofu, coffee liqueur, vanilla extract and honey into a blender:

Mix this all together on medium speed for about 20 seconds

Add the melted chocolate…

to the blender…

and mix that in as well, on medium, for an additional 30 seconds.

With a silicone spatula, scrape down the insides of the blender.

And give it one more whirl, on medium for about 20 seconds, until everything is totally blended and smooth.

Pour the chocolate mixture into a 9-inch graham cracker crust...

or 8-10 mini crusts.

Put the pie (or mini pies!) in the refrigerator for about 1-to-2 hours to set.

A tart pan with a removable bottom also works beautifully with this recipe.

Pour the filling into the prepared crust.

And refrigerate the tart until it’s firm.

Serving the Pie

If you have made a nine inch pie using a pre-made or home made crust, then just start slicing.  If you used the mini crusts you can gently remove these tarts from the tin.  For those that made a crust from scratch and use a tart pan with removable sides, balance the tart on a large can. The rim drops down very easily.

Then just put it on a serving dish and dig in!  (You can also top this pie with some whipped cream if like!)

Of course you could always just forget about a crust and pour this fudgy filling straight into a beautiful stemmed glass and eat it as is!

Enjoy!

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I discovered this wonderful dish when it was served to me on a Finn Air flight. I loved it so much I developed my own interpretation!

This rice salad is garnished with mandarin oranges and pecans, and is served with hard cooked eggs, herring (from a jar) or salmon, and rye crackers or bread with butter. It is a fabulous lunch or a light supper.

This dish requires very little cooking, and it can all be done in advance. For 4-6 servings you will need about 3 cups of cooked rice and 4-6 hard cooked eggs.

(You can make your own rice or you can use any leftover plain white rice you might have from an Indian or Chinese take-out meal that you had the day before.)

Make the dressing for the rice first.

Combine:

½ cup plain yogurt (I use Greek yogurt)

2 tablespoons of rice vinegar

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 tablespoon of dried dill

Rice Vinegar has a very mild flavor. You could use plain white vinegar, but I would definitely use less. (Maybe only 2 teaspoons!)

Add the rice to the dressing, then add:

3 tablespoons of chopped parsley

3 tablespoons of chopped green onion

And a sprinkle of salt and pepper

This all can get done in advance.

When you are ready to serve your rice salad, be sure to assemble each plate in the kitchen, and present the plate as a done deal. Don’t put all the separate bits into serving dishes and let everyone help themselves. Each plate should have lots of eye appeal!

Put a spoonful of rice on the plate.

Garnish with some drained, cold, mandarin oranges and some pecans.

Cut the hard cooked egg into wedges and add to the plate.

Drain the herring from the jar and add that too!

Use some of the leftover parsley for extra garnish.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

Cheers!

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Cold plates from around the world make a great lunch or light supper. Many require little or no cooking.  In fact you can put together a delicious Cold Mediterranean Plate with all store bought ingredients like hummus, stuffed grape leaves, feta cheese, olives and some pita bread.

One of my favorite cold plates is the English “Ploughman’s Lunch.” Many years ago, my English husband introduced me to a this delicious meal along with a “Shandy” (1/2 beer and 1/2 lemonade) to wash it all down.

The great thing about a Ploughman’s lunch is that is takes less than 10 minutes to prepare!

It consists of a bit of mixed salad, crusty bread and butter, a wedge of sharp cheddar cheese, and Branston pickle, which is a sort of relish or chutney. Many Americans have never heard of Branston pickle. But if you look in the international section of the grocery store I’ll bet you’ll find it, nestled between the “mushy peas” and PG Tips tea.

Branston Pickle was first introduced in 1922 by Cross and Blackwell, in England of course. The actual recipe is still a secret! It has this really unique spicy, sweet, tangy flavor, that when combined with cheddar cheese and bread, you have yourself a little bit of heaven. You can vary proportions to your taste.  Substitutes are allowed but watch out if you have any English people at your meal!

When I serve this at home, the only difference is that I usually stick to just the lemonade to wash it down. Otherwise, a siesta would be on the menu as well!

Cheers!

P.S.

Be sure to also check out my recipe for  Cold Rice Salad Plate.  Everyone loves the unique blend of flavors in this recipe!

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