Baptismal Pie

With apologies for the delay, here's the recipe for your pie maker's first commissioned work, in celebration of the baptism of his first nephew.  In Roman Catholic Church, the sacrament of baptism is the very real act of dying to sin and being reborn into Christ.  Following the pouring the of the water, the new Christian is clothed in a white garment and firmly instructed to bring it unstained to the day of judgment.  The Amish have a tradition of offering the family of the recently deceased a pie made from reconstituted grapes, known as a Funeral Pie, and if P&P is nothing if not willing to borrow good ideas from where ever they may be.


Baptismal Pie


Combine in a medium, preferably non-reactive saucepan:

2 cups raisins (don't use golden, the texture is all wrong)
1 cup water

Start a low flame or medium electric heat and stir occasionally.

Meanwhile, whisk together in a small bowl:
1 cup water
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 t cinnamon
3 T cornstarch

Once the mix in the pan is bubbling, stir in the stuff from the bowl and stir constantly as it bubbles for about 2min.  Then remove from heat and stir in

1/2 cup chocolate chunks

Preferably, chocolate that advertises itself as "sinful."  Decadent will do in a pinch.

Pour the somewhat cooled (but still easily flowing) mix into a 9" unbaked pie shell and place in an oven at 400F for 35min.  Do not add a top crust!  (you're not supposed to go before Jesus clothed in a golden brown and sugar dusted garment!)

Let the pie cool thoroughly, then combine in a cold bowl and mix with cold beaters:

1/3 cup confectioners sugar
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Spread the prepared whipping cream over the cooled pie and serve immediately.