French Silk Pie

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
3 heaping tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla

3 Eggs

Baked Pie Shell

Mix all ingredients, except EGGS and shell, well. Add one egg, beat for five minutes. Add a second egg, beat for five minutes. Add a third egg, beat for five minutes. Pour into pie shell and chill overnight - if you can wait that long to eat it!

Joan's Pie Crust

2 C flour

2/3 C butter-flavored shortening

1 t salt

(up to) 6 T cold water

Combine salt & flour. Cut in shortening (can do in food processor). Sprinkle on water lightly and toss with fork until begins to stick together and make a ball. Roll between two pieces of wax paper. Roll to 1/8 inch thick. Peel off one side of wax paper. Place paper back on crust and flip over. Peel off other side. Put crust in pan.

To pre-bake - preheat oven to 425* and bake 8-12 minutes (poke with fork or use pie weights).

PS - THANK YOU to Joan Justis for teaching me how to make this pie crust. My husband will be forever grateful.

Whit's Cinnamon Pie

1 c. sugar

2 Tbsp cinnamon
2 tbsp. flour
2 tbsp. cornstarch
Dash salt
1 c. evaporated milk

1 c. water
4 egg yolks
1/2 stick (1/4 c.) butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 baked pie shell (9-inch)

In double boiler (I make my own) combine evaporated milk and water. Mix together the 1 cup sugar, cinnamon, flour, cornstarch and salt. Stir into milk/water, then very gradually blend in slightly beaten egg yolks. Cut the half stick butter into several pieces and add to milk mixture. Cook in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring constantly, until thick (consistency of pudding). Stir in vanilla. Cool.

Pour cream mixture into pie crust. Delicious!