When I was a little girl my mother would make a wonderful pie that I thought she was calling “Chest Pie.” Later on I realized she was really saying “Chess Pie” but it still seems an odd name to me. Cornmeal Pie is much more fitting considering that cornmeal is one of the main ingredients.
This pie is now a favorite of my children. They ask for it frequently. And since it is so easy to make I try not to disappoint them.
A very simple way to boost the flavor of this already amazingly delicious pie is to use freshly ground cornmeal. Grinding your own meal isn’t a bother with the Wondermill Electric Grain Mill.
Simply purchase a bag of popcorn kernels. Turn on the Wondermill Grain Mill, set to the coarsest setting, and in less than two minutes you have freshly ground cornmeal.
The flavor of freshly ground cornmeal far surpasses its store bought counterpart.
Ingredients:
2 – 9″ unbaked pie shells
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup cornmeal
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time beating after each addition. Add corn syrup, milk, and vanilla, mix well. Fold in cornmeal and flour. Pour mixture into two 9 inch pie shells. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Lower heat to 300 degrees and bake an additional 25 minutes or until pies are set.
If you have never tried a Chess (or Cornmeal) Pie give it a try and let me know what you think. What kind of pies did your mother make when you were growing up?
3 Responses to Chess Pie (Cornmeal Pie)