Reruns

I am posting pictures of some recipes I recently used at a luncheon. The chicken cantaloupe recipe was featured on July 20th blog: Triple Digits. The Berry Sorbet was posted May 30th: Backyard Recipes and Black Bottom Pie has been revised and I am posting it with changes. I am also including a Caesar Salad recipe which is very easy with few ingredients.

All perfect for summer entertaining.

Black Bottom Pie

Ingredients:

• 1 package Nabisco chocolate wafers
• 1/2 cup sugar
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 stick melted butter
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions;

Preheat oven 375 and use a glass pie pan

Process cookies in food processor until fine, add sugar and melted butter

Pat crumbs into a pie pan

Press pecans into crumbs

Bake 12 minute-cool completely before adding filling

Filling Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 tsp. espresso powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 cups milk divided
• 2/3 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 TB butter
• 1 TB. vanilla
• 2 TB. Kahlua

Directions:

• Combine 1 cup sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, espresso, and salt in a saucepan
• Whisk in 2 cups of milk (I did put this mixture in a blender and then back into a saucepan)
• Cook over medium heat till thick about 6 minutes be sure to stir constantly with a wooden spoon
• Remove heat add chips
• Whisk yolks and remaining 1 cup of milk and blend into chocolate mixture
• Bring to boil and simmer 3 minutes
• Off heat stir in 1 TB butter, vanilla and Kahlua
• Cool and pour into crust and cover with wax paper
• Needs to be chilled overnight to set for easier cutting

Topping

• 1-1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1/8 cup powdered sugar
• Chill beaters for a few hours then beat cream and sugar when stiff add 1 TB. Kahlua
• Add topping to each pie slice garnish with chocolate shavings

Caesar Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of prepared creamy Caesar salad dressing mix
• 1 small package of mixed greens or baby spinach leaves with trimmed stems
• Parmesan cheese
• toasted pine nuts about 1/2 cup
• 4 cups cooked chicken
• 2 cups cooked drained pasta shells

Directions:

• Mix 1/2 package of greens, chicken, cooked pasta and enough dressing just to moisten ingredients
• Add I cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Mix in toasted pine nuts
• Chill for several hours