Skillet Tarheel Pie

This weekend we headed north to celebrate my dear friend Charlotte’s upcoming wedding. Charlotte, lover of many foods other than wings but especially wings, was treated to a special food centric shower. Guests were encouraged to bring the couple a gift for the kitchen, and to fill it first with food for the party (actually perhaps the most genius trick for hosting a wedding shower ever). Gifting food is one of my favorite things to do, and this was a perfect way to honor Charlotte and share food with family and friends.

My one rule for weddings is that I always gift cast iron. I’m a completely dedicated cast iron user, yes, but I also appreciate what it symbolizes. I have cast iron passed down to me by my grandmother. My dad has his grandmother’s cast iron cauldron, a family heirloom that I would one day love to inherit. Cast iron is the wedding gift that will last as long as your marriage, as long as your grand children’s marriage, if you treat it well. Treat it as carefully as you treat your relationship with your spouse. Just don’t light your spouse on fire.

In the skillet I made Charlotte one of my favorite pies, the Tar Heel Pie. The Tar Heel Pie is essentially a chocolate chess pie with pecans, and it’s so easy to make you won’t actually believe it. To sweeten the deal I topped it with pecans, brown sugar, and a drizzle of melted chocolate.

While we were in DC we also got the opportunity to explore a bit, visiting friends and taking a few short trips out into the city. I’ll be back in two weeks for the bachelorette party of my lovely friend Rachael, and I’m looking forward to seeing the city in full bloom. That and spending some quality time with my two best gals, 1-95 and Audible.

Skillet Tar Heel Pie

1 cup chocolate chips
1 stick melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
Pie dough (halve this recipe here)
1/4 cup pecans
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 cup chocolate
1 tbsp melted butter

Pour hot butter over chocolate chips and stir until fully incorporated.  Whisk together remaining ingredients and add to chocolate. Pour into pie shell. Top with pecans and brown sugar. Bake at 350F for 30-40 minutes.

Mix together melted butter and chocolate to melt. Drizzle around edges of the pie, or evenly across. Let cool and serve.