I want to share our family’s tradition of making chocolate mousse pie at Thanksgiving. After being with the Dyer family for a few Thanksgiving holidays, I quickly learned that Aunt Susan’s Chocolate Pie was a treasured tradition! Not only is the pie delicious and fun to make, it reminds us of an incredible, strong, compassionate woman.
My children have never met their great aunt Susan Dyer. She passed away of cancer at age 52 when my husband was on his mission. I met my husband after his mission, so I didn’t know his Aunt Susan, but from what I’ve learned, she is a person I would like to emulate.
After Susan’s diagnosis of cancer, she completed two marathons. She owned a large loom and knew how to weave. She loved to bake and create holiday decorations for her home. She and my mother-in-law were close friends and often were surprised to find they had so many things in common, from choosing the same china pattern, to buying the same clothing for their children. Susan was an outdoorsy person and loved to camp and play sports, something I’ve noticed has been passed on to many of her 8 children. Susan
I am thankful for my belief in life after death. I look forward to meeting Susan someday, along with my husband’s grandparents who I never got to meet and all my ancestors who I feel close to but haven’t met.
Many women in my family have special pie recipes that are as unique as they are. My great-grandmother Irma Henrie made banana cream pie that I love and continue to make. My mother makes a delicious triple berry pie with berries from her garden. My sister-in-law makes a unique gooseberry pie that we love to have at her home. We planted pumpkins in our garden a few years ago and since my favorite pie is pumpkin, I set about creating the best pumpkin pie recipe with our homemade pumpkin puree. After adding molasses and a few other special ingredients, I finally wrote down “Nicole’s Pumpkin pie.” Do you have pie recipes like this that are tagged with someone’s name who made it all the time or who developed the recipe? Share in the comments!
Making Chocolate Mousse Pie
The Dyer family is large, so they are in the habit of making large quantities of everything. When they make chocolate pie, they didn’t just make 1 or 2. Or 3 or 4. They make at least 6! Sometimes more! The pie making process is a tradition that all the Dyer sisters do. Before Thanksgiving time, we all send each other photos of the pie making process and trade tips about how many Oreos to buy.
My kids love making and eating chocolate pie. One of the best parts is removing the filling from the Oreos to make an Oreo pie crust.
Whipping the cream, gelatin, and egg whites with the chocolate pudding can also be exciting.
My son is having a pie party at school next week and wants me to bring…you guessed it! His favorite, Aunt Susan’s Chocolate Mousse Pie. Here’s the recipe.
AUNT SUSAN’S CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE
Makes 2 pies
Crust
2 ½ c. chocolate cookie crumbs
2/3 c. melted butter
Mix crumbs and butter together. Press into pie pans and chill.
Filling
Combine and cook over medium heat:
2/3 c. sugar
¼ c. flour
1 pkg. Unflavored gelatin
½ ts. Salt
1 ¾ c. milk
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
Stir constantly, bring to a boil, boil 1 minute, cool and stir.
In a separate bowl, beat 3 egg whites till frothy. Discard the egg yolks. Add ¼ t Cream of Tartar. Gradually add: ½ c. sugar till peaks form.
Whip: 1 c. whip cream
Fold cooled pudding into egg whites. Then fold in whip cream. Pour into pie shells. Chill.
This post is part of the #FHforChildren blog link up! Check out the other posts here:
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