S'Mores Pie -- There's Nothing Wrong with This!

Meal Monday

Honestly, I do put a lot of thought into the nutritional value and caloric content of my cooking. The fact that my son refuses to eat anything other than about ten items notwithstanding, I think we manage to eat healthily (notice the somewhat ridiculous semantic overreach to create an adverb to maintain strict grammatical correctness) most of the time.

However, there are a few things, call them comfort food, All American dishes, or whatever you want, that transcend all concerns about anything other than taste and fun. This dessert is one of them. There are undoubtedly many ways to make this and I can't imagine a single variation that wouldn't be delicious. So customize it however you like.

My personal shortcuts and substitutions include: buying the graham cracker crust (SO much easier and faster than making one -- they never turn out well for me anyway), using lactose free ice cream so my daughter can have some too, and alternating between using chocolate and vanilla ice cream depending on my family's preference.

The only tricky thing is the incredibly counterintuitive (putting an ice cream pie in the oven -- really???) last step under the broiler. THIS IS CRUCIAL FOR THE S'MORES TASTE, BUT FRAUGHT WITH GUSTATORIAL AND INCENDIARY DANGER. I have learned -- the hard way -- to put the pie on a rack that is a few notches below the broiler and to stand by the oven and watch the pie for a maximum of two minutes in there. That's it. As soon as the marshmallows start to brown, it's done. And it's good!

S'Mores Pie

1 prepared graham cracker crust

1 quart vanilla (or chocolate) ice cream

1 bag regular or miniature marshmallows (if full size, cut into halves or thirds)

3 or 4 milk chocolate bars

 

1. Take the ice cream out of the freezer and let soften for about ten minutes

2. Break the chocolate bars into small pieces and spread half as a layer on the bottom of the pie crust

3. When the ice cream is spreadable, spread half of it over the chocolate pieces

4. Layer the rest of chocolate on top of the ice cream and then cover with the remaining ice cream

5. Top the entire pie with marshmallows (slices or mini) so the pie is covered

6. Freeze until hard, at least two hours

7. Just before serving, pre-heat the oven to broil

8. Put the pie on a rack at least two notches below the broiler FOR 1-2 MINUTES, until marshmallows are toasted

9. Serve alone or with fudge sauce.