Easy, Healthy (for pie), Vegan, Gluten-free German Sweet Chocolate Pie
Growing up, I often felt my mother spoke through food. You knew which friends were tolerated with caution, which had earned approval, and which were beloved by the warmth of the kitchen. After an argument, nothing indicated forgiveness like the smells from the oven. When my choices were not in line with my parents' wishes, love and support were presented on plates and in grocery selections. I'm not sure when I realized to what extent I'd inherited the language of food. One day recently it struck me that there are times it would be wise to pause before cooking to ask, is an edible gift really appropriate? It had never occurred to me that food gifts, nourishment created by hand from scratch with love, might not be automatically received as intended. Although we all need to eat, some edible gifts may be to others as random as tiny bottles of overpoweringly floral scented lotions are to me (not that they aren't appreciated/nice!).
One food present that had become a bit of a tradition for me was a real blow when it went away: the German sweet chocolate freezer pie recipe found on the inside of the German baker's chocolate box was Dave's favorite dessert for years. So yummy. Bonus, it was SO easy to make. Cream cheese, cool whip, chocolate, graham cracker crust. Too bad we cut out dairy. And no matter how creatively you rationalize, cool whip is far from natural, along with other compounds and constituents that sneak in that tempting, delectable pie.
This year, though, I tried using that amaaaaazing simple dark chocolate date sauce/mousse recipe as the filling in an oat and almond crust...and the result was *Fabulous*! Can you hear the angels singing in those italics?!
Tone is everything, and there is a part of me that thinks: I can't believe I'm writing about this recipe again (disbelief); but really, what I'm feeling is, I can't believe I'm writing about this recipe again! (Admiration...in that, is there any limit to this incredible three-ingredient combo?!) I didn't take the time to create the perfect slice, or get the best photos, but seriously, the recipe is foolproof and awesome. This simple pie stands out as an example reminder that we can keep to our choices in diet without feeling deprived. Even our most clinging and extreme sweet tooth tendencies are delighted and quieted with one slice for special occasions. Best of all, this new pie is still so easy to make. Happy Birthdays, Davy.
Easy, Healthy (for pie), Vegan, Gluten-free German Sweet Chocolate Pie
For the crust:
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup almond meal or flour
- 1/4 cup olive or coconut oil
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup, optional
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
For the filling:
- 1 15-ounce can full fat coconut milk
- 12 Medjool dates, pitted
- 1/3 cup (to 1/2 cup if you're feeling really decadent) dark chocolate pieces, melted
- Preheat the oven to 350. To prepare the crust, place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until combined. Press into a 9-inch pie pan coated with cooking spray. Bake 12-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Pour into cooled pie crust. Cover with foil and freeze.