Recipe(tried): Sinful Chocolate-Strawberry Pie

SINFUL CHOCOLATE-STRAWBERRY PIE

It's best to start this very special pie early in the day, or the day before you're going to serve it.

30 chocolate wafer cookies, crushed (1 1/2 cups)
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup whipping cream, whipped
1 pint of fresh, ripe strawberries, washed and hulled (set aside the biggest and best strawberry for decoration)
1 tsp shortening

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

CRUST:
Combine cookie crumbs and butter in a medium bowl, mixing well. Firmly press into bottom and sides of a lightly buttered 9-inch pie plate.

Bake for 10 minutes. Cool completely.

Make whipped cream and place in refrigerator.

FILLING:
Place 1/2 cup of chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler; bring water to a boil. Immediately reduce the heat to a low simmer; cook until chocolate melts, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; cool to lukewarm.

In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese at medium speed until smooth. Add brown sugar and vanilla, mixing well.

Add cooled chocolate; beat well.

Fold in whipped cream.

Spoon filling into cooled crust. Cover and chill at least 8 hours.

Having set aside the best strawberry; slice remaining berries. Arrange slices over chilled pie. Place reserved whole berry in the center of the pie for garnish.

In a small saucepan, combine the reserved 2 tbsp chocolate chips and the 1 tsp shortening. Cook over very low heat until chocolate and shortening melt, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Drizzle the melted chocolate mixture over the strawberries.

Refrigerate until served. Top with the reserved whole strawberry.

Makes one (9-inch) pie