The Kentucky Derby has come and gone
for this year being held this past Saturday.  In addition to the excitement of a truly American race and event are the regional
foods which are associated with Churchill Downs and Louisville, Ky. on that day.  Picture above, the (i hate using this word
to describe food, but...) decadent chocolate and nut tart known as Kentucky Derby Pie.  Lots of history surrounding this one.
A local restaurant owned by the Kern Family called the Melrose Inn is where this tart (pie) was invented.  They still own the
rights to the name, DERBY PIE, and all other versions must be called something else, so, let's go with Kentucky Derby
Pie...no law suits please...
So why didn't I give you this before Saturday...because I hadn't made it yet...I made it Saturday, during the Run for the Roses.
Do not keep this pie only for the first Saturday of May..this is an EASY and quick pie which when served warm with a side of
whipped cream or good vanilla ice cream, is a tough treat to beat.  Especially since it is so rich that you would think more
time is involved in the preparation of it. Let do this.
   Rule of Thumb, if you want your recipe to taste the best it can,
you must use good ingredients.  The buttery richness of this pie shines through when you use a quality butter.  I used
Kate's Homemade Butter, a European style butter like Plugra would be awesome too.  Just don't use a stick that has
been in your refrigerator for a while...Use good semi-sweet chocolate chips, i used Ghirardelli for this.. And make sure
your nuts are fresh. Nuts tend to go rancid pretty quickly so if you do have old nuts (wow) then I suggest you taste them
first.  The original recipe calls for walnuts, and over the years this has morphed into using that other fine product of the
Southern U.S., the pecan.  I had chopped pecans on hand so that was my choice.  This recipe lends itself to using a
good quality frozen 9" pie crust.  Don't kill yourself here.  Or, if you like, make your crust for a 9" pie plate. 
Our list of ingredients is as follows: 
1 unbaked 9" pie crust
1/2 cup melted butter
1 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
2 fresh eggs, well beaten
pinch of salt
2 tbs. Kentucky Bourbon( or not if you are appealing to the kiddies)
1 tsp. GOOD vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Pre heat oven to 350.  Mix together the flour, sugar, and salt.  Then add the eggs , Mix, then the butter, mix well.


When it's all mixed well, add the rest of the ingredients.


Mix this well and pour it into the pie crust.  This process should take only about 5 minutes...SO QUICK!  then place it on a lined
baking sheet and bake for 40-45 minutes.  Remove and let cool for 25 minutes before serving.
It looks from the top like a chocolate chip cookie pie, but that is an illusion....under the firm top, is a gooey layer then the layer
of chocolate.  Really really good.  C'mon, you can whip this up for your next dinner or for company! 
Put down the Cool Whip and Entemann's....bake this one yourself!  Serve that Vanilla bean ice cream and/or whipped cream
with it and see the smiles all around....
Happy Baking.