Chocolate Pudding Pie

Chocolate Pudding Pie

1 Graham cracker crust (recipe follows)

3/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 cups rice milk

1 tablespoon egg replacer

   OR  1 egg

2 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate, cut into small pieces

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

  Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a heavy saucepan. Add the rice milk, whisking until fully combined. Add the egg replacer, whisking until light and frothy.
  Set the saucepan over medium heat. Warm slightly, add the chocolate pieces, and cook, whisking, until it comes to a slow simmer and has thickened, about 5 minutes. If it lumps at all, whisk more vigorously.
  Once it has thickened to a pudding consistency, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, just below a simmer, stirring with a  wooden spoon, for 20 minutes. The pudding should be soft and chocolaty, and should slowly drip off of a wooden spoon. The pudding must reach this thick rich stage or it will not set, so it's better to err on the side of cooking a little longer than not cooking long enough. Once really thick, remove from the heat, whisk in the vanilla, and cover with wax paper. Let cool while preparing the crust.

Graham Cracker Crust

1 1/4 cups basic gluten-free flour mix

1/4 cup sorghum flour

1/4 cup golden flax seed meal

1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup dairy-free, soy-free vegetable shortening

 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon agave nectar or honey

  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
  Whisk together the flours, flaxseed meal, xanthan gum, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
  In a large bowl, combine the shortening, brown sugar and agave nectar; mix on medium speed for about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
  Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed until just combined about 30 seconds.
  Pat into greased 9" pie plate. This makes a fairly thick crust, so if you like it thinner, you could make graham crackers out of some of the remaining crust. Prick with a fork across the bottom, and bake for 18 minutes.
  Cool; fill with chocolate pudding. Refrigerate for several hours until set, and serve as is, or with Vegan Whipped Topping.

Vegan Whipped Topping

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 cup rice milk

1/2 cup dairy-free, soy-free vegetable shortening

1/2 cup caster sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

  Whisk together the cornstarch and rice milk in a small heavy saucepan until smooth, being sure to whisk out any lumps.
  Bring to just below a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it thickens. (This happens very quickly, in about 1 minute or less.) Remove from the heat and stir vigorously until smooth. Set aside to cool.
  In a large bowl, cream the shortening and sugar on medium speed for 3 minutes, then add the vanilla. Continue to beat while adding the cooled rice milk mixture, until fully incorporated, about 1 minute, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary. Beat for 2-3 more minutes, or until light and fluffy, making sure you've whipped out any lumps. Serve at room temperature (it solidifies when chilled).

The Power of Christ's Resurrection

   "The power of his resurrection." Philippians 3:10

The doctrine of a risen Savior is exceedingly precious. The resurrection is the cornerstone of the entire building of Christianity. It is the keystone of the arch of our salvation. It would take a volume to set forth all the streams of living water which flow from this one sacred source, the resurrection of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; but to know that he has risen, and to have fellowship with Him as such - communing with the risen Savior by possessing a risen life - seeing Him leave the tomb of wordliness ourselves, this is even still more precious. The doctrine is the basis of the experience, but as the flower is more lovely than the root, so is the experience of fellowship with the risen Savior more lovely than the doctrine itself. I would have you believe that Christ rose from the dead so as to sing of it, and derive all the consolation which it is possible for you to extract from this well-ascertained and well-witnessed fact: but I beseech you, rest not contented even there. Though you cannot, like the disciples, see Him visibly, yet I bid you aspire to see Christ Jesus by the eye of faith; and though, like Mary Magdalene, you may not "touch" Him, yet may you be privileged to converse with Him, and to know that He is risen, you yourselves being risen in Him to newness of life. To know a crucified Savior as having crucified all my sins, is a high degree of knowledge; but to know a risen Savior as having justified me, and to realise that He has bestowed upon me new life, having given me to be a new creature through His own newness of life, this is a noble style of experience: short of it, none ought to rest satisfied. May you both "know Him, and the power of His resurrection." Why should souls who are quickened with Jesus, wear the grave-clothes of worldliness and unbelief? Rise, for the Lord is risen.

Charles H. Spurgeon
Morning and Evening