TASTE
SHOW #TS4847

COCONUT CUSTARD PIE

9 inch pie crust, prepared or home made
For the filling:
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
3 cups grated fresh coconut
4 large eggs
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup grated toasted coconut
Lightly whipped cream and additional toasted coconut for garnish

Trim the edge of the shell, leaving a 1/2 inch overhang. Crimp the edge over the shell decoratively. Prick the dough with a fork and chill for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line with wax paper, weight and bake the shell in the lower third of the oven for 15 minutes. Remove the wax paper and rice. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees and bake the shell for 10 minutes more or until golden. Transfer the shell to a rack and let cool.

Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and butter the second pie plate. In a saucepan bring the half-and-half to a simmer, stir in 2 cups of the fresh coconut, remove from the heat and let the mixture stand for 20 minutes, or until it is room temperature. Transfer the coconut milk to the food processor and blend it for 1 minute. Strain the mixture through a sieve lined with cheesecloth to extract all of the liquid, and add the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt. Stir in the remaining 1 cup coconut and pour the custard into the pie plate. Put the pie plate in a larger pan, add enough hot water to the pan to come halfway up the sides of the plate and bake in the middle of the oven for twenty minutes or until the edges of the custard are set. The center of the custard will still be a bit loose. Add additional toasted coconut to the top of the custard and bake for another 10 minutes.

Yield: 1 9 inch pie

Suggested wine -1986 Chateau Climens (Sauternes - Barsac)