MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.01

     Title: Chocolate Caramel Hazelnut Pie
Categories: Pies
     Yield: 8 servings

     1    Prebaked 9" pie shell

MMMMM--------------------------FILLING-------------------------------
 1 1/2 c  Sugar
   1/2 c  Water
   1/2 c  Unsalted butter, cut into
          -pieces
     1 cn Evaporated milk (5 oz)
     2 oz Unsweetened chocolate,
          -chopped
     2 c  Hazelnuts or filberts,
          -skinned and coarsely
          -chopped

MMMMM--------------------OPTIONAL DECORATION-------------------------
     8    Whole hazelnuts, skinned
    24    Sliced almonds

 From "The Artful Pie", Lisa Cherasky & Renee Comet (Chapters
 Publishing).

 Filling preparation: First, prepare the pie shell. Then, in a large,
 heavy-bottomed saucepan, stir together the sugar and water. Set the
 saucepan over medium-high heat. Let the sugar mixture come to a boil
 and continue to cook until it caramelizes. Do not stir the sugar as
 it cooks. If it caramelizes unevenly, you can move it around by
 swirling it in the pan. When the sugar is a rich golden brown, remove
 it from heat and stir in the butter and evaporated milk gradually,
 mixing well with a wooden spoon until smooth. Let cool for 5 minutes
 and stir in the chocolate. Beat with a whisk until very smooth. Set
 the filling aside to cool for 10-15 minutes and then stir in the
 nuts. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 475°F.

 Assembly and baking: Pour the filling into the pie shell and bake for
 10 minutes, until the edge is very brown and the center is bubbling.
 Once the pie has cooled to room temperature, about 1 hour, decorate
 it, if desired, by making small flowers with the whole hazelnuts and
 sliced almonds.

 Makes one 9" single-crust pie.

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