My husband loves eating pie. He eats it for dessert, as a snack, and yes, even for breakfast. It obviously tastes great with his morning latte, and he is certain that one day “breakfast pie” will be the norm.  I have given up on suggesting healthier alternatives. It’s no wonder that pie is his favorite meal, since his mother is notorious for her pies. She doesn’t just have a few specialties. She makes all kinds of pies and brings them to any and all occasions. In fact, when my Babe and I were married, she baked ALL of the pies. Now that’s a labor of love!

When someone’s birthday rolls around, she is on top of it, asking what type of birthday pie to create. Everyone gets a birthday pie…blueberry, grasshopper, peanut butter, and one of my favorites, chocolate chip pie. I have a favorite chocolate chip pie recipe that I’ve used for decades; it’s filled with chocolate chips and walnuts. I like it warm from the oven, while the filling is so gooey.  Now, I may not be a pie fanatic like my husband, but chocolate chips are at the top of my list…in cookies, batter, ice cream, and pies. My girls know to put the bag of chips right into the freezer when unloading groceries. I like a handful of frozen chips in the afternoon when I’m dragging and need a pick me up. (That’s how my mother did it! My girls like it too…three generations!)

One year, my mother-in-law, Donna, made a chocolate chip pie for my husband’s birthday. He’s not a big fan of nuts, so she altered the recipe by using toffee bits. I loved it! It’s really sweet, but a creative alternative for chocolate lovers who scrunch their noses up at nuts. This year I made it for his birthday…for dessert. However, it soon became his breakfast pie!

  CHOCOLATE CHIP TOFFEE PIE

INGREDIENTS:

• 9 inch unbaked pie shell (I like homemade, but store bought is an easy alternative.)

• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup butter, melted (2 sticks)
• 1 cup chocolate chips (6 oz.)
• 1 cup toffee bits (Stores usually place them near the chocolate chips.)

DIRECTIONS

1.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2.  Mix together the sugars, eggs, and flour.
3. Melt the butter.  (microwave or stove top)
4. Add to the pie filling and mix till well blended.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips and toffee bits to the pie filling.
6. Pour the filling into the unbaked crust.
7. Bake for one hour.

ENJOY…for dessert or even breakfast!