Chocolate Pie...Oh My!

So the tradition of baking something on the weekend continues.  I made a chocolate pie and it's so yummy.  It's super easy to make and very old school southern.  I utilized a graham cracker crust (pre-made, it's the easiest way to go) and made the filling and meringue topping.  So here's what you need and how to do it.  Enjoy it.

What you will need:

For the filling
1 cup of sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup cocoa
2 cups of milk
2 egg yolks (reserve whites for meringue)
1 tbs shortening
1 tsp vanilla

For the meringue

3 egg whites (two from the reserves of filling mixture)
4 tbs sugar

Stir sugar, salt, cornstarch and cocoa together.  Slowly mix in milk.  Simmer on medium high heat stirring constantly until mixture becomes very thick.  (Much like the consistency of pudding)

Remove from heat and add egg yolks, shortening and vanilla extra.  I tempered that mixture just to ensure the eggs didn't scramble.  Stir ingredients together and add to pie shell.

For the meringue, beat egg whites until fluffy.  Add sugar 1 tbs at a time and beat until stiff white peaks form.  Cover pie filling with meringue and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.