Mississippi Mud Pi
Use a chocolate or vanilla cookie crust, or a graham cracker crust, to make this Mississippi mud pie.

INGREDIENTS:
* 1/4 lb. butter, 1 stick
* 2 (1 oz. each) squares unsweetened chocolate
* 3 eggs
* 3 tablespoons white corn syrup
* 1 1/3 cups sugar
* 1 tsp. vanilla
* 9 inch graham cracker, chocolate or vanilla wafer pie shell

PREPARATION:
In a saucepan, heat butter and chocolate, stirring often, until melted and well blended. Beat eggs; stir in the corn syrup, sugar and vanilla. Add the chocolate mixture to egg and sugar mixture, stirring well.

Preheat oven to 350°. Pour filling into prepared pie shell. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until top is slightly crunchy and filling is set.

Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or dollop of whipped cream.
Four-Cheese Pizza Pi
Yield: 1 (10-inch) or 2 (8-inch) pizzas; 3 to 4 servings

For the pizza dough:
1 package active dry or fresh yeast
1 teaspoon honey
1 cup warm water, 105 to 115 degrees F
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional for brushing

For the pizza:
12 ounces (1/2 recipe) pizza dough
3/4 cup shredded or grated mozzarella, about 3 ounces
1/2 cup grated Fontina
1/2 cup grated Asiago
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
2 Roma tomatoes, ends trimmed and cut into 12 slices
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano leaves
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
6 to 8 large fresh basil leaves, cut into thin slices

For the pizza dough: In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and honey in 1/4-cup warm water.
In a mixer fitted with a dough hook, (or by hand) combine the flour and the salt. Add the oil, the yeast mixture, and the remaining 3/4 cup of water and mix on low speed until the dough comes cleanly away from the sides of the bowl and clusters around the dough hook (or fingers), about 5 minutes. The pizza dough can also be made in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse once or twice, add the remaining ingredients, and process until the dough begins to form a ball.

Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and knead by hand for 2 or 3 minutes longer. The dough should be smooth and firm. Cover the dough with a clean, damp towel and let it rise in a warm spot for about 30 minutes. When ready, the dough will stretch as it is lightly pulled.

Divide the dough into 4 balls, about 6 ounces each. Work each ball by pulling down the sides and tucking under the bottom of the ball. Repeat 4 or 5 times. Then on a smooth, unfloured surface, roll the ball under the palm of your hand until the top of the dough is smooth and firm, about 1 minute. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let rest 15 to 20 minutes. At this point, the balls can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 days.

For the Pizza: Place a pizza stone on the middle rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.

To prepare each pizza, dip the ball of dough into flour, shake off the excess flour, place the dough on a clean, lightly floured surface, and start to stretch the dough. Press down on the center, spreading the dough into an 8-inch or 10-inch rounds, with the outer border a little thicker than the inner circle. If you find this difficult to do, use a small rolling pin to roll out the dough.

Sprinkle the cheeses, arrange the slices of the Roma tomatoes, and then sprinkle with the, oregano, thyme, and finally the Parmesan. Bake on the pizza stone until the pizza crust is nicely browned, about 10 to 12 minutes.

When the pizza is removed from the oven, transfer to a cutting board and garnish with the chiffonade of basil leaves, cut the pizza into slices, and serve immediately.