Comfort food for grieving friends

In all cultures, food is used as a way of bringing comfort and healing at a time of grief or great loss. We take food to those who are sick, or to families when they have lost loved ones. This pie was prepared for that reason, and its ingredients go beyond the traditional and include a big dose of love.

A family close to me lost one of their members this week. I know the devastation and helplessness that goes along with loss, and I want to help soften the pain any way I can. But, I also know that grief has to work itself out with each person in their own way, and that it is a necessary part of the healing process.

Souls are comforted with faith and time, and those are things we can’t help with, other than letting them work on their own pace in their own. But we can comfort their bodies with the food we bring, and make ourselves available in any way possible.

We hope that in comforting their bodies, maybe a tiny bit of comfort – maybe just momentarily -- will flow to their souls and bring them moments of peace at this difficult time.

CHOCOLATE-COCONUT PECAN PIE

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
3 Tbsp. melted butter
1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
4 large eggs
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup whole pecans
1- 9” pie crust

Place large baking sheet on oven rack and preheat to 350 degrees. Whisk sugars, corn syrup, melted butter, vanilla extract and salt in large bowl to blend. Whisk in eggs. Stir in shredded coconut, chocolate chips and pecans. Pour filling into pie crust. Place pie on baking sheet in oven: Bake until crush is golden brown and filling is set in center, about 45-55 minutes. Transfer pie to rack and cool slightly. Serve warm.

MAKES 1 PIE.

Serve with a scoop of love and vanilla ice cream.