By Anne Kapler
The Gazette

Oh, how I would have loved to be part of the props department for the movie "Waitress."

The movie, which was released in theaters in May and on DVD in late November, tells the story of Jenna (Keri Russell), a small-town diner waitress trapped in a bad marriage who consoles herself by making pies ? lots and lots of really delicious-looking pies.

According to a story from the Boston Globe, two "pie wranglers" (how's that for a job title?) and one "pie mistress" made 250 pies for the film's 30-day shoot.

All that food was wonderful to watch ? flaky crusts, lush berries, rich chocolates and custards. ... I walked away from this film with an intense craving for pie.

Jenna mixes her emotions into her pies, creating recipes, and names, to fit her mood.

She dreams up creations like Kick in the Pants Pie (a cinnamon-spice custard), I Hate My Husband Pie ("You take bittersweet chocolate and don't sweeten it. You make it into a pudding and drown in it caramel.") and Pregnant Miserable Self-Pitying Loser Pie ("Lumpy oatmeal with fruitcake mashed in. Flambe, of course.")

An emotionally charged pie seems like the perfect treat for Valentine's Day. Maybe not one of the ones listed above, of course, but Jenna had some happier creations, too. Like Chocolate Mousse Falling-in-Love Pie (for the happily coupled) and Since I Left You I Don't Have a Care in the World Pie (for the happily single).

Continue reading for the "Falling in love" pie and "Since I met you I don't have a care in the world" pie recipes.


CHOCOLATE MOUSSE FALLING-IN-LOVE PIE
Makes 1 pie

1 (14-ounce) can condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
²/₃ cup water
1 (4-ounce) package chocolate pudding mix (not instant)
1 (1-ounce) square unsweetened chocolate
2 cups (1 pint) whipping cream, stiffly whipped
1 (9-inch) baked pastry shell

In large saucepan, combine condensed milk, water and pudding mix. Mix well. Add chocolate and place over medium heat. Cook and stir rapidly until chocolate melts and mixture thickens Remove from heat and beat until smooth. Cool. Chill thoroughly; stir. Fold in whipped cream. Pour into prepared pastry shell. Chill 4 hours or until set.

SINCE I LEFT YOU I DON'T HAVE A CARE IN THE WORLD PIE
Makes 1 pie

1 cup whole milk
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 eggs, separated
2 tablespoons shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
¹/₂ cup walnuts (optional)
1 baked pie shell
¹/₂ cup granulated sugar
¹/₄ teaspoon cream of tartar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In saucepan, heat milk over medium heat. Do not boil. Combine brown sugar, cornstarch and egg yolks. Fold into milk, and bring to a slow boil. Stir until mixture thickens. Remove from heat, and add shortening, vanilla and nuts. Pour mixture into pie shell.

In separate bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Add granulated sugar and cream of tartar. Pour this mixture over pie. Put in oven and bake 20 to 30 minutes, until meringue browns slightly.