Chocolate Pecan Pie

Line a 9-inch pie plate with pastry. Trim and crimp the edges of the pastry as you like; set aside. (If you like, make pastry cutouts from scraps of pastry. Bake on an ungreased baking sheet in a 350 degree F oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until they're golden brown.)

In a small, heavy saucepan, combine butter and chocolate. Cook over low heat until melted; stirring to mix. Remove from heat and cool.

In a bowl, beat eggs slightly. Stir in corn syrup, sugar, vanilla, and chocolate mixture. Stir in pecans. Place pastry-lined pie plate on oven rack. Carefully pour filling into pastry shell.

To prevent overbrowning, cover edge of pie with foil. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil from the edge. Bake the pie for 20 to 25 minutes more or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

Cool the pie at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours on a wire rack. Refrigerate within 2 hours. To serve, decorate top of pie with baked pastry cutouts, if you like. Makes 10 servings.