Old Time Chocolate Meringue Pie

Ingredients:

1 - 9" pie shell

Filling:

3 large egg yolks
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 - 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup water
1 t. vanilla extract

Meringue:
3 large egg whites
1/4 t. cream of tartar
1/2 t. vanilla extract
1/4 sugar
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Fully pre-bake the pie crust.

2. Make the filling. Beat the yolks until well blended, then set aside. Heat the butter in a medium size saucepan over low heat until it melts. Add the cocoa, condensed milk, and water and stir constantly with a large spoon or a wire whisk until smooth. Stir in the yolks and the vanilla until smooth and thickened. Remove from the heat. Beat out any lumps that might have formed. Pour the filling into the pie crust.

3. Make the meringue. Combine the egg whites cream of tartar, and vanilla in a medium size bowl and beat with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add the sugar 1 T. at a time and continue beating until shiny, stiff peaks form and all of the sugar has dissolved.

4. Mound in the center of the pie, then spread it evenly around the edge of the inner crust, sealing the meringue to the crust. Use a spoon to create a design of peaks and valleys all over the meringue. Bake about 8 to 10 minutes until the meringue is golden. Let cool completely on a wire rack.