If you love chocolate, your cravings will find sweet satisfaction with this rich and decadent dessert. What a lovely way to celebrate mud season! It may not be low-fat, but it sure is divine.

Sometimes we just need to treat ourselves.

Pie Dough
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon sugar or Sucanat
1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled, cut into pieces

Filling
1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled, cut into pieces
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar or Sucanat
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract

1. Make the pie dough: Sift the flour into a large bowl. Make a well in the center, and add the egg yolk and sugar. Using your fingers, mix the ingredients together. Quickly work the butter into the flour mixture. Press into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 1 hour.

2. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll out to fit a 9-inch pie dish. Transfer to pie dish, trim the edges, and refrigerate for at least an hour.

3. Preheat the oven to 325F. Make the filling:
Melt the butter and chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. When both are melted, stir them together. Set aside to cool just slightly.

4. Beat the eggs in a medium bowl until they are thick and pale yellow, mix in the sugar and vanilla, and add the chocolate mixture. Pour the filling into the pie crust.

5. Bake the pie for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature before serving.

Makes one 9-inch pie to serve 4 to 6.