A Good Day for Pi or Pie (and house hunting)

*UPDATED with more pictures to reflect the creation of the pie. The process pictures and the finished pie pictures were taken on two different occasions. 

Today is Pi Day! Yes, Pi not Pie...but the latter is much more up my alley. So we'll skip the math and go straight to the chocolate. Okay, that's a fib. There's a bit of a diversion which will doubly confirm why we need this chocolate. Homeowners, do you remember the search for your house? Yes, that experience that culminated in you signing piles of papers and earned you the privilege to fork over wads of money every month for years on end? If you do, say a prayer and send some patience because...the Born's are on the hunt for our first house! (If you're in my area and know of any good ones on the market feel free to shoot them my way!) 

We lucked out landing an energetic bright-eyed realtor who seems to be a go-getter, which I think probably makes the process all the better. (Plus, she seems like lots of fun so maybe I'll make a new friend out of the deal too.) But man, as much fun as it is, this process is exhausting. And really, we've barely begun. I've attempted to organize my thoughts on house-hunting in a semi-satirical list below. 

How to Hunt for a House: the newbie, newlywed edition (in other words, nothing like an HGTV show)

1. Save for your down payment. 
   
2. Create a list of reasonable non-negotiable house items (i.e. 2 bathrooms, at least 2 car garage!)
   
3. Begin looking at Realtor.com and Zillow.com on a regular basis. And by regular I mean more times than you can count.
   
4. Find a local realtor that knows the market. It helps if you don't mind spending hours with this person. (BO, bad attitudes, and impatient people not allowed). 
   
5. Select 3-5 houses that you want to see in person.
   
6. Argue with your spouse about their wants versus your needs.
   
7. View houses. Likely be disappointed (or shocked or dismayed). Repeat with each new address.
   
8. Realize you haven't saved enough and contemplate what you can sell.
   
9. Reconsider your list of non-negotiables. Everything is negotiable, right?
   
10. Re-run your budget incessantly. Have a small anxiety attack. 
11. Submit your first offer.
    
12. Wait for the other real estate agent to call with good news. (Keep waiting.)
    
13. Try to practice your patience but realize they're as non-existent as the open floor plan you've been coveting on Pinterest. 
    
14. Get the news your offer wasn't accepted. Throw a fit and then remember that homeowners aren't supposed to behave that way.
    
15. Select more houses.
    
16. Repeat steps 6-15 as necessary until you land the home of your reality. (Note, not the same as dreams)

So about that pie...
When I am exhausted, anxious, eager, or any of the emotions between...I eat. Admittedly, and without shame, I eat. Chocolate, french fries, guacamole, ice cream, chocolate... yep, my go to's. In light of our hunt and in honor of 3.14 day, here's the absolutely easiest, most decadent way to get your chocolate fix: the Pioneer Woman's French Silk Pie. 

French Silk Pie
Recipe from Pioneer Woman
4 ounces (total weight) unsweetened baking chocolate (I like Baker's brand)
1 cup salted butter, softened
1-1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I prefer Mexican vanilla)
4 whole large eggs
1 baked pie shell (homemade, refrigerated crust, or pre-baked)
8 ounces cool whip or homemade whipped cream, for topping
chocolate curls or chips, for topping

Directions

1. Melt 4 ounces of unsweetened baking chocolate in microwave, in a small bowl. Melt until stirrable, which is about 45 seconds. Set aside to cool.
2. (I really recommend using a Kitchen Aid or similar mixer for this.) In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter  and sugar until fluffy (1 to 2 minutes). When melted chocolate is cool, pour it slowly over the butter/sugar mixture. Add vanilla. Beat the mixture thoroughly until combined. (If you are using a countertop mixer, use the whisk attachment).
3. Now on a medium speed, still with the whisk attachment, add in eggs, one at a time. You will mix for about 20 minutes, so that's an egg about every 5 minutes. 
4. Once the filling has come together into a creamy, chocolately thick cream, pour it into the baked pie shell. 
5. Even out the top of the pie filling, smooth is good but some character is fine :) 
6. Put the pie in the refrigerator to chill for at least two hours (chilling for longer is good though, it adds anticipation of the goodness!)
7. Before serving, put a extra large dollop of whipped cream and garnish with a few chocolate curls or chips

Note: This recipe contains raw eggs. Please know young children, pregnant women, the elderly, or any one with a compromised immune system should probably stay away from the recipe. 

When you serve this,  I dare you to eat just a tiny piece. I bet you can't do it. And if you can, well you have the willpower of a superhero. I hope this pie gives you just the delicious chocolate fix to remedy whatever ails you or to celebrate all that is good, or both. 

And for the record, I feel fortunate to be in the position to house hunt with my best friend so this isn't really a complaining post, but my account of what seems to be a imperfect, difficult process.  

And this is perfect timing, I think this last piece has my name on it! :)

Happy Pi Day! 
Until next time.
-xoxo

PS and this is a PS of the best kind: birthday wishes! 
More importantly than Pi Day, today is our sweet little niece's BIRTHDAY! She's 2!! How's that possible? 
She brings lots of energy to our lives. Plus she couldn't be more pretty (not that we're biased.) In short, we adore her. Happy Birthday, L! May this be the best year yet for our funny, busy, ornery, super smart, giggly girl. Love you lots, Auntie and Uncle.