MARSHMALLOW MERMAID PIE: National Pie Day

I recently re-watched Waitress, a smart and quirky foodie movie from 2007. Waitress was written and directed by the late Adrienne Shelly. Jenna, played by Keri Russell, is a woman trapped in a life she dreams of escaping. She plans to save money from her waitressing job to leave her controlling husband and change the course of her life. She's sharp and sassy and has a gift for making unusual pies whose recipes are inspired by the trials and circumstances of her life. Pies such as I Don't Want Earl's Baby Pie, Baby Screamin' Its Head Off in the Middle of the Night & Ruinin' My Life Pie, I Can't Have No Affair Because It's Wrong & I Don't Want Earl to Kill Me Pie, Falling in Love Chocolate Mousse Pie, and Marshmallow Mermaid Pie.

So since today is NATIONAL PIE DAY,  I thought I'd post Jenna's recipe for Marshmallow Mermaid Pie. The recipe actually came with the DVD, but you can find variations of the recipe on the Internet.

Marshmallow Mermaid Pie was the pie Jenna brought for her doctor, Dr. Mueller, who happened to be semi-retired. Jenna ended up giving the pie to the junior doctor, Dr. Pommater. On their next meeting, Dr. Pommater exclaimed, “that pie was biblically good, that’s how good it was!” Want to try it? Here's a recipe for Marshmallow Mermaid Pie!

Marshmallow Mermaid Pie 

Ingredients
9 graham crackers
1/2 cup sweetened, flaked coconut, toasted
5 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
34 large marshmallows (8 oz.)
1/2 cup whole milk
1-1/2 cup heavy or whipping cream
1-1/2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, grated

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine coconut and graham crackers in food processor until coarse crumbs form. Combine crumbs and butter with fork. Press to bottom and side of 9-inch pie plate. Bake 10 minutes and cool on wire rack.
Heat marshmallows and milk in 3-qt. saucepan over low heat until smooth, stirring constantly. Remove saucepan from heat. Cool completely (30 minutes.)
In large bowl with mixer at medium speed, beat cream until stiff peaks form. Fold marshmallow mixture into whipped cream with grated chocolate.
Spoon filling into cooled crust.
Refrigerate pie at least 3 hours or overnight.
Top with mini marshmallows.