Ode to Pie - ABC Chocolate Caramel Cream Pie

I have been on a quest for pie crust for years. I have many recipes. Those that add vinegar or buttermilk. Those that use lard, shortening, and/or butter. I have used the food processor and by hand. What I know from many years of the pie crust journey:

I have a fall back recipe that is my mother in laws. It is fantastic. It never fails to be a nice crust. I just wish it had more flavor. So, I continue on my quest...until now. I have found a crust that I love!

Do you see the huge pieces of butter in that crust?..that is flavor and flakiness right there.

She suggests using coffee filters that I pull out of the craft closet..do you know they make great butterflies?

And I bake with beans. I found that this works better and is easier than my pie chain which is sometimes to heavy for my delicate crust.

This pie has 4 components: crust, caramel sauce, chocolate and whipped cream. How could this not be great?

I think I undercooked the crust a tad...so it wasn't as strong as it should be. This gives me an excuse to try it again. My only gripe was that the filling was lumpy-so I just pulled out the lumps.

Joel said, "This is the best pie ever!"

But I ask you, Joel, do you and your taste buds remember these???