Two desserts that are decadently delicious on their own, chocolate and pie, are bettered only when combined, creating an intensely rich and comforting dish that will satisfy any sweet tooth. Whether you’re serving guests or simply preparing an after-dinner treat for your family, Food Network’s top five chocolate pie recipes will impress crowds and kids alike.

5. Moo-Less Chocolate Pie — Alton’s milk-free dessert boasts traditional taste and texture, thanks to semisweet chocolate chips, a squeeze of honey and one secret ingredient: silken tofu.

4. Bobby’s Lighter Frozen Chocolate Mousse Pie — Made with low-fat milk and fat-free whipped topping, this no-bake pie guarantees guilt-free decadence without sacrificing your favorite flavors.

Get the top three recipes

Home is where the heart is.

Cliché? You bet. But I say it regardless because I believe it‘s true.

I’m both a California girl and a New Yorker. But my home is not defined by the house that I grew up in or the little apartment I rent in New York City, it’s defined by the people who make me happy. My dad is one of these people. So for his birthday last weekend, I was ecstatic to journey back to the golden coast to celebrate with my family.

Although everyone loves my dad’s cooking, he was banned from the kitchen for the festivities. My mom took over as executive chef and put me on cake duty.

Birthday cake can be tricky. As a baker, you must sacrifice your own taste cravings to those of the honoree. In my limited experience, I’ve come to learn that red velvet is not everyone’s favorite (unfortunately), and boxed mixes are actually preferred by some people (I try not to take it personally). There are also rare cases in which the perfect celebratory dessert isn’t cake at all.

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As a kid, I loved those rotating dessert cases in restaurants. I’d usually have a slice of pie picked out before we even got to the table.

So when it came time to create 50 pie recipes for Food Network Magazine, I often thought about an imaginary dessert case large enough to hold them all. Our solution? We decided to freeze a slice of each and have a little fun.

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If you’re using homemade pie crusts, make the dough now and freeze it in freezer bags. Defrost the dough and bake your pies the day before Thanksgiving.

Start making your Thanksgiving desserts with the help of these video tutorials.

Browse more of Food Network’s Thanksgiving recipes and tips.

When thickening a fruit pie filling, there are several options to consider. Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency.

Find out which thickener won’t break down, preventing your pie from becoming a watery mess in Food Network Kitchens Pie Thickener 101 post.

Now that you’re armed with these tips, start baking these popular Thanksgiving desserts.

There’s no doubt that apple and pumpkin are among some of the most popular pie varieties, but nothing beats a fresh berry or peach pie, especially when the fruits are at their peak. Now, imagine cleaning handfuls of fresh cherries, drying them off and taking time to prepare the filling mixture. You’ve rolled out the crust, baked off the pie and let it cool. The vanilla ice cream is ready and you cut the first piece, only to see your filling run around the pie plate, creating a mushy crust. How can you keep your pie from running and what pie thickeners are appropriate? We asked Food Network Kitchens for their expertise.

The “juiciness” that happens when fruit cooks in a pie is most copious with fruits like berries and peaches, fruits that have a lot of juice, especially during the summer. We use thickeners to add body to these juices so that they can stay inside the pie — or at least close to it — so when we cut into it, the crust stays crisp and the whole thing is more fun to eat.

Find out how to make the perfect pie filling »

This weekend, grab your rolling pin and make this seasonal pie filled with sweet strawberries and tart rhubarb — it’ll transport you back to your grandmother’s kitchen.

Get the recipe: Grandma’s Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

Browse more of Food Network’s springtime recipes.

Happy Pi(e) Day, Happy Potato Chip Day

March 14th in this nation is a day to eat pie and potato chips. Pie, because March 14th is National Pi Day, as in π, or 3.14 (3/14, get it?) and since numbers are better for crunching than munching, pie is the logical gastronomical leap to make here.

So in the spirit of mathematics, get baking, and if it makes you feel better, go ahead and calculate the circumference of your quiche. Read more »

Give Paula's pie an extra dose of Southern comfort by subbing in bourbon for the vanilla extract.

We’re kicking off a week of Thanksgiving desserts here on FoodNetwork.com and figured we’d start wtih a good old Southern classic, y’all. Paula’s Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie is a mouthwatering addition to the Thanksgiving dessert spread, no matter where you live. Make (or buy) your pie crust now and freeze it — Paula’s filling and picture-perfect meringue topping come together easily and quickly when you’re getting ready for your feast.

For hundreds more ideas, recipes and menus for your feast, check out FoodNetwork.com/Thanksgiving.

With Thanksgiving nearly here, the SC has been feeling contemplative. Here’s why I’m grateful this year…

10. For the colorful Bic markers, glitter pens and the fancy desk lamp that not only brighten my day but notes written to The Powers That Be.

9. For Joe, our secret Food Network tour guide. He has a plethora of knowledge about FN, and always adds a shot of humor and wit to my days (something this computer-saddled SC truly appreciates).

8. The mailroom guys who always help me with the heavy lifting around here. Do you know how many pounds a case of paper weighs?!!

7. Mr. SC (dear ole hubby) cooks for me at home…it’s like having your own personal FN-caliber chef make you dinner!

6. For all the cool FN kitchenware… I heart the Panini Grill & Press. Crisp, buttery Ciabbata, warm melty Fontina, fresh herbs… Mmmm.

5. For my family that I’ll be seeing over Thanksgiving, I was inspired by Ms. Deen to try to create her Frozen Chocolate Mousse Pie. Be prepared. I’m baking.

4. For The Next Iron Chef, which will begin taping soon. You can almost taste the food they make. I think it’s the best reality show which takes seasoned chefs to a new pinnacle in the culinary pantheon.

3. For the new and improved foodnetwork.com site! The recipe search rocks! I know where to find the recipe for Paula Deen’s southern-fried chicken during any middle of the night hunger pangs.

2. For Rachael Ray, who has had some major throat issues lately, for being a trooper and doing a marathon taping of 30 Minute Meals. That woman is unstoppable!

1. The FN Kitchens for their fancy eats, friendly faces and freebies. I admit that I did take two of the magical brownies you created a few months back.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

~ Secretary Confidential