Easy Chocolate Pie Recipe
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Pi Day is nationally recognized on March 14 every year (3.14). Strangely, it is not dedicated to math or to pie (Pie Day is January 23), though there is quite an interesting history behind it.
Pi is the sixteenth letter of the Greek alphabet and looks like this: π. In the world of mathematics, it is adapted as a symbol for the mathematical constant equal to a circle’s circumference divided by its diameter. You may be asking yourself why anyone would ever need or want to do that, but believe it or not, the equation has been around for over 4000 years and has provided multiple ancient cultures with advancement and survival.
Some ancient mathematicians, including Archimedes of Syracuse and Zu Chongzhi i, between 400 and 300 BC used different equations to calculate pi to the exact number. Given that pi is infinite, it’s hard to make sense of how they did it, but still, it’s cool to think about how old math is. Even cooler fact – famous genius and mathematician Albert Einstein was born on March 14! This calculation involves circular sun dials and was required in order to tell time. Though a slab of stone seems like an ancient tool, math was used to advance the “technology” in ancient cultures. Some historians believe the equation of Pi was used to assist Egyptians in building the pyramids.
The early 1700s is when the name pi was finally adopted as the symbol for the equation that equals a probability of 3.14. In 1706, William Jones started using the symbol which later became more common thanks to Leonhard Euler, who popularized it in 1737.
Over 200 years later in San Francisco, physicist Larry Shaw threw the first ever celebration for pi on March 14, where the attendees walked in a circle and then ate pie. This celebration continued and eventually the country began recognizing Pi Day without the slightest reference to math.
Finally, on March 12 of 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives officially passed Pi Day as a national holiday and, if celebrated, people usually include edible pies in their celebration, as the homophone alternative tends to be more fun than calculating.
This year, Pi Day is on a Monday, so don’t go too crazy with partying! Google some recipes of Pi Day pies and make a few with some friends! Have pie eating contests, throw them at each other, and remember that everything in life involves math, even if it’s not as delicious as real pie (which, by the way, you need math to make).
Easy Chocolate Pie Recipe:
2/3 cups of unsweetened cocoa powder
6 TBSP corn starch
4 3/4 cups whole milk
1 3/4 cups sugar
Premade graham cracker or Oreo pie crust
Optional: Whipped cream
- In saucepan, whisk together all ingredients, except for the pie crust.
- Whisk constantly over medium-high heat until mixture comes to a boil and begins to thicken. Do not leave unattended or pudding will burn.
- Pour into pie crust & refrigerate for 4-6 hours or until firm.
- Slice and top with whipped cream.