Mother M_____'s Chocolate Pie

(Mom's BYU roommate E___'s Bishop's wife - sold at  the fair to earn money for their Orange, Texas ward)

2 eight-inch baked pie shells
2 cups sugar
2 heaping Tbsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp. cocoa
salt
6 egg yolks [can use fewer eggs, but never put in egg whites (they cook), save them for the top]
4 cups mil, including 1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
2 Tbsp vanilla
1 stick butter
6 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar

Mix sugar, cornstarch, cocoa, and salt in sauce pan.  Add egg yolks and milk (use 1 can evaporated milk and the rest homogenized).  Add vanilla and butter and put on medium-high burner and stir constantly until mixture starts to bubble.  Take it off and stir until it looks really creamy.  Pour in pie shells.  For an optional meringue topping: Beat egg whites and add 1/2 cup sugar.  Put this on top of pies.  Brown in oven at 350F for about 15 minutes.

Makes 2 chocolate pies.