Pie # 13: Homemade Pumpkin Pie

Yes: I made my own pumpkin filling. The verdict? Overrated. (Sorry, Mom.) I actually took the time to place an entire pumpkin into the oven for over an hour only to be disappointed. Then again, I probably would have liked this pie more if I had used a better crust recipe.

Silky Pumpkin Pie
from Better Homes and Gardens
(Printable version)

Crust:
Every Day Pie Crust
(I cut this recipe in half since I only needed 1 pie shell. Have fun halving 1 egg, lol)

Filling:
3 large eggs
1/3 cup sugar
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
3 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves

Bake pumpkin:
Snag a pumpkin of your choosing (I stole a ghost pumpkin from my parents' farm. I've also heard that sugar pumpkins and Cinderella pumpkins are good varieties for making pie.) Using a sharp knife or fork, poke several holes all over your pumpkin. Place on foil-lined cookie sheet and bake at 350 for an hour or until pumpkin is soft when poked with a fork. Cool completely. (This could take several hours.)

Cut open pumpkin, scrape out seeds and guts. Using an ice cream scooper, scrape the rind into a bowl. After you've collected as much rind as your patience allows, puree it in a food processor. (If you don't have a food processor, you should invest in one now.) Voila: You have pumpkin mash ready for pie!

Mix all ingredients together with pumpkin mash. Pour into prebaked pie crust. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes or until filling is set along the edges and slightly loose in the middle.

Pat yourself on the back. You just spent hours doing something that won't taste any better than if you had grabbed a can of pumpkin pie filling off the shelf at Winco. Try not to feel like you wasted time.

Pie # 11: Key Lime Pie

I've only had this pie once or twice before I made it myself. When my parents came back from Arizona last weekend with fresh key limes in hand, I knew this pie was in my near future. The filling is tart, but the graham cracker crust and whipped cream add a nice balance. Definitely an easy recipe with great results!

Recipe from: Epicurious
(Printable version)

Crust:

Graham Cracker Crust

Filling: (Seriously, only 3 ingredients!)

3/4 cup fresh key lime juice

6 egg yolks

1 1/2 (8 ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk

Prepare crust.

Squeeze limes and collect 3/4 cup juice.

Add sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks. Whisk well.

Pour into crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Cool on wire rack until pie reaches room temperature. Chill in refrigerator overnight.

Top with whipped cream and enjoy!