Tuesday, October 23, 2012

FRESH Pumpkin Pie Recipe....and a few bonuses!

One of my favorite things to do in Autumn is to go to all the local farm markets in my area to see what they've got for Fall. I live in apple country so there is always an abundance of fresh, just picked from the orchard apples to munch on. I love the displays of mums and crates of pumpkins and gourds.

There is always a crate of pie pumpkins and seeing them always pricks at my bakers' heart to try and make a pie out of one......kinda going back to the country basics and using what is on the land as opposed to what is in the can.

 
The pie pumpkins are usually small and so perfect like this one! So, since I was at the farm market buying my sixth mum to plant (to fulfill something else I have been wanting to do which is to have a row of all different mums in my garden)  I went for it. I brought it home and went online for directions and a recipe. Following is my journey of a new baking adventure!
 
Here is the full recipe so that you know ahead what you need to start:
 
Fresh Pumpkin Pie (courtesy of allrecipes.com)
 
1 medium pie pumpkin
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 recipe pastry for 9 inch single crust pie
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon salt
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup honey, warmed slightly
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
 
 
 
The first thing you have to do is cut into this perfect little pumpkin and bake it just like any other squash. Cut it in half and remove the seeds with a spoon. See that mushy pile of pulp and seeds? Do not throw it away! We will use them later.
 
Lightly oil the cut surface and place cut side down on a cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees F until the flesh is tender when poked (up to an hour). Cool until warm. It comes out looking like this....
 
 
Scrape the pumpkin flesh from the peel and puree it in a food processor or mash it by hand. You will need 2 cups for the pie. 
 
To the pumpkin puree add the spices and salt. Beat in the eggs, honey, milk and cream. Pour the filling into an un-baked pie shell.
 
Bake at 400 degrees F for 50 - 55 minutes (it took mine 75 minutes!) or until knife inserted comes out clean.
 

 
 
 
The color and texture are totally different from a pie made from canned pumpkin. With a mound of whipped cream on top, my son and husband thought it was better tasting!
 

Bonus #1:
Now comes the fun part! Get that mushy pile of pumpkin pulp and seeds and start picking the seeds out and then rinse them till all the pulp is off.
 
 
 
Lightly spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and spread the seeds out. Sprinkle salt over all to your taste.
 
 
Roast in a 400 degree F oven for 10 minutes or until lightly browned and you have a really good, crunchy snack!
 
 
Bonus #2:
 
I originally thought I would make two pumpkin pies but it turned out I didn't have enough ingredients. So....since I had another pie crust and apples in the fridge, I decided to make the only apple pie recipe I will ever use. The ingredients are all things you normally have on hand and that is one of the reasons I love it.
 
It is called Genesee Valley Apple Crumb Pie and is from the Junior League of Rochester's Applehood and Motherpie cookbook. It is SO good!
 



 
 
Happy baking!
 
........... and eating!
 
AnnMarie :)

 

9 comments :

  1. Yum! I love bringing home pumpkins for decorating, but hate seeing them go to waste after the holidays. This is a great way to use those pumpkins !

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  2. I love pumpkin pie! Ive only ever made it once before – yours looks delicious…thanks for sharing! The dried up pumpkin seeds are good too, I buy them in large bags from the local deli, perfect little snack!

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  3. Yum! I love pumpkin but have never tried pumpkin pie - thanks for sharing your recipe :)

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  4. I made a pumpkin pie from a pumpkin once. I have been using canned every since. I think the pumpkin I used was too big. The apple pie looks yummy as well.

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  5. You can't buy canned pumpkin over here so if I ever decided to make a pie I'd use a fresh one.
    But the apple recipe looks much more delicious to me!

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  6. Oh, my, my waistline is beginning to swell just looking at these delicious dishes!! This is the first pumpkin pie recipe I have ever seen from a pumpkin. Thanks for sharing - I may just try it.

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  7. I'm not a lover of pumpkin pie but that one looks delicious! I think because it's made from fresh pumpkin. I absolutely love the seeds though!

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  8. This reminds me of my first attempt to make fresh pumpkin pie - except I didn't know about pie pumpkins and used a jack-o-latern! The eggs rose to the top of the pie during baking and scorched. I was dumbfounded until my mom told me that I had used the wrong type of pumpkin. Live and learn! The pies look delicious!

    Lisa

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  9. Oh, it looks absolutely delicious! My hubby is trying to get me to bake pumpkin pie from scratch every year:) I am pinning and will be trying it soon.
    http://www.pinterest.com/pin/462744930433525940/

    Maria
    www.musicteachingandparenting.com

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