Make Your Own Pumpkin Pie from Scratch!

When I was little, the day after Halloween my mother would take our Jack O'Lanterns and turn them into pumpkin pies. It seemed like magic and we enjoyed the pies even more, knowing they'd been our carved pumpkins only a few hours before!

I can demystify the steps to make your own, delicious, pumpkin pie. It isn't terribly difficult, but it is important to follow each step fairly closely. 

According to Wikipedia, "American colonists sliced off pumpkin tops; removed seeds and filled the insides with milk, spices and honey. This was baked in hot ashes and is the origin of pumpkin pie." So that's how it all started!

Wikipedia goes on to tell us that, "Pumpkin pie is a traditional North American dessert usually made in the late fall and early winter, especially for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The pie consists of a squash-based custard, ranging in color from orange to brown, baked in a single pie shell, rarely with a top crust. The pie is generally flavored with nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and ginger and is traditionally served with whipped cream, although in parts of Canada, fans insist on accompanying pumpkin pie only with maple syrup. Though some cooks make this pie from scratch, it is common to buy canned pumpkin pie filling and follow the directions on the back of the can. Pumpkin pie is a seasonal product available in bakeries and grocery stores. Unfortunately, canned pumpkin puree is not widely available in stores outside the U.S.A. and Canada, so especially European tourists or exchange students once brought in contact with pumpkin pie and fallen into "pie addiction" have to make it from scratch once they return home. "

Small pumpkins are often more tender - but the tiny miniatures are tough!

Credit: Cheri Haner

Copyright: Cheri Haner 2006