Wandas Pumpkin Pie From Chatelaine Magazine Recipes

WANDA'S PUMPKIN PIE FROM CHATELAINE MAGAZINE

Steps:

• Position rack on bottom shelf in oven. Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Remove store-bought frozen pie shells from freezer and place on a baking sheet. Thaw at room temperature about 10 minutes. Or place homemade shells on a baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk eggs. Whisk in brown and granulated sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and salt. Whisk in pumpkin until blended, then whisk in milk and 1 cup (250 mL) whipping cream until thoroughly mixed. Pour into pie shells, then smooth tops. Bake on bottom rack of preheated 350F (180C) oven until filling is just set in centre when jiggled, 55 to 60 minutes. Remove from oven to a rack. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Delicious warm or at room temperature. If making ahead, leave on racks until cooled to room temperature, about 1 hour. Then loosely cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Pies will keep well overnight.
• For topping, just before serving, pour 1/2 cup (125 mL) whipping cream into a medium-size bowl. Add 2 tbsp (30 mL) sugar and vanilla. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat until soft peaks form when beaters are lifted. Spoon dollops of cream over pie. Top with pieces of peanut brittle or crushed gingersnap cookies.

FRESH PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Cut pumpkin in half, and remove seeds. Lightly oil the cut surface. Place cut side down on a jelly roll pan lined with foil and lightly oiled. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) until the flesh is tender when poked with a fork. Cool until just warm. Scrape the pumpkin flesh from the peel. Either mash, or puree in small batches in a blender.
• In large bowl, blend together 2 cups pumpkin puree, spices, and salt. Beat in eggs, honey, milk, and cream. Pour filling into pie shell.
• Bake at 400 degrees F ( 205 degrees C) for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a knife inserted 1 inch from edge of pie comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

JULIA CHILD'S AUNT HELEN'S FLUFFY PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees and place rack in center of oven. Separate eggs and set aside.
• Using a mixer, blender or large bowl, blend pumpkin, the 2 cups of the sugars, 1 teaspoon salt, molasses, bourbon or rum (if using), cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, egg yolks, cream and milk until smooth. Add more milk, a tablespoon at a time, if the mixture is stiff: it should be a soft purée.
• In a clean bowl, whip egg whites until foaming. Whip in a pinch of salt, then gradually whip in remaining 2 tablespoons sugar until shiny white peaks form. Beat 1/4 of the whites thoroughly into pumpkin mixture; gently fold in the rest.
• Immediately ladle filling into the shells, filling to just below the rim of the pan. Place in oven and bake just until rim of crust begins to turn gold, 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 and bake another 25 to 30 minutes, until a tester inserted into the filling 2 inches from the rim comes out clean. (The center should still be a bit wet; it will cook more as it cools.) If the rim of the crust starts to get too brown, cover it with aluminum foil.
• Immediately turn oven off, leave door ajar (stick in a wooden spoon to hold it open if necessary) and let sit 20 to 30 minutes more as the oven cools; this will prevent the filling from turning watery. Serve warm, or let cool, wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Let pie come to room temperature before serving.

BRANDIED PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: In a food processor, pulse together the flour and salt. Add butter and pulse until the mixture forms chickpea-size pieces. Add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse until the dough just comes together. It should be moist, but not wet. On a lightly floured surface, gather the dough into a ball. Flatten into a disk with the heel of your hand. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 12-inch circle. Transfer crust to a 9-inch pie plate. Fold over any excess dough, then crimp edges. Prick crust all over with a fork, then chill crust for 30 minutes.
• While the dough chills, heat oven to 375 degrees. Line chilled crust with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 20 minutes; remove foil and weights and bake until pale golden, 5 to 7 minutes more. Cool on rack until needed.
• Lower oven temperature to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin purée, eggs, cream, dark brown sugar, brandy, ginger, cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, the nutmeg and clove. Pour mixture into the cooled pie shell. Transfer pie to a large baking sheet. Bake until crust is golden and center jiggles just slightly when shaken, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool completely before serving.