To me October means only one thing: Getting ready for the "funnest holiday" of the year!
And, of course,
TRICK OR TREATERS!
Oh, how I love seeing how excited the grand kids get.
There is so much preparation: "We have to get just the right pumpkin!" Then there's the decorating, and the inevitable "I wanna be!" The ritual of carving the pumpkin!
As much as it takes to prepare, so soon it's over. Let's pretend it is November 1st and you are looking at that
Jack-o-Lantern the kids had so much fun watching you carve (never mind those
“eeeew that’s ichy” comments) and wondering when you can chuck it without them
getting all upset.
DON’T! Remember Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Yes, I know, canned pumpkin is readily available on the store shelves, but a pie made with fresh pumpkin can’t be beat.
DON’T! Remember Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Yes, I know, canned pumpkin is readily available on the store shelves, but a pie made with fresh pumpkin can’t be beat.
Extra
benefits: Teach the kids to waste not, want not, and with a medium to large
pumpkin you can get enough to make anywhere between 6-8 pies to share with whom
you are thankful.
To begin: Fill a large
pot with chunks of the pumpkin, any size and don’t peel first. Cover with water and put on stove to cook until
flesh is soft (Add additional water as needed). Once it is soft drain off the water
and allow to cool completely. You will find the skin peels off very easily then.
Now just put pieces in a colander or bowl with a cheese cloth liner and allow
the water to drain out of the flesh. If you are in a hurry, you can put the
pieces, a few at a time, in a food processor, and then drain the water from the
top. This also saves having to mash the pieces after they have drained. One
final drain of the chopped, mushed, smooshed pumpkin (preferably over night)
and you are ready for the baking. Extra pumpkin can be frozen for use later on.
A simple vintage (from a 1950’s cookbook) Pumpkin Pie Recipe
1/8 teaspoon of salt
2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 2/3
cups evaporated milk
1 1/2
cups cooked, mashed pumpkin
1 pastry shell
Sift dry ingredients together, and stir into eggs. Add milk and pumpkin, and stir well. Line pie pan with pastry and pour in filling. Bake in very hot oven (450 degrees F) 10 minutes; reduce temperature to slow (325 degrees F) and bake 45 minutes longer, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool.
Oh the pictures of the grands are sweet! And thanks for the recipe (maybe I can get my husband to try it! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you will be having lots of fun! Not sure I could do all that for a pumpkin pie!
ReplyDeleteLove the earrings, and the grandkids are so adorable in their costumes!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of pumpkin pie...but... I might see about making some pumpkin muffins... or bread... maybe some cookies? lol
Thanks so much for that recipe, my kids would love to help make pumpkin pie from a fresh pumpkin. We carved 3 but have had to throw them out already :( They were on the front porch and it is still warm in the afternoon...got all moldy...eeeewwww! It was such fun carving we may just get some more and use those for the pie.
ReplyDeleteI love your polymer clay earrings. Really spooky
Sonya
Love the photos, Marlene:)
ReplyDeleteOMG, I am still laughing and whipping my tears (of laughter)... this is the funniest post ever :)
ReplyDeleteLove your pretty earrings! must try that recipe, need to get another pumpkin around here for carving anyhow.
Hi Marlene,
ReplyDeleteThe photos of the Grandkids are great and I had to chuckle at you trying to get rid of the Jack-O-Lantren without the kids seeing. Now I know where I went wrong when I tried making a pumpkin pie from fresh pumpkin I did not drain the water off, thank you for sharing this very important information and the recipe, now I will try again. The earring are spooky cute!
Therese
Sweet photos. My first attempt at making a pumpkin pie with fresh pumpkin was an epic fail--it was sooo wet. I'll have to give this recipe a try. Love your spooky earrings.
ReplyDeleteSo funny and good-humoured photos, thank you :-D
ReplyDeleteAdorable grandkids and costumes. I really like the one with the baby in the stroller. It made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteYum!!! a new pumpkin pie recipe to try... Thanks Marlene
ReplyDeletelove love love the grandies and their costumes.
I just love your pumpkin and the recipe. I just love Halloween but we don't even decorate for it anymore as we never get kids.
ReplyDeleteI haven't made my own pumpkin in a long time but you have inspired me. Great photos.
ReplyDeletenow I have a pumpkin pie recipe...
ReplyDeletethank you Mrs. Marlene..! :)
I'll be sure to try that pumpkin pie recipe - thanks! Your earrings are so cute!
ReplyDeleteI love those bat earrings!
ReplyDeleteGrandkids, are sweet just like a vintage pie recipe! I had to take Rita to ER. She will comment asap.thanks, Lee
ReplyDelete