Pumpkin Pie From Scratch

This Thanksgiving was a first. No, I didn't "not" drink, no I didn't clean my measuring spoons after every use so they'd be ready for next time. Those are both good guesses though and very admirable pursuits I'm sure. No, this was the first Thanksgiving that I made pumpkin pie from an actual pumpkin. I got a bee in my bonnet about it, was debating to go to the store to get a sugar pumpkin (a smaller pumpkin specifically for baking pies) when I remembered that we'd gotten the baby a baby-sized pumpkin for Halloween. Lo and behold there it was, still sitting on the counter, as cute as could be, about 6 inches high. Was it a sugar pumpkin? Would it taste like crap? Didn't know, and it didn't stop me from baking it.

A quick Google search led me to this site that shows you how to make pumpkin pie from scratch. Warning: While it is a very informative site, it is rather hard on the eyes so be warned, especially you graphic designers out there. I used the recipe from there too and it came out lovely.

I halved the pumpkin, scraped out the seeds and stringy bits with an ice cream scoop, and microwaved the pumpkin in a covered baking dish, in an inch or 2 of water, for 25 minutes. The skin just slipped right off, it was awesome. Then a quick once-over with the immersion blender and it was ready to be added to the other pie ingredients.

I should warn you that if you are making real pumpkin pie it will not be the same color as canned pumpkin pie. My pie turned out a nice pressboard color, but certainly not orange by any stretch of the imagination. Thankfully, whatever kind of pumpkin it was, it tasted delicious. It was a very mild-flavored pie with a delicious lingering taste. I'll definitely be doing it again next year.

NOTE: About the picture, no that's not a picture of my pumpkin pie, I didn't get a chance to snap a photo of it before it was devoured. This close approximation will have to do. There is also some kind of rule that if you are taking a stock photo of pumpkin pie, it is mandatory that there be a fork right there in the shot, just in case you forgot what you were supposed to be doing with a slice of pie.