No self-respecting salute to the pumpkin would be complete without a pumpkin pie post.

In our house, this Thanksgiving staple has been concocted according to a recipe in Cotton Country Cooking published by the Junior League of Morgan County, Decatur, Alabama in 1972.  I love this quirky cookbook with its (now faded) yellow cover & orange gingham endpapers, endearing side notes  and charming back stories provided by the women who created/submitted the recipes.

Pumpkin Pie

• 3 large 9″ pie shells pr 4 small pie shells
• 6 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 1/2 cups pumpkin (canned)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ginger
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3 1/2 cups milk

Mix all ingredients in blender or mixer, adding milk last. Pour into unbaked pie shells. Bake at 325 degrees for one hour.

Grandmother had to wait until the “frost was on the pumpkin,” so this was saved for Thanksgiving or Christmas fare. Grandmother also had to go to a great deal of trouble to make pumpkin pie. With readily available canned pumpkin, and this simple blender method, however, you can serve it anytime you please, and with a minimum of effort. Still, pumpkin pie does seem most appropriate for the winter months. -Mrs. Fred Sittason, Jr.

The simple blender method is genius and produces a delicious custard-like pie, but Mrs. Sittason might roll her eyes if she knew we sided with Grandmother on the pumpkin issue. True, it’s not as convenient as opening a can but there’s nothing like pie made with fresh pumpkin.

Honestly, cooking your own pumpkin isn’t that hard - just a little time consuming. Chop one medium pumpkin into large (approximately 3″ - 4″) chunks, scraping off the stringy innards and seeds but leaving the rind intact. Boil the pieces in a large stock pot of water until they are soft and easily pierced with a fork. Drain and allow the pumpkin to rest until cool to the touch. The rind will easily pull off at this point, allowing you to puree the pumpkin in a blender, in small batches. You’ll likely end up with more than you need but any excess can be frozen and used later.

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