Maisie’s Pumpkin Pie

*Pumpkin Pies taste better when you use freshly roasted pumpkin. Choose the small orange ones that weigh about 1.5 pounds each

*Prepare the pie shell, and put it in the freezer while making the filling.

Ingredients:

Pastry for Single-Crust Pie:

2 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

½  cup shortening

¼  cup cold butter

6 tablespoons cold water

Filling:

2 ½ cups mashed, cooked pumpkin

1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk

2 eggs, beaten

¾  cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons of molasses

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½  teaspoon ground ginger

½  teaspoon ground nutmeg

½  teaspoon salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F (190 °C).

1. Put washed pumpkin on a cookie sheet and roast for about 1 hour, let cool. Cut in half, discard all the seeds and scoop soft pulp off the skin into a small bowl
2. Prepare pie crust by mixing together the flour and salt. Cut shortening and butter into flour (use a food processor if you have one).
3. Add cold water 1 tablespoon at a time (you may need only 4 tablespoons, or up to the 6 tablespoons). Pulse until the dough holds together and knead into a ball (quickly you want to handle as little as possible).
4. With lightly floured hands on a lightly floured board roll dough out to about 1/8 inch thickness.
5. With a sharp knife, cut dough 1 1/2 inch larger than the upside-down 9- to 10-inch pie pan. Gently roll the dough around the rolling pin and transfer it right-side up onto the pie pan.
6. Unroll, easing dough into the bottom of the pie pan. Crimp the edges of the pie crust with a fork or by pinching into a design.
7. Place in the freezer while you prepare the filling.
8. Mash the pumpkin pulp with a potato masher or an immersion blender until thick and smooth. Add evaporated milk, eggs, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt and blend well.
9. Pour into a prepared crust. Bake 50 minutes or until when a knife is inserted 1 inch from the edge it comes out clean.
10. Chill well, overnight if possible and serve with a dollop of whipped cream and I like to add a zest of orange rind.

**Note people who tell you they hate pumpkin pies will eat multiple slices of this one, and then ask for the recipe. That’s why I am sharing it here.

Here you go Mesha-Enjoy!!