want some pumpkin pie????

If you would have asked me 20 years ago my favorite way to spend a Friday night....It would not have been to stay home & make pie.  Not even close.  But tonight was rated as one of my favorites in my fav book thus far.  I love me some family time.  And I love my kids.  I love esp. when I can bake and my hubby cleans up after me.  And I love pumpkin pie.  And while we're on the subject of love....I wanna share a couple of recipes with you that I l.o.V.e!! perfect timing if I do say myself ~for the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday.

And don't get me wrong I do love a date night too on a Friday night.  But...after working from 10:30 p.m. last night until 8:30 this morning ~ I needed some catch up sleep today and after I got some shut eye...I worked on some pies for a fund raiser for Isabella's school program tomorrow.

And I'm just gonna say...pies have always intimidated me.  For like 15 years.  I've been buying pie crusts for years now from a bakery.  But some time back I tasted my sister-in-laws pie and loved the crust.  It has good texture & flavor and holds together so nicely!!   And VERY easy to make & it turns out great!! Thanks to Arlene for this!

Here's the recipe:
Makes 3 crusts:
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup shortening
Mix together with pastry cutter

1 egg beaten
1 tsp. vinegar
1/3 cup cold water
Mix together in separate bowl and then stir into flour mixture with spoon.  Just until combined.

And for me it is partly making the crust and partly knowing how to make the edges not look stupid.  Well after watching other people for years ~something finally clicked and I got it.  I hope I can encourage you if you don't already make your own crusts.

 After rolling out~I leave 1 - 1 1/2 inches overhang of pie crust. 

 Then you pinch it together to make it stand up straight. 

 Then go back around and with one finger pinch like you're pinching someone just with the tips of your fingers....and with the other hand use just your pointer to push into the pinch.  There's many ways to do the edge...but I found this to look uniform and to be the easiest for me to learn.  

 While I was rolling out the pie crusts....William was spelling his name with bananas.  Random I know. And I love that it kept him busy for like 30 minutes.  O.k. well maybe not that long...but a good 20.  Which is like magic when 6 people are in the kitchen. 

While I was still working on crusts~ Isabella was working on the pumpkin pie filling....loving this stage where she is such a big help in the kitchen.  She doubled the recipe so we have 5.  And William???? ~well he just loves to get into any possible photo op.  Nice banana eating face son.

And would you like to know my Aunt's pumpkin pie filling???  Because it is delish!  And simple enough...

Here it is. 
Fran's Pumpkin Pie
4 eggs beaten
1- (29 oz) pumpkin
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves
2 cans evaporated milk (3 cups)
Bake at 425 for 15 min. Reduce heat to 350 and bake for 40-50 minutes. 
The thing I love best about this recipe is the consistency.  And the spices are perfect.  Not to heavy~but a great flavor with just a little hint of sweet.  Yummy! Can not wait until it get's out of the oven!!!!

Suzy & Jack used the left over dough for cinnamon & sugar pie crust "cookies"~one of the things my mom used to let me do. I hardly take the time to let them create.  But I love a laid back night when we can all be doing things we love to do.  Livin' the dream folks. 

And here is the finished product.....

Would you like to try some??  If you are local...I would like to bring you a piece.  How about leaving me a comment telling me your favorite Thanksgiving food & 2 random winners will win a piece of pie.  Drawing ends Sunday. 

Good luck my little blogger friends.