Thanksgiving~Mission ImPIEssible!

As an adult, I have certainly enjoyed being part of the Holiday meal process. I find satisfaction in providing some of the delicious traditional foods, and sometimes offer a new item to the must have list. Usually, I am assigned a category. You know.....dessert, salad, bread, etc. This year, when I asked my Mother-in-law what I could bring she simply said, "pumpkin pie!"

Oh dear! I found this troubling on several levels.

A. I do not like pumpkin pie, and bringing something that I do not personally like can be risky.

B. I have never made a pumpkin pie before in my life.

C. I actually do not have a "C", but only "A" and "B" looked stupid.

So, what is an obsessive, weirdo like me to do in a situation like this? Why set forth with a mission to make the best darn pumpkin pie anyone on earth has ever tasted, that's what! Yeah....you know it! I aim high!

To accomplish this task I needed to be prepared. The Internet search began.....after much consideration, I narrowed it down to two recipes. I had previously decided that I wanted to make my own pumpkin puree from scratch. I purchased two small Sugar Pumpkins, cut them in half, sprinkled them with cinnamon, and put them upside down on a cookie sheet. I baked them at 350 for 90 minutes. Oh lordy, did my house smell divine.



Did I forget to mention that I did this all last weekend. You see....I needed to make practice pies, and have a taste test at work. Yes, this is serious business. I proceeded to puree the baked pumpkin, and mixed up the two different recipes. One was a traditional type pie, and one had a pecan strudel on the top. I love pecan pie, so I figured I might be able to trick my mind into thinking it wasn't really pumpkin.

After both pies were baked, I did my own taste test. I found myself astonished to discover that I actually preferred the plain pie to the one with the nuts. I took the two pies to work, fairly certain how the preference would land. I was wrong....so very wrong. It was nearly unanimous in favor of the pie with nuts. Sigh...

Being the complete freak that I am, I just couldn't call it good, and go with the recipe that had the nuts...oh no! I made the decision to combine the best parts of both recipes. Tonight I made my pie. It is sitting in my kitchen taunting me.



The trouble is.....I am dying to know if it tastes as wonderful as I hope it does. I hate that I can't sample it before the big day. EEEEEKKKKK.....will I have succeeded? Will it be the hit, I hope for? Only time will tell.



For this special occasion, I'm pulling out the BIG guns! I'm making real whipped cream for it as well. (another new adventure for me)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope your meal is everything you hoped it to be, and you take plenty of time to remember the things that give your life purpose. As I always say, "LIFE IS GOOD!"