Week Three - Pumpkin Prailine Pie

Of the numerous pumpkin pies in the pie bible (Lion House Pies), my wife picked this as the first to try.  She's a lover of the pumpkin pie and told me that she wanted one all for herself.  Sharing is overrated.

Pie Crust

1/2 c butter

1/3 c lard (Yes, lard - it's in the meat department)

1/3 cup shortening

1 T sugar

1/2 t baking powder

1 t salt

1 T Nonfat dry milk

3 c flour

1/2 c cold water

Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Cut the lard, butter, and shortening into the flour mix until just blended.  Set aside. 

Mix the nonfat dry milk into the water and slowly add to the other mixture until just blended. 

Refridgerate for 15 minutes. 

Separate into 2-3 chunks.  Roll out dough chunks on a floured surface.  Fold the dough over your hand and slide onto pie pan.  Knock the pan on the counter a few times to help set the dough into the pan.  Use the palm of your hand to press the dough against the sides of the pie tin, cutting off the excess dough.  Makes 2-3 shells.

Pumpkin Prailine Pie

1/2 c brown sugar

1/2 c butter, softened

1/3 c finely chopped pecans
1 1/2 c canned pumpkin

1/2 t ground cinnamon

1/2 t ground nutmeg

1/4 t ginger

1/4 t allspice

1/2 c sugar

1/3 c brown sugar

1 t salt

1 1/2 T cornstarch

2 eggs

1 c evaporated milk

1 c water 

Whipped cream to top

I know what you are thinking - holy shiz man that's a lot of ingredients!  The reality is that you just have to throw them all together so the pie really is easy.

Beat brown sugar and softened butter until creamy and stir in pecans.  Spread on the bottom of an unbaked pie shell.

Place pumpkin in a bowl and set aside.  Mix all dry ingredients together and add to pumpkin.  Mix well.  Add eggs and evaporated milk and mix well.  Add water and mix well.  Pour over first mixture. 

Bake at 375 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean.  I ended up baking for closer to 70 minutes to get the knife to come out clean and my pie wasn't overcooked.

Do the dishes.

Since I was not allowed to partake of my wife's pie, I cannot rate this one.  However, she did pretty much eat the entire pie and loved every bite!