What is the worst thing that could happen to ME during Thanksgiving week? My oven dies? The dishwasher springs a gasket?? The sewer backs up? My Kitchen-Aid blows a bolt? Nope...while those are all horrific things and would make any Thanksgiving a living nightmare, they are not the worst. Nope...this is the worst...the mister is sick. I'm talking sick as in reaching for tissues every 2 minutes, hacking up pieces of lung, spitting unmentionables into the sink, moaning, groaning, begging for every bit of my attention 24/7...Can you bring me some juice? Oh, could you put ice in it? Can I get something to eat? Maybe some soup? Do we have any jam? Do I have a fever? Come feel my forehead? Could you fluff my pillows? Do we have any more blankets? Could you please hand me the remote? Godfrey!!! There is NO end to his helplessness!!! The mister has a cold, I made the diagnosis myself. But he didn't listen to me, he swore he was dying, (imagine my surprise when he didn't), dragged himself to the doctor and the doctor had the NERVE to tell him his cold was walking pneumonia. Which is just another way of saying he has a cold, albeit a bad one, but still, we're not talking bacterial pneumonia or viral pneumonia...we're talking walking pneumonia, as in the mister should be capable of getting up and walking TWO FEET to get the remote...whatever...I sound heartless and cruel, I know, and believe me, when he is better and can once again wipe his own nose, I shall repent of my ill feelings and find a very small soft spot in my heart for him...but in the meantime, he has taken to his sick bed and I am on a very short leash!!
I'm sure there are many wonderful pumpkin pie recipes...I have only ever used one pumpkin pie recipe, for years and years, and it's the only one that has always graced our T-day table, it's this pie. It's a Paula Deen recipe and has butter in it, of course, along with cream cheese - it's rich and decadent and fabulous. But. But. But. I found myself reading the recipe on the back of the Libby's Pumpkin Pie can...where the Famous Pumpkin Pie Recipe is printed, and wondered why it's famous? Couldn't be the evaporated milk?!! I have a hard time even typing those words - evaporated milk - gives me yucky chills up and down my spine! So I decided to tinker a bit...what if I substituted heavy cream for the evaporated milk?
Genius takes many forms my friends, and the latest form is of a Northwest middle-aged woman who hates waiting hand-foot-nose-and mouth on her sorta-sick husband. Moi. Pumpkin Pie Genius. Who knew?!? Really, this is one fine pie...the heavy cream makes the pie creamier and I added one extra egg, which give is a richer, more custard like texture...I'm telling you, this one is dang, dang, dang, dang, dang good...count 'em up and ring 'em out, this one gets five dangs on the Dang Meter!
Perfect Pumpkin Pie - Inspired by Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pin
9-inch, unbaked, deep dish pie shell (you can use store bought pastry or make your own, this is the recipe I always use)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3 large eggs
1 can (15 oz.) 100% pure pumpkin puree
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
whipped cream for serving
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl combine the sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and cloves. Add eggs. Stir in pumpkin and gradually stir in heavy cream. Pour into unbaked pie shell.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking for 50 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted into the center comes out clean. (If edges of pie are getting too brown, cover with aluminum foil.) Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream to serve, if desired.