Grandma's Perfect Pumpkin Pie

This is my grandmothers perfect pumpkin pie, its so rich and delicious you will forget your eating your vegetables! I will also include her perfect pie crust recipe below.

Be sure to note the instructions in the recipe below on kneading the pie dough. If you work the dough too much, your crust will not be flaky.

My grandmother grew her own pumpkins and it was such fun eating the results of the harvest.

Pumpkin is the perfect vegetable for persons who watch their weight. They are very low-cal (20 cal per 100 g), and rich in potassium, with traces of beneficial minerals such as magnesium and iron.

Pumpkin is also rich in antioxidants that help us fight free radicals. The pumpkins bright orange flesh is rich in beta-carotene.

Even the seeds are good for you, check out How-to Make Roasted Pumpkin Seeds!

Ingredients:
1 c. sugar
1 ½ t. cinnamon
3/8 t. cloves
½ t. allspice
½ t. nutmeg
½ t. ginger
½ t. salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 ½ c. pumpkin (canned or pumpkin cooked and pureed)
1 2/3 c. evaporated milk or heavy cream

Instructions:
Blend sugar, spices and salt. Add eggs, pumpkin, and milk. Stir until creamy, will be quite liquid, but will thicken as it bakes.
Pour in unbaked pie shell. Bake at 425 º for 15 minutes then lower oven to 350 º for 40 minutes. Serve with Cool Whip or Ice Cream for pumpkin pie Ala mode!

Grandma's Perfect Pie Crust

Ingredients:
3 cups flour
1 cup shortening
1 t. salt
1 large egg
½ c. cold water
1 t. vinegar

Instructions:
Sift salt with flour and cut in shortening. Beat egg, adding water and vinegar. Add liquid to Flour mixture. Mix until blended.

Important Note on making Perfect Pie Crust:
Place pastry on lightly floured board (use as little flour on board as possible-(this is where pie-makers have trouble and what makes “boards” of otherwise delicious pastry), and knead 20 strokes. Now proceed with your pie in usual manner.

Grandma’s Second Pie Crust

Mix:
½ c. water
1 tablespoon vinegar

Cut Crisco into flour, baking powder, and salt. Add water/vinegar mix. Work in. Let stand 10 min. Roll.