Pumpkin Pie With Graham Crust And Candied Pepitas Food

PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. In a large bowl, combine sugar, cornstarch, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, pumpkin puree, and 3 eggs. Beat well. Add evaporated milk, and combine. Set aside.
• Between two pieces of plastic wrap, roll pate brisee into a 12-inch circle. Fit pastry into a 9-inch glass pie plate; trim dough evenly along edge, leaving about a 1/2-inch overhang. Pinch to form a decorative edge. If the dough begins to soften, chill for 15 minutes.
• Make the glaze: Beat the remaining egg, and combine with heavy cream. Brush glaze very lightly on edges of pie shell. Fill pie shell with pumpkin mixture. Transfer to prepared baking sheet.
• Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue baking for 30 minutes more. Cool on a wire rack.

PUMPKIN ICEBOX PIE

Steps:

• Make crust: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a food processor, combine graham crackers, sugar, and salt; process until fine crumbs form. With machine running, slowly pour butter through feed tube and process until mixture resembles wet sand. Press crumbs in bottom and up sides of a 9-inch square baking dish. Bake until crust is deep golden brown and fragrant, 20 minutes. Let cool completely in baking dish on a wire rack.
• Meanwhile, make filling: Place 1/4 cup cold water in a small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin on top and let stand 5 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree and cream cheese until smooth. In a small saucepan, combine evaporated milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt; bring to a simmer over medium. Add gelatin mixture and stir until completely dissolved. Pour milk mixture into pumpkin mixture and whisk until completely smooth.
• Pour filling into cooled crust and refrigerate until chilled and completely set, about 3 hours (or wrap tightly with plastic and refrigerate, up to 2 days). To serve, whip cream with confectioners' sugar until soft peaks form. Top pie with whipped cream and sprinkle with nutmeg.

FRESH PUMPKIN PIE WITH SALTY ROASTED PEPITAS

Steps:

• 1. To make the crust, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse 4 or 5 times, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• 2. In a small bowl, mix together the ice water and egg yolk. Add the egg mixture to the food processor, and pulse until the crumbs begin to climb the side of the bowl and hold their shape when pressed together. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Using your hands-and a little muscle-form the dough into a 5-inch-diameter disk. Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour before rolling.
• 3. Unwrap the dough, and using a rolling pin, roll it out on a lightly floured work surface to form an 11-inch circle. Working quickly and carefully, line a 9-inch pie dish with the dough. With your fingertips, make sure that the edge of the pie is smooth and even. Refrigerate it for 20 minutes.
• 4. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• 5. Remove the pie dish from the refrigerator. Line the crust with tin foil, making sure to cover the sides, and fill it with dried beans or pie weights. Bake for 15 minutes. Rotate the dish and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the sides are somewhat firm and hold their shape. Remove the foil and bake for 6 minutes, until the bottom of the crust looks dry and the shell is a very pale golden color. Remove the dish from the oven and let the crust cool. Leave the oven on.
• 6. To make the pepitas, stir together the pumpkin seeds, salt, and oil in a small bowl. Scatter the seeds onto a small baking sheet and toast in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until the seeds are slightly toasted. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the pepitas cool.
• 7. To make the filling, mix together the half-and-half and eggs in a medium bowl. Add the pumpkin puree and mix well. Then add the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and cloves, and mix well. The filling will be very runny. Pour the filling into the pie shell. Sprinkle the pepitas on the filling.
• 8. Bake for 25 minutes. Rotate the dish and bake for 20 more minutes, or until the center of the pie jiggles just a bit when you touch the oven rack. Transfer the dish to a wire rack and let the pie cool completely.

CANDIED PEPITAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together all ingredients in a bowl. Spread mixture in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Bake until pepitas are golden and slightly puffed, about 10 minutes. Season with salt. Stir gently, leaving some clumps. Transfer to a bowl; let cool completely.

GRAHAM CRUST

Steps:

• Process flours, wheat germ, salt, and cinnamon in a food processor to combine. Add butter and sugar; process until dough holds together. Use immediately.

PUMPKIN PIE WITH GRAHAM CRUST AND CANDIED PEPITAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. If using fresh pumpkin, roast pumpkin, cut side down, on a rimmed baking sheet until soft, 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool completely. Discard seeds. Scoop out flesh, and transfer to a food processor; process until smooth. Set aside 1 1/2 cups puree (freeze any remaining puree in an airtight container up to 1 month.)
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Press crust mixture into bottom and up sides of a 10-inch metal pie plate. Freeze 15 minutes. Bake crust until dry and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
• Whisk pumpkin and eggs in a bowl. Stir together brown sugar, cornstarch, salt, and spices in another bowl. Whisk into pumpkin mixture. Whisk in evaporated milk. Tap firmly on counter to release air bubbles. Let stand 20 minutes.
• Place cooled crust on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour in filling. Tap to release air bubbles. Bake until set, 45 to 55 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. Sprinkle with pepitas. Serve at room temperature or chilled.