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Hello, and welcome to My Kitchen and I. Every year I choose a cuisine to explore. This year, it's the year of the Snake! And I'll be continuing to cook mostly Asian foods, particularly Chinese dishes. Have I finally found the best cuisine in the world? Come explore and cook with me and let's find out. Please feel free to share your stories and comment on anything you see here, and thanks so much for visiting. Hope you enjoy the Year of the Snake in food!

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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Grandpa Red's pumpkin pie

Grandpa Red is on the right.
The writing on the back of the photo
 A tall, red-headed, handsome young man ran into a beautiful brown-eyed girl crying on an Ozark street one day not long after World War II, and a lifelong romance was begun.

 Grandpa Red had just gotten out of the service when he met Grandma Dot. He was on his way to Rolla for engineering school, but changed his mind when he met her. He opened a barber shop instead, and started a family. From such chance encounters are our destinies made. And new children born.

Grandpa Red served during World War II with the United States Coast Guard and happened to be with the crew that sank the last German sub off the coast of America. The treasured picture above depicts this moment in world history.

In addition to being a veteran, Grandpa was also a great woodsman and huntsman, always bringing home deer and turkey —even during bow season. And he liked to use every part of the deer. It wasn't just a trophy! My grandfather was not only a good soldier, a good hunter and a good husband, but he was also a pretty darn good baker, too.

One of his favorite pies was pumpkin ...



I cannot eat a pumpkin pie today without thinking of Grandpa Red, stooping through the doorways on Christmas, a big smile on his face, a twinkle in his Irish eyes and arms open wide for a hug.

Come join Love the Pie with TidyMom
sponsored by Cherokee USA,
Le CreusetWiltonBags by Bloom
and Harvard Common Press

Ahh memories! There is something about food that takes us back to that little place in our hearts that we call home, isn't there?

Here is his recipe. If you were to make this pie exactly as he did, you'll have to add that extra quarter cup of sugar! He was a sweet man and liked his pie the same!

But if you have a mind to serve your pie with a bottle of the Adam's  Choice wine our taste testers picked in the Two-timing pumpkin pie and music post, you might stick with the lower range and add an extra egg, so the concoction won't be quite so sweet.

 And you can sneak a pinch of ground cloves back into his recipe for  your own pie — I won't tell on you.

Red's Pumpkin Pie
Our last Thanksgiving together.
He'd just finished a piece of his own pie.
Looks mighty happy with it, too doesn't he?
Combine the following ingredients and mix well:

1 to 1 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 large eggs
1 16 oz can pumpkin
1 can Evaporated Milk

Pour into: 

a 9" deep dish pie shell, unbaked.

Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes and 350 degrees for 50 minutes. When it is done, a toothpick or knife inserted in the center will come out clean.

Bon Appétit!


4 comments:

  1. Found your blog a little while ago and am loving it. Of course I remember you from our boot camp a few years ago. I'm excited to see more from your kitchen!

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  2. Madoline! So nice to see you again. I check up on you from time to time and see what you are up to. I think your blog is great, too and posted a link at right.

    I'm definitely gonna make that soup with the squash and gouda cheese sometime!

    Thanks for the kind words about my blog. I cannot seem to get the hang of the formatting on this blog site though! lol Any tips greatly appreciated!

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  3. Oh, I loved this post! There is nothing EVER better than a recipe handed down from a grandma or grandpa, written on yellowed paper. I must give this pie a try..so much love put into it, it looks and sounds perfect! Your handsome, twinkle-eyed grandpa will live on forever through it :)

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  4. I dearly loved my Grandpa Red. Your post brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for your kind comments and I hope you enjoy the pie!

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I love your comments!