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,
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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!