Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream

I have never been a huge fan of ice cream. Sure, I like it, but it's not my first choice when it comes to dessert. That has all changed now that I have my own ice cream maker. I have been experimenting with all kinds of ice cream flavors, and I am super excited to share this one. It tastes exactly like pumpkin pie, with actual pie crust pieces in it. This is the perfect ice cream for fall. If you love pumpkin pie, you'll adore this ice cream.

Ingredients:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup whole milk
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup pumpkin puree (I used my own home made puree rather than the stuff in the can. If you want your ice cream to be more orange, you'll need to use the canned variety)

For the crust:
1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
2 1/2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. cold water

Mix flour and salt. Add oil and mix until it looks like coarse crumbs. Sprinkle with water and mix again until dough pulls together. If it is too dry, add a little more water. Put aluminum foil in a shallow metal pan and roll dough out onto it. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon if desired. Bake at 450 degrees for 8-10 minutes (until edges begin to brown). Cool, then break into bite-sized pieces.

Directions:
Bring cup of milk to room temperature (or warm in microwave). Add sugar and stir until sugar dissolves. Add all the other ingredients and whisk together until well mixed. Put in refrigerator to chill before adding to ice cream maker (about 3 hours, or if you don't want to wait, you can put it in the freezer for about an hour, give or take). Add to ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer's directions. When soft-serve consistency, transfer to airtight container and gently fold in crust pieces. Freeze for several hours, or overnight. Overnight is best, as it allows the flavors to really meld. When ready to serve, top with whipped cream.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

This is fantastically delicious, and a nice twist on pumpkin pie.

Crust:
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. butter, melted

(Or, use two prepared graham cracker pie crusts that you buy at the store).

Filling:
3 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup pumpkin (please use real pumpkin, even though this recipe calls for canned)
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

For crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix crust ingredients together and blend well. Press evenly onto the bottom of a 10" springform pan (or deep pie plate). Bake 10 minutes. Set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.

For filling:
Beat cream cheese with sugar and salt. Add 3 eggs and vanilla and beat. Pour 1/2 the batter into prepared crust. Stir pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and 1 egg into remaining batter. Beat well. Gently spread pumpkin cheescake batter over regular cheesecake batter. Bake at 300 degrees for 60 minutes or until set in center. Chill before serving.

Classic Thanksgiving pumpkin pie

This is the recipe my mom has always used, and it gets rave reviews (but only if you use REAL pumpkin, as described in the previous post).

Mix two slightly-beaten eggs into  1 1/2 cups pumpkin.
Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup brown sugar.
Then add:
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cloves
After blending into pumpkin mixture, add one can (1 1/2 cups) evaporated milk. Mix well and pour carefully into a 9-inch pie shell. Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees, then another 25-35 minutes at 350 degrees or until knife inserted 2 inches from edge comes out clean. Makes one pie.

How to make your own pureed pumpkin

I admit it. I'm a snob when it comes to pumpkin. I won't eat it if it comes in a can. This means that every year, I buy a pumpkin, cook it, puree it, and freeze it. Yes, this takes some time and effort, but it is well worth it, both in money saved and taste enjoyed. Here's how you do it:

Method 1: Cut a pumpkin in half and place each in a pan with about an inch of water, cut side down. Bake in oven for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Scoop out flesh and puree in batches in food processor. Put 15 oz. (about 2 cups) in plastic bags and freeze.

Method 2: Cut a pumpkin up in pieces and cut off the rind. Then cut into 1-2 inch pieces and boil in a pot of water until very soft. Drain water and then puree in batches in a food processor. Put 15 oz. (about 2 cups) in plastic bags and freeze.


Now whenever you have a recipe that calls for a can of pumpkin, you can just whip out one of your bags in the freezer, and voila! You have real pumpkin that makes such a difference in every recipe.