Up to My Ears in Pumpkin!

Last year, I started making my Mom's wonderful "Pilgrim Pumpkin Pie". I'm telling you, it's better than any store bought pumpkin pie you'll ever get! Anyway, the process starts after Halloween's Jack - O - Lantern has had its day to shine -- haha, I'm hilarious! I cut him up, steam him, and then comes the mashing! You wouldn't think one pumpkin can make a whole lot, but our medium sized pumpkin turn out about 10 - 15 cups of mashed pumpkin, so now my tiny freezer is busting at the seams!

The pumpkin in the mashing process, then to the blender to make it extra smoooooth!

For about half of the pumpkin, I go ahead and mix up the ingredients for a pumpkin pie. That way, the day or two before Thanksgiving, I get out the frozen mixture, let it thaw, and then bake a masterpiece in about an hour:)

I decided to do this as my first "daily" post because (try to stay with me on the stretch of sentimental moments) this time when I started to make the mixture, it reminded me of what I saw when I looked in the bowl with the beautiful mix of brown spices, last year. I remember thinking of my Mom making this pie when I was a kid. I was and am always so amazed at her brilliance in baking. Her famous sourdough "Granny's bread" is coveted in the neighborhood, church, and of course, her children's homes. I can remember being so proud of her when a photo of her surrounded by, I believe it was her snicker-doodles and stone-jar cookies, was in the newspaper! We've also started a new tradition on a Saturday close to Christmas where we all come together and make dozens and dozens of a variety of cookies for Daddy's clients. Sooooo much fun!

Ok, enough of my sentimental stretch;)

This is as close as you're going to get to the finished product for now. The mixture foams a bit after all the ingredients are blended together. And now, like I said, my freezer is about to bust and I'm afraid to open it!

I can't wait to celebrate Thanksgiving with my huge and complete family:)