Pumpkin pie

[cjsmith]

I'm experimenting with sugar levels. The recipe I have used for decades is a bit oversweet, so as a first step, just now I made one pie with half the sugar my recipe calls for. I didn't add or subtract anything else. I wanted to see what this would do.

I will never add the "normal" amount of sugar again! WOOHOO!

The sugar decrease changes the texture a little, but not so much that I care. Next time around I also think I'll crank up the cinnamon, ginger, and clove, to give the tongue a little extra treat to play with in the absence of facepounding sweetness. But just as it is I find it scrumptious.

Now that I've seen how "half" comes out, I need to think on what to tweak to get a good no-sugar pie. That seems to me to be the most flexible option. People wanting a low sugar intake can have such a pie as is, people going for a high sugar intake can sprinkle powdered sugar on top or load up on the sweetened whipped cream, and those who are flexible can go either way as the mood strikes them.

I have enough supplies for one more this afternoon. I'm musing on what to tweak for the texture. I know if I do nothing, it won't congeal as much as it needs to. Hmmm...

Comments

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I've always had an urge to add nutmeg! The recipe doesn't call for it, but it just seems to go, doesn't it? Cinnamon, ginger, NUTMEG, and clove.

The half-sugar pie definitely did set. It just seemed... too moist, too ready to split into smaller little blobby pieces. Maybe I'm imagining things. It's looking a lot better now that it's been out of the oven for more than twenty minutes. :-)

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

so when, exactly, will the taste-tesing begin?? if i leave now and head west, i could be there by, um, 2008? ;-)

what kind of pie crust do you use? homemade? whatever's on sale? or no crust for pumpkin?

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

You could be here by some time tomorrow if you decided to head to an airport on the way! :-)

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

there is that. and dontcha know, the airport is conveniently located just a couple miles west of my house! and i AM off work til wednesday...

*looks at the bank balance and cries*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's the tough part. :-(

[firecat]

The Joy of Cooking recipe calls for either nutmeg or allspice.

I've also been known to add orange juice, orange zest, or almond extract (almond extract would certainly add sweetness).

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I think I'll be adding nutmeg from now on. Pie number two had nutmeg and one other ingredient I am too embarrassed to name because it wasn't a good idea -- but the nutmeg is tasty.

Allspice, eh? I hadn't thought of that, but it does make some sense.

Today I am discovering it is bad for my tummy to have had nothing to eat yesterday but pumpkin pie. Oopsie. :-) Today I will have food. :-)