Pumpkin Pie-friends recipe

From my friend LC - thanks for sharing!

Here's one for you Flirty. This is a recipe from my grandmother, and the one I always use for pumpkin pies. I think the recipe dates back to 1949.

2 cups mashed pumpkin

1 cup milk

3 egg yolks, beaten

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/4 tsp of cinnamon

1/4 tsp cloves

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp salt

3 egg whites, stiffly beaten

Line the pie pan with crust and pinch edges. Mix pumpkin and milk together, and then add the yolks. Add the sugar mixed with the cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Mix well. Fold in the egg whites. Turn into pie pan. Bake in a quick over (450 degrees F.) 10 minutes. Reduce heat to hot oven (375 degrees F) and bake 20 minutes longer or until filling is firm.

Turkey roasting guide

Use the following chart as a helpful guide:

What Size Turkey to Purchase
Type of Turkey	Pounds to Buy
Whole bird	1 pound per person
Boneless breast of turkey	1/2 pound per person
Breast of turkey	3/4 pound per person
Prestuffed frozen turkey	1 1/4 pounds per person – keep frozen until ready to cook

Thawing
In the refrigerator
Place frozen bird in original wrapper in the refrigerator (40 °F or below). Allow approximately 24 hours per 5 pounds of turkey. After thawing, keep turkey refrigerated for only 1-2 days, or use this chart to help you countdown to the holiday.

Thawing Time in the Refrigerator
Size of Turkey	Number of Days
8 to 12 pounds	1 to 2 days
12 to 16 pounds	2 to 3 days
16 to 20 pounds	3 to 4 days
20 to 24 pounds	4 to 5 days

In cold water
If you forget to thaw the turkey or don't have room in the refrigerator for thawing, don't panic. You can submerge the turkey in cold water and change the water every 30 minutes. Allow about 30 minutes defrosting time per pound of turkey. The following times are suggested for thawing turkey in water. Cook immediately after thawing.

Thawing Time in Cold Water
Size of Turkey	Hours to Defrost
8 to 12 pounds	4 to 6 hours
12 to 16 pounds	6 to 8 hours
16 to 20 pounds	8 to 10 hours
20 to 24 pounds	10 to 12 hours

In the microwave
Microwave thawing is safe if the turkey is not too large. Check the manufacturer's instructions for the size turkey that will fit into your oven, the minutes per pound, and the power level to use for thawing. Cook immediately after thawing.

Preparation
The day before Thanksgiving
Make sure you have all the ingredients you need to prepare your holiday meal. Check to make sure you have all the equipment you will need, including a roasting pan large enough to hold your turkey and a food thermometer. The turkey may be rinsed in cold water the night before and re-wrapped for roasting the next day if you wish. Wet and dry stuffing ingredients can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated separately. This may also be done on Thanksgiving Day. Mix ingredients just before placing the stuffing inside the turkey cavity or into a casserole dish.

Thanksgiving Day
If you choose to stuff your turkey, stuff loosely. The stuffing should be moist, not dry, since heat destroys bacteria more rapidly in a moist environment. Place stuffed turkey in oven immediately. You may also cook the stuffing outside the bird in a casserole. Judging cooking time for your turkey will be easier if the following chart is used. The times listed are for a fresh or thawed turkey in an oven at 325 °F. These times are approximate.

Cooking Time — Unstuffed
Size of Turkey	Hours to Prepare
8 to 12 pounds	2 3/4 to 3 hours
12 to 14 pounds	3 to 3 3/4 hours
14 to 18 pounds	3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours
18 to 20 pounds	4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours
20 to 24 pounds	4 1/2 to 5 hours

Cooking Time — Stuffed
Size of Turkey	Hours to Prepare
8 to 12 pounds	3 to 3 1/2 hours
12 to 14 pounds	3 1/2 to 4 hours
14 to 18 pounds	4 to 4 1/4 hours
18 to 20 pounds	4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours
20 to 24 pounds	4 3/4 to 5 1/4 hours

Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of the turkey.
A whole turkey is safe cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F throughout the bird. Check the safe internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. All turkey meat, including any that remains pink, is safe to eat as soon as all parts reach at least 165 °F. The stuffing should reach 165 °F, whether cooked inside the bird or in a separate dish.

When turkey is removed from the oven, let it stand 20 minutes. Remove stuffing and carve turkey.

Storing Leftovers
Cut the turkey into small pieces; refrigerate stuffing and turkey separately in shallow containers within 2 hours of cooking. Use leftover turkey and stuffing within 3-4 days; gravy within 1-2 days; or freeze these foods. Reheat thoroughly to a temperature of 165 °F or until hot and steaming.

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QUICK CHART
based on 325 degrees cooking temp...

Weight of Bird	Roasting Time (Unstuffed)	Roasting Time (Stuffed)
10 to 18 pounds	3 to 3-1/2 hours	3-3/4 to 4-1/2 hours
15 to 22 pounds	3-1/2 to 4 hours	4-1/2 to 5 hours
22 to 24 pounds	4 to 4-1/2 hours	5 to 5-1/2 hours
24 to 29 pounds	4-1/2 to 5 hours	5-1/2 to 6-1/4 hours

home made eggnog

You'll never buy store-bought eggnog again! Enjoy!
( I forget where I got this recipe from- sorry)
Prep Time: 20m
Cook Time: 8m
Ready in: 6h 28m
Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients
4 cups milk
5 whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups light rum (optional)
4 cups light cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions
Combine milk, cloves, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and cinnamon in a saucepan, and heat over lowest setting for 5 minutes. Slowly bring milk mixture to a boil.
In a large bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar. Whisk together until fluffy. Whisk hot milk mixture slowly into the eggs. Pour mixture into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 3 minutes, or until thick. Do not allow mixture to boil. Strain to remove cloves, and let cool for about an hour.
Stir in rum, cream, 2 teaspoon vanilla, and nutmeg. Refrigerate overnight before serving.

Nutrition Information
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 465 cal Total Fat: 22.2 g Cholesterol: 272 mg
Sodium: 82 mg Carbohydrates: 32.7 g Fiber: 0.3 g
Protein: 7.7 g

Apple Pie (more then one way)

This is for the filling- again - the first recipe is the way I was taught.Just like Mom's ;) The second -scroll down- is an easy one that can be adjusted for diabetics.

*NOTE: For crust from scratch - go here
Pie Crust Recipe


2Tbs lemon juice
(helps keep apples from going brown- or you can use Orange Juice too)
1/3 cup firm packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup regular sugar
3 tbsp all purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
6 cups (aprox 6-8 medium)Granny Smith Apples
2 unbaked pie crust - for bottom and top.

Peel and Slice apples aprox 1.2 inch thick- if you have a spiral slicers GET ONE- they're fabulous (see pampered chef or bed ,bath ,and beyond stores)

Place apples in a bowl.Mix all ingredients in by hand until apples are well coated.
Pour mix into bottom pie shell.Dab 1-2 tbs of butter over top of apples before placing top pie crust on.
Rub top pie crust with milk and sprinkle with regular sugar and nutmeg. Cut slices into top pie crust so filling can 'breathe' while it cooks.

Loosely place a sheet of foil to cover top of pie- do not press down or seal on pie,just let it lay on top. Cook 400 degrees for 40 minutes- remove foil from top of crust and cook additional 10-20 minutes -until top is nicely browned.

I also place foil strips around the crust and seal it for the entire bake time to help prevent the crust edges from burning.

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Here is another version I got from my sister in law -she is a nurse and this is a good one for diabetics because you can replace the sugar with splenda measure for measure.

6 cups thinly sliced apples
2 Tablespoons flour
1 cup sugar ( substitute 1 cup splendid )
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Dash of Nutmeg
1 Tablespoon butter

Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Add sugar mixture to apples, toss to coat.
Fill pastry, dot with butter, set top crust, seal and flute edge, cover edge of pie with foil.
Bake 375 for 25 minutes, remove foil, brush top crust with beaten egg white, if using regular sugar sprinkle some on top ( never tried it with splenda ) , bake for 20 to 25 minutes more till crust golden brown.

Pie crust from scratch

This is the way I was taught - wish I could do a video because it is easier to "see" then explain. Pie crust can be tricky. If It's over worked it won't come out flaky.

crust
2 cup All Purpose flour
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup crisco (not too soft...I use both~ half the regular crisco and hald the butter flavor)
Approximately 5 tbs of COLD water
some cinnamon and nutmeg or all spice or pumkin spice
or apple pie spices...just put a little in hand and toss in with flour mix.

Put flour and salt in one bowl mix /fluff with fork.
Then add shortening/crisco and use 2 butter knives to "cut" shortening into the flour. Cut into pea size pieces evenly distributed, making sure to get the stuff that sticks to the sides too.....don't over work it or it won't be flaky.

Start with a little water and mix in with fork and stir~~ key is keep it crumbly !
lightly flour the area where you're rolling out the dough.
Tip bowl onto surface, push dough together into a "log" and cut in half.
With floured hands, form ball and store one half.... roll out the other half.
Use a little flour all over the rolling pin....
try not to get too much flour worked into dough !!!
Roll it out like a pancake aprox a half inch thick.
Make sure it is bigger then the pie pan.... you can push cracks together when you put it in pan.
Follow same with top crust\do top crust after you have filled bottom.

tip: roll top on saran wrap lightly floured, it's easier to pick up and place on the top of pie. Just peel off saran after placing.