I know I am a little bit late but I wanted to let you know December 25th was National Pumpkin Pie Day #NationalPumpkinPieDay. I don’t know about you but Charlie and I don’t care for #PumpkinPie which David likes. How about you.
Do you like Pumpkin Pie? My parents did as did my grandparents and they always had Pumpkin Pie at Christmas and also Thanksgiving. Although they liked it a lot we didn’t have Pumpkin Pie any other time of the year. How about you?
The symbol of the harvest season in fall and the dessert #PumpkinPie which is passed around most at the Christmas table gets its special day on National Pumpkin Pie Day, December 25. Featuring a Pie Shell base filled with Pumpkin Custard, Pumpkin Pies are garnished and served with various spices like Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Ginger. If you missed out on celebrating National Pumpkin Day around Halloween, now is the time to make up for it!
While it is uncertain how National Pumpkin Pie Day celebrations started, Pumpkin Pie itself has quite a rich history. The name originates from the Greek word ‘Pepon’, meaning ‘large Melon’. This was adopted by the French as ‘Pompon’ and was eventually changed into ‘Pumpion’ by the English.
The first Pilgrims who settled in the Plymouth Colony may have made a sort of Pumpkin Pie. With the Pumpkins brought to them by Native Americas, the first settlers were able to make a Pumpkin Custard using Milk, Honey, and Spices. This is also what led to the serving of the Pumpkin Pie at the first Thanksgiving ever.
In 1651, famous French Chef François Pierre de la Varenne published one of his most important French cookbooks, “Le Vrai Cuisinier François” (The True French Cook). This was translated into English in 1653 and featured a recipe for Pumpkin Pie under the name ‘Tourte of Pumpkin’.
Recipes for ‘Pumpion Pie’ made their way into English cookbooks by the 1670s. Experimental recipes lessened, and a more defined version started appearing, with the inclusion of Spices. Other optional ingredients included Raisins, Apples, and Currants.
But in 1796 the Pumpkin Pie really took shape when “American Cookery” was authored and published by American orphan Amelia Simmons. It was the first of its kind to contain recipes more suited to American tastes and had a recipe for Pumpkin Pudding, which is baked in a Crust. It was similar to the Pumpkin Pie we eat today.
Nowadays, the recipe inspirations for Pumpkin Pie are endless, thanks to Pinterest and other sources. A staple dessert on Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, Pumpkin Pie really is the perfect holiday treat. Isn’t it?
National Pumpkin Pie Day Activities
- If you have the means and the opportunity today and you like Pumpkin Pie then you should cut yourself a slice of Pumpkin Pie and really take your time adding the perfect garnish and add-ons like Whipped Cream.
- Pumpkin Pie Flling is now used in other food items including Smoothies and Cookies. If a Pie is not your thing, try Pumpkin in a different form but with the same great taste!
- If you’ve baked a Pumpkin Pie, discovered a new Bakery that makes the best Pumpkin Pie, or tried a new recipe, post pictures on social media and don’t forget to use the hashtag #NationalPumpkinPieDay.
Facts About Pumpkins
- The largest Pumpkin Pie in the world was 20 feet long and arrived at the New Bremen Pumpkinfest. This Pumpkin Pie consisted of 109 gallons of Milk, 1212 pounds of canned Pumpkin, 2796 Eggs, 15 pounds of Cinnamon, and 525 pounds of Sugar!
- In the olden days, Pumpkins were mostly used as an ingredient for making Pie Crusts, rather than used as a Filling.
- Did you know Pumpkins were once famous for curing snake bites and getting rid of freckles?
- The traditional American Pumpkin is the Connecticut field variety.
- The first Jack-o’-Lanterns were made using Potatoes or Turnips isn’t that crazy and it wasn’t until much later on when Pumpkins were considered a more suitable choice.
Why People Love National Pumpkin Pie Day
- We have to admit, people have Pumpkin fever because they love the versatility in which Pumpkin is used in recipes, from sweet to spicy.
- There is a reason Americans go crazy for Pumpkin and its the Pumpkin Spice Latte!
- Which other Fruit is so iconic that it spans over three big holiday celebrations? Pumpkins are at the center of Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Christmas and deserve their own big day!
- The dinner table is incomplete on Christmas without a Pumpkin Pie.
Recipe for Pumpkin Pie
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 (14 ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust
Directions
- Gather all ingredients and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Whisk pumpkin puree, condensed milk, eggs, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt together in a medium bowl until smooth.
- Pour into crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
- Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue baking until a knife inserted 1 inch from the crust comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool before serving.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
