Thanksgiving Dessert Blogging Part 3 & Maple-Vanilla Bean Pumpkin Pie

9:00 PM. We are mere hours from the biggest food holiday of the year, people. Are you ready? Is everything prepped and baked?

Does anyone eat breakfast on Thanksgiving? I didn't think so... I never have. You have to make room for all of the deliciousness coming your way. I considered even fasting today. But then I got hungry and had some pizza.

At this point I have pecan and pumpkin pies baked, and I'm getting ready to bake some cookies. I'm trying to get up and get back in the kitchen.

Other things that are prepped and ready to go: Sweet potatoes, cranberry salad, rolls, green bean casserole, and mashed potatoes will be prepared tomorrow.

Stuffing/Dressing. My favorite! Oh, how I love sage.


I love herbs. I've got the good stuff right here, yo. I'll hook you up.


And the turkey is brining. Oh.. my.. The after-picture of the bird is always much better than the before-picture. Poor little turkey. It's cold and salty in there. Sadly, um, the turkey isn't my favorite part of the meal. I prefer the sides. :)


I baked a traditional pumpkin pie, but added a little bit of maple syrup and vanilla bean to compliment the flavors. Also, I whipped the egg whites and folded them into the filling to create a lighter pie.




And of course you have to add spices! I'm not Ina Garten; I like to use freshly grated nutmeg. Ohhh snap. That was a little joke I made that only Ina fans would get. ...And I've officially become even dorkier than I already am.


I'll probably do a little update tomorrow, but maybe not.
Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving!

Maple-Vanilla Bean Pumpkin Pie (Recipe be Me)
Printable Recipe

3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 a vanilla bean, seeds scraped out
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks until well combined. Whisk in pumpkin, evaporated milk, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla bean seeds, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, until well combined. Beat egg whites in a clean, large mixing bowl, using a mixer on high speed, until stiff peaks form - about 2 minutes. Fold egg whites into pumpkin mixture. Pour filling into pie crust.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F, and bake an additional 50-55 minutes, or until set.

Makes 8 servings