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<\/a><\/p>\nIt\u2019s not what you\u2019re thinking.\u00a0 OK, the drinking wine part is true.\u00a0 But I don\u2019t call slapping a store bought crust into a pan \u201cbaking a pie.\u201d\u00a0 As I feel compelled to tell the checkout clerks in Safeway each year when I\u2019m purchasing said crust, I really do<\/em> make my own pie crusts!\u00a0 I just keep the store brought crust on the counter where I can see it.\u00a0 It reminds me that I\u2019ll still have something to fall back on just in case I screw up the homemade crust.\u00a0 Knowing I have that back up crust I can sip my wine while I \u201cjust relax and do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Otherwise my pie crust recipe is nothing special.\u00a0 I just use whatever they recipe they put on the Crisco package.\u00a0 Except I only use half the amount of Crisco and substitute the rest with butter.\u00a0 That was Grandma\u2019s trick.\u00a0 It not only gives the crust a nice butter flavor but I think it also makes it easier to handle.\u00a0 A pure Crisco pie crust is too delicate I think.<\/p>\n As for the pumpkin part, after years of following what I thought was Grandma\u2019s sacred recipe scrawled on a sheet of yellow notebook paper I was shocked to discover that it was the same one Libby puts on the label of their canned pumpkin.\u00a0 The only difference is that Grandma uses two cups of half and half instead of evaporated milk, which I must say makes it.\u00a0 Grandma also always told me to throw in a couple tablespoons of molasses \u201cto give the custard a nice brown color.\u201d<\/p>\n The most important element of Grandma\u2019s pumpkin pies is the care that goes into making them.\u00a0 I know that sounds sappy but it\u2019s true.\u00a0 The thing that made my grandmother\u2019s pumpkin pies most special for me growing up is that every year she made three miniature pies, one each for me and my brothers.\u00a0 So even though I may have years when I screw up the crust and need to use my back up or I forget to throw in a couple of tablespoons of molasses, I never forgo making a miniature pie for each kid at Thanksgiving dinner.<\/p>\n