The Saga of the 37 Pumpkins- Installment No. 16- Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie

A day and night had passed, and Patch was still wandering slowly, thinking and thinking. By now, Patch doubted that he'd ever see Cucurbita again. All that remained of her were his memories of things she'd said and done. He remembered something that she'd said many weeks ago: "We're already dead."

Only now did her words really make sense.

 His body hadn't grown since abduction from the patch- because he was dead.

He did not thirst any longer- because he was dead.

Of course she'd been right all along. But, Patch asked himself, what difference did it make whether he was alive or dead if he could still think? He could have been dead in the patch, for that matter.

Patch shook his stalk, frustrated, and noticed an aroma wafting through the air. It was a spicy smell, and it reminded him of the smell that was present the day after that old man's death.

"You like my perfume?" A familiar raspy voice brought Patch out of his reverie.

A little orange-brown triangle with a plop of white stuff on top of it was approaching quickly.

"It's a bit overpowering," Patch responded, bemused. The fragrant triangle sounded just like Cucurbita.

The triangle stopped. "Don't you remember me?"

Patch choked. "Cucurbita?"

The triangle began to shudder and laugh. "Yes! It's me. I got a facelift, that's all!"

Just then, Patch was kicked aside by a gigantic stalk. As he rolled himself upright, he could make out the sound of someone singing something about cake.

Then there were 20...

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Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

• Single pie crust of your choice (our recipe is available here)
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup of white sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• 2 cups of pureed pumpkin
• 12 oz evaporated milk

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425° Fahrenheit.

Press your prepared pie crust into a 9-inch pie pan.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs gently, then beat in the rest of the ingredients. 

Carefully pour the filling into the crust, then bake for 45-60 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Let the pie cool completely.

Enjoy!