Perfect Gourmet Pumpkin Pie: Easy Recipe

This is the ultimate Perfect Gourmet Pumpkin Pie. Easy to make and SO delicious with the addition of a secret, healthy ingredient.

You may have a few little sugar pumpkins left over from Halloween so now's the time to practice making that Perfect Gourmet Pumpkin Pie that's going to WOW everyone for Thanksgiving. In fact, I never grow or purchase ornamental pumpkins for decorating. I use decorations that I can EAT! Save time and money by getting a fat, squat sugar pumpkin or even a cheese pumpkin will do. Whatever you do, please don't use canned pumpkin!  Fresh pumpkin is superior in flavor and if you play your cards right, available in great supply around holiday time.

My little sugar pumpkin came right from this patch!

Perfect Gourmet Pumpkin Pie

2-3 cups of steamed fresh pumpkin meat
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
3-4 whole cloves, crushed or 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon Long Life Coconut Oil
2 eggs
1 14oz can of sweetened, condensed milk (I like Eagle Brand)
1 rolled pie shell

Steam 1 small sugar pumpkin and use an ice cream scoop to separate the meat from the outer shell when done. Next puree the pumpkin meat with the 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a power blender, (I use a VitaMix) or food processor until smooth. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Next pour your pumpkin puree, (2-3 cups for a 9" deep dish pie), into a mixing bowl with your salt, spices, eggs and sweetened condensed milk and mix. I use my Kitchen Aid stand mixer and whip it up!
Pour into your pie crust and bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Then lower the oven temperature to 350 for 30-40 minutes more or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

When done, the filling should set up like firm custard. Let cool before slicing. Add a dollop of whipped cream & enjoy.

The gourmet secret is out. Add some coconut oil to your pumpkin pie filling! PHOTO: Long Life Coconut Oil with added Beta Carotene from Nature's Approved.

1 gallon container of Nature's Approved Longlife Coconut Oil will keep for 2-3 years.

25 Cool Uses for Coconut Oil

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is a healthy and nutritious addition to nearly every area of your life.

Coconut oil has so many uses!  It is much healthier than hydrogenated oils like Crisco but can be used in many recipes as a replacement for butter.  Here are more cool ideas for coconut oil:

COOKING

Popcorn - Use for popping corn like the movie theaters of old. So good!

Pancakes - Use to top your pancakes instead of butter.

Oatmeal - Add a dollop to your oatmeal in place of butter or margarine

Grilling - Coat, fish, chicken or shrimp with coconut oil before placing on the grill.

Deep Frying-Coconut oil can take higher temperatures in a deep fryer. Try it for shrimp and chicken.

Bread Recipes-Use coconut oil to replace the oil in your yeast bread recipes for a light, moist loaf.

As A Spread - Instead of butter, try using a bit of coconut butter on your toast.

Stir-Frying - Add coconut oil for Asian Wok recipes that require quick cooking at high temperatures.

Smoothies - Add a tablespoon of coconut oil in your favorite smoothie.

BEAUTY

Eye Makeup Remover - Apply to eyelids and skin to dissolve eye makeup. Remove with tissues.

Body Balm - Apply over your favorite body moisturizer after taking a bath for the best results.

Facial Moisturizer - After cleansing, apply your favorite moisturizer and a layer of coconut oil on top.

Lip Balm - Save those Burt's Bees tins & add coconut oil mixed with cocoa butter for your own gloss pots.

Cuticle Care - Use coconut oil to push back and moisturize cuticles to keep them healthy.

Cracked Heels - After moisturizing, apply coconut oil to your feet and cover with socks.

Exfoliant - Mix coconut oil with equal parts sea salt for a natural body scrub.

Hair Conditioner - Add to hair and cover with a turban over-night.  In the morning shampoo out.

Longer Eyelashes - Apply to eye lashes at night to moisturize and keep them growing long & strong.

HEALTH

Personal Lubricant - Coconut oil is naturally antibacterial and anti fungal. Will not effect latex products.

Belly Fat Reducer - Replace your other oils with 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil a day.

Anti-inflammatory - Adding coconut oil to your daily diet helps reduce inflammation & joint pain.

Anti-Chafe - Apply to any area where skin rubs to reduce friction and chaffing.

Tooth & Gum Care - Coconut oil effectively removed plaque and heals gums. Add it to your toothbrush.

Warmer Hands & Feet - Apply to feet and hands in cold weather to help keep the heat in.

Shaving Balm -Apply coconut oil to the skin as a shaving oil.

I recommend purchasing coconut oil in bulk for the best results. I like to use Nature's Approved Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil

Easy Walnut Oatmeal Bread Recipe

Moist, light and delicious.  Homemade Walnut-Oatmeal Bread! Photo: Presto Bread Slicing System

There is nothing better to fill the house than the smell of fresh baked bread. This is my all around favorite sandwich loaf but this recipe has a few secret ingredients that add both flavor and antioxidants.  Organic Grape Seed Flour and Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.  Here's how to punch up your next loaf:


Easy Walnut Oatmeal Bread (Bread Machine Version)
Yield: 1 1/2 Pound loaf, 12 slices 

2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons Nature's Approved Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
1 tablespoon Nature's Approved Grape Seed Flour
2 tablespoons Oatmeal
1/2 cup Walnuts
3 cups Bread Flour
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

Bring all your ingredients to room temperature.  Whisk the dry ingredients, (except the walnuts and yeast) in a large bowl and set aside.  Proof your yeast by dissolving it in 1/3 cup of warm water plus 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Set it in a warm spot and let it get foamy.  If it doubles in size after 10 minutes, you know it's active.

Next measure and warm your 2/3 cup of milk and 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Add both your milk/oil mixture and the developed yeast to your oiled bread machine bowl. Lastly, add in the dry ingredients into the container and start the machine.  If your unit is like mine, it will beep to tell you when to add the walnuts. 
When baking is complete, remove bread from the machine and let cool for about an hour on a wire rack. I have a bread slicing rack so I am able to get even slices.  

This bread is perfect for sandwiches or to be eaten with a little butter and jam. It also makes a wonderful hostess gift for Easter and other celebrations. Check HERE for more easy to bake bread recipes with or without a bread machine.

A bread machine like my Breadman can turn out a fresh baked loaf in about 3 hours.

The Grape Seed Flour, Coconut Oil and Walnuts all add extra nutrition and antioxidants to the bread.  The Coconut Oil made the loaf very light and moist, almost like commercial bread. Even the crust was light and flaky.  The taste?  Absolutely delicious!  The Grape Seed Flour is very fine and turned the loaf a beautiful golden brown.  To purchase the same organic Grape Seed Powder and Extra Virgin Coconut Oil used in this recipe, visit Nature's Approved Online.

Try some Sunbutter on your Walnut Oatmeal Bread!