Pumpkin Pie at the Yeuletts

Rebecca and Daniel Yeulett with their first pumpkin pie and Smartie bars

The pastor of the church we're attending in Shrewsbury, Paul Yeulett, and his family - wife, Ruth, Rebecca(6), Matthew(5) and Daniel(4) - invited Jeff and me over to their house Saturday evening for a post-Thanksgiving dinner. A couple weeks ago, Rebecca asked me what a pumpkin pie was, since she had seen it in a movie she watched the night before. I explained that it's made out of pureed pumpkin with spices, it's my favorite pie and said I'd bring one with us to dinner, especially since I hadn't even had one this fall yet! I also brought Smartie bars for the kids just in case they didn't like the pumpkin pie... though Daniel asked for a second sliver, Rebecca and Matthew preferred the Smartie bars.

Rebecca and me with the Smartie (like plain M&Ms) bars
After-dinner entertainment: Paul performing the "wedding" of Rebecca (hence the princess dress) to Daniel (hence the button-up shirt and nice trousers) followed by a family-friendly word game... and all before 8pm!

Classic Pumpkin Pie
source: Eaglebrand.com

Ingredients

1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin (about 2 cups)
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust (I used this recipe)

Instructions

HEAT oven to 425°F. Whisk pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, spices and salt in medium bowl until smooth. Pour into crust.
BAKE 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F; bake an additional 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted 1-inch from crust comes out clean. Cool. Garnish as desired.


Smartie Bars
source: ww-recipes.net
Makes 16 squares

Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup M&M or Smarties candies (couldn't find plain M&Ms at Sainsbury's)
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (I didn't add these for the kids)
1 egg
1/3 cup margarine (I used butter instead - worked just fine)
1 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar, granulated
1/3 cup sugar, brown packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Beat the margarine and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add the walnuts and flour; mix well.
4. Reserve 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture; press the remaining crumb mixture into bottom of a 8″ square pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.
6. Combine the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar and vanilla; using an electric mixer, mix at medium speed until well blended.
7. Add the egg; mix well.
8. Layer 1/2 cup of the Smarties or M&M candies over the crust; top with the cream cheese mixture.
9. Combine the remaining candy and reserved crumb mixture; mix well.
10. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the cream cheese mixture.
11. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.
12. Let cool completely before serving.