When the first leaf of autumn falls and the first gust of cool wind comes, we all know that the holidays are just around the corner. Before Christmas arrives, Thanksgiving is celebrated all over the United States and Canada. And since pumpkins and squash were grown by the Natives, they brought these to the first settlers, which led to the first pumpkin pie at the first Thanksgiving table. But did you know, people in the south were not too fond of this delectable dessert?
After the civil war ended, southerners resisted the pumpkin pie saying it was a symbol of Yankee culture that was forced upon them. There was no tradition of having pumpkin pie during Thanksgiving in the south, and most homes keep it that way by serving different pies instead.
The History of the Controversial Pie
The classic pumpkin pie originated from North America, where pumpkins grew. But prior to having them grow and harvested in the United States and Canada, they were exported from France. It all started when the French brought pumpkins to Tudor, London, and by the 17th century, pumpkin pie recipes began appearing in English cookbooks.
Pumpkin pies were initially made by American colonists and intended to be eaten as a savory soup served inside a pumpkin. For some reason, the dish evolved into a sweet custard enveloped within a thin crust.
By the 19th century, the recipes started to show up in Canadian and American cookbooks and eventually became a part of the Thanksgiving dinner tradition. The pilgrims eventually brought the pumpkin pie back to New England. While the method of preparation and cooking changed over time, it became a staple in every home. (Source: New York Times)
Yankees and Southerners
In the United States, specifically after the civil war, the pumpkin pie was resisted in the southern states. Southerners claimed that the pie was a symbol of Yankee culture that was forcibly being imposed on the south since there was no tradition of the sort, to begin with. Instead, southerners prefer to make sweet potato pie or a pecan pie with a touch of bourbon. (Source: New York Times)
How is Pumpkin Pie Prepared?
We all know the saying, as easy as pie. And true enough, baking pies are relatively easier than making a cake. The first step for making a pumpkin pie is to get all the edible parts out of the pumpkin by slicing it in half and removing the seeds and guts.
Soften the haves by placing them in an oven or even in a microwave. Sometimes you might need to bring the halves in order to soften the parts. Once your pumpkin is soft and easy to scoop, simply dump the soft parts into a food processor or blender and proceed to purée the pulp.
Mix the pulp with eggs, sweetened condensed milk, sugar, spice mixtures like nutmeg or cinnamon, then bake everything in a pie shell. You can do the same process with squash or similar vegetables. (Source: Pick Your Own)