Green Bing.

You may have realized from all of my Hogwarts references that I am a big Harry Potter fan. Who isn't? I'm nearly certain that J.K. Rowling sold her soul to the devil to be able to spin a tail so wickedly enchanting. Rowling talks a lot about food in her books because she says that is something that she thrilled in knowing when she read books as a child, (e.g. exactly what was in that sandwich the protagonist was eating? My guess, bologna). One of the foods Harry Potter eats on the Hogwart's Express and at a few Slug Club gatherings is Pumpkin Pasties. It's basically like a pumpkin calzone or a pumpkin fold over. Now I, being slow on the uptake generally and having made pumpkin pie before, wondered just how you get the watery, uncooked pumpkin pie filling IN the dough. Well, you cook it first. I mentioned I was a little slow, right?


Below is the recipe that I used, a derivation of this recipe.



Pumpkin Pasties

• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 3/4 C sugar
• 1 can pumpkin puree
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 1 can evaporated milk (12 Fl. oz.)
• 9 oz. pie crust pastry (enough for two single standard pie crusts)

To make filling:

1. Mix eggs and sugar in a mixing bowl until well blended.
2. Stir in pumpkin, salt and spices.
3. Add evaporated milk and mix well.
4. Pour into a 9x13 casserole dish.

Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Keep oven door closed and reduce temperature to moderate (350 degrees) and continue baking for 45 minutes or until table knife inserted in center of dish comes out clean. Cool filling completely on a wire rack.

To assemble pasties:

1. Roll pie pastry thin and cut into circles approximately 4 inches in diameter. 
2. Put a spoonful of the cool pumpkin mixture towards one side of the center of the circle. 
3. Fold over the crust into a half-circle and firmly crimp the edges closed. 
4. Rub the pastie with a little butter and add a mixture of cinnamon and sugar, if desired. 
5. With a paring knife, cut three small slits in the top for venting. 
6. Place on a greased cookie sheet or a cookie sheet covered in foil.
7. Cast a protective enchantment over the pasties to keep them from burning: salvio gastronomia!

Bake at 400 degrees until crust is a light golden brown, approximately 10 minutes.

Serve at room temperature. Makes 2 dozen miniature pasties. 

Enjoy! Accio Pumpkin Juice!