Lighten-Up Pumpkin Pie from Clean Eating Magazine

Still on the theme of Thanksgiving, I am sharing a recipe from the folks at Clean Eating Magazine (www.cleaneatingmag.com) for an easy to make healthier and lighter but oh-so-tasty pumpkin pie. I don't know about you, but seriously Thanksgiving would not be complete in my mind without pumpkin pie. Yumm! I can't wait to make (and eat) this pie!

Lighten-Up Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups crushed ginger snaps or graham crackers

1 ½ tbsp safflower oil

2 egg whites

1 whole egg

1 scant cup loosely packed organic brown sugar

1 tsp finely grated orange or lemon peel

1 tsp each of ground ginger, cinnamon, ground cardamom and sea salt

1/8 tsp each ground allspice and mace

1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk, preferable skim

1 (14 oz) can organic pumpkin puree (not pie filling)

Instructions:

1)   Place crumbs in a deep-dish (9 or 10 inch pie plate). Drizzle with oil. Using a fork, stir to moisten. Using your hands press crumbs against the bottom and up the sides of the pan – the crust should look crumbly. Refrigerate while making the filling, allowing the crust to set a little.

2)   Lightly beat egg whites and whole egg. Whisk in brown sugar, grated peel, spices and seal salt. Whisk in milk and pumpkin puree. Pour over crust. Place pie on a baking sheet. Bake in centre of preheated 300 F oven until centre is almost set when pan is jiggled, 60 to 75 minutes.

Timesaving Tip: Pie tastes best the same day it’s made. However, it will keep well if covered and refrigerated overnight. The flavors blend as it sits, so a good alternative is to make the pie filling and crust the day before. Wrap and refrigerate each separately. Fill crust and bake on serving day.