Monday, November 9, 2020

Espresso Pumpkin Pie: Home Blog With Friends


Blog With Friends, a multi-blogger project based post incorporating a theme, Home | Featured on www.BakingInATornado.com



Today’s post is the next in our series of Blog With Friends themed collaborations. Each month a group of bloggers get together and each publish a project based on a theme. What I love about his partnership is that it's not bloggers with similar interests or strengths but a diverse group coming up with a variety of posts. Mine always includes a recipe.




This month's theme is Home.
 
 Blog With Friends, a multi-blogger project based post incorporating a theme, The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree | Graphic designed by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com



I made Espresso Pumpkin Pie.

Espresso Pumpkin Pie, a classic holiday dessert gets an upgrade. Silky pumpkin pie is infused with a coffee flavored boost. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #bake #pie
Espresso Pumpkin Pie
 
Home, of course, is not just the house you live in. We've all heard the sayings "home is where the heart is," and "love makes a house a home," "home is wherever you are." They're all true sentiments, of course, about the value we place on being with the ones we love. That's changed, though, in this past difficult and chaotic year. And it makes this time of year, the holidays in general and Thanksgiving in particular, very different. Challenging. 

My house is still a home, but now less by physical presence and so much more because of the memories it holds. I'm infinitely grateful to have my older son local, but my younger son hadn't been here in a year. I've kept him here through calls and texts and PMs and zoom. I've kept him here by telling him about new recipes I create that he would love, and by talking about the time when his empty chair at the kitchen table will once again have him in it, when four will laugh at the dinner table instead of three.

It's ironic that Thanksgiving is the time I most want him here, want to see him and hug him and yes, cook for him. The irony? He hates turkey {{sigh}}. Fortunately, he's a pumpkin lover and around my house, it's not Thanksgiving without Cinnamon Cranraisin Pumpkin Bread on the table, and a pumpkin dessert is always one of the options.
 
I didn't buy him a plane ticket because, at the point when we'd have had to purchase it, we both felt it wasn't safe for him to fly. He'd been talking about driving, but I hate the thought of him being on the road for an entire day alone, through some very rural areas at a time of year when the weather is an issue. I miss him more than I can say, but his safety comes first. 

I came up with today's recipe, Espresso Pumpkin Pie, for him because he not only loves pumpkin, but he's a coffee lover too. At the time that I developed this recipe, I had hoped that he would somehow be here the next time I make it. 
 
And:

Somehow the stars aligned. Through a series of circumstances, brought about by both luck and planning, the recipe I had developed for him with so much hope, will now be served to him with deep gratitude. Well, if I ever stop hugging him long enough to bake.

I hope you try it too (the pie part, not the hugging my son part). 
 
Start by pulling together just a few ingredients:
 
Espresso Pumpkin Pie, a classic holiday dessert gets an upgrade. Silky pumpkin pie is infused with a coffee flavored boost. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #bake #pie
 
Making the crust takes only 4 ingredients:
 
Espresso Pumpkin Pie, a classic holiday dessert gets an upgrade. Silky pumpkin pie is infused with a coffee flavored boost. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #bake #pie
 
 
The filling can be whisked together in just one bowl:
 
Espresso Pumpkin Pie, a classic holiday dessert gets an upgrade. Silky pumpkin pie is infused with a coffee flavored boost. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #bake #pie
 
Pour into the crust:

Espresso Pumpkin Pie, a classic holiday dessert gets an upgrade. Silky pumpkin pie is infused with a coffee flavored boost. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #bake #pie

Partially bake, then sprinkle with the topping:
Espresso Pumpkin Pie, a classic holiday dessert gets an upgrade. Silky pumpkin pie is infused with a coffee flavored boost. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #bake #pie

Finish baking:
 
Espresso Pumpkin Pie, a classic holiday dessert gets an upgrade. Silky pumpkin pie is infused with a coffee flavored boost. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #bake #pie

Cool, slice and serve:
 
Espresso Pumpkin Pie, a classic holiday dessert gets an upgrade. Silky pumpkin pie is infused with a coffee flavored boost. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #bake #pie


As always, any time you make one of my recipes, feel free to post a picture of it to my Baking In A Tornado Facebook Page. I'd love to see it!

Be sure to visit all of this month's other Blog With Friends projects:
 
 
Blog With Friends, a multi-blogger project based post incorporating a theme, Home | Home is . . . by Tamara of Part-time Working Hockey Mom | Featured on www.BakingInATornado.com
 
 
 
Tamara of Part-time Working Hockey Mom shares Home is . . .
 
 
 
 
Blog With Friends, a multi-blogger project based post incorporating a theme, Home | Home by P.J. of A 'lil HooHaa | Featured on www.BakingInATornado.com
 
 
 
P.J. of A 'lil HooHaa shares Home





Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

Espresso Pumpkin Pie
                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Espresso baking chips
1 1/2 tsp instant coffee granules
 
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 TBSP butter, melted
2 TBSP sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 15 oz can pumpkin puree
1 cup pumpkin spice coffee creamer
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 TBSP brown sugar, divided
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon 
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
 
Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10 inch pie dish.
*In a food processor or a clean coffee grinder, grind the espresso baking chips and instant coffee granules together. Set aside.
*Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, 2 TBSP sugar and 1/4 tsp cinnamon. Press into and partially up the sides of the pie dish.
*Whisk together the pumpkin puree, creamer, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup of the brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. Whisk in 1/3 cup of the espresso baking chips/coffee mixture. Pour into the crust. Bake for 45 minutes.
*While the pie is baking, whisk together the remaining 2 TBSP of brown sugar and the remaining espresso baking chips/coffee mixture.
*After 45 minutes, remove pie from the oven but leave the oven on. Sprinkle the pie with the majority of the brown sugar/espresso baking chips/coffee mixture and return to the oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until the center is set.
*Allow to cool to room temperature, then move to refrigerator to cool completely. Store, covered, in the refrigerator.  
*OPT: Serve sprinkling the slices with the remaining brown sugar/coffee mixture.




16 comments:

  1. PurDude is coming home after all? YAY! So happy for you. Looking at 2020, November finally brings some fantastic news to you!
    Now about that pie... What are "Espresso baking chips"? Coffee flavored chocolate chips?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, that's exactly what they are, espresso flavored baking chips similar to chocolate chips.

      Delete
  2. First, I am happy you are going to be able to see your out of town son. That's wonderful! We had an early Thanksgiving with our local son (our only child) on Saturday because the weather was favorable to eat outside. So, this expresso baking chips. Never heard of them. To my delight, found that Target (apparently) sells them here. So maybe. I am not a great fan of pumpkin pie but the coffee addition intrigues me, and pumpkin pie is just about the only pie husband likes. We'd have to eat early though, lol, on Actual Thanksgiving when it will just be the two of us. So maybe. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you got a chance to have an early Thanksgiving with your son, although maybe not optimal, it's definitely something (something meaningful).

      Delete
  3. I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!! there's nothing--NOTHING--like having family home for the holidays!
    And I love anything pumpkin! Especially PIE!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YES! A lot of luck (both good and bad), some cajoling, and one very long drive and we made it happen.

      Delete
  4. I think only a mom who doesn't have regular physical contact with a child can understand just how excited you are. Congratulations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, how amazing it was to see his car drive into the driveway.

      Delete
  5. I love Sweet Potato pie and can't wait for Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I just love a good pumpkin pie. Or bread. Or cookie. Or muffin.
    Carol Cassara

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh, hooray! It's such a joy when the children can come home for a visit. He's probably going to love that pie, and do you bake him a chicken instead of a turkey (or at least a couple of pieces of roast chicken)?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hot wings for him! And yes, I'm making all of his favorites.

      Delete

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