PUMPKIN-BROWNIE SWIRL PIE - HAPPY THANKSGIVING, FROM MY OVEN TO YOURS...

Seems the holidays are fast upon me ~ I can tell, as I've left little time for the blog (and/or reading) amongst that which has kept my hands busy this month, sadly.  Yesterday I had a request for a "holiday-ish" pie for a husband's office party.  Food Network Magazine published this recipe, just this month, and it was begging for a "go".  I gave it one - HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK, pretty much.

(1/2" brownie "crust" on the bottom)

Sharing with friends for a little different (and EASY) take on Pumpkin Pie this year.  Hope your day is happy and spent with those you hold dearest!  I'll be back to blogging (yes, and reading) in the next few weeks...HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

PUMPKIN-BROWNIE SWIRL PIE

INGREDIENTS

BROWNIE FILLING:
1 stick unsalted butter, plus more for the pie plate
1 12-oz. bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
2/3 C. packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 C. all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

PUMPKIN FILLING:
1 C. pure pumpkin puree
1 C. heavy cream
1 large egg
1/4 c. granulated sugar
1/4 C. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp. salt

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Butter the bottom and side of a 9-1/2" deep-dish pie plate.  Make the brownie filling:  Heat the butter, chocolate chips and brown sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until the butter and chocolate are melted.  Remove from heat.  Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla, whisking until smooth.  Whisk in the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt until combined.

Pour about one-third of the brownie batter into the prepared pie plate; set aside the remaining batter.  Bake until just starting to set and the top is shiny, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the pumpkin filling:  Combine the pumpkin puree, heavy cream, egg, granulated sugar, flour, pumpkin pie spice and salt in a medium bowl; whisk until smooth.

Pour the pumpkin filling over the warm brownie layer.  Stir 1 Tbsp. water into the remaining brownie batter, then spoon the batter (in about 6 scoops) onto the pumpkin filling.  Use a knife to pull the brownie batter into the pumpkin filling and create a swirled pattern.  Bake until the pie is set, 40 to 45 minutes.  Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.  Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Recipe courtesy of FOOD NETWORK MAGAZINE

A "LOVE/HATE" PROJECT...MY "FEARLESS ZOMBIE HUNTER" SHAWL

Unwittingly, two friends provided me with the absolute best AND worst project ever, for my birthday this year.  Finished just yesterday, my "Fearless Zombie Hunter" scarf (or The "Walker" Wrap).  A TRUE "love/hate" relationship, if ever there was one.  The original name on this pattern, for all you Ravelry chicks, is LES MISERABLES, and clicking on that will take you there (just like in Oz). 

The knitting bag and alpaca lace-weight yarn that inspired the creativity, coupled with a pattern I had catalogued in my stash.  MANY hours spent knitting a very well-written pattern, with mind-numbing amounts of stockinette stitch, while watching Daryl Dixon and his crossbow prowess on The Walking Dead, Sunday evenings.  And then, American Horror Story Freak Show started, and I knit right through that on Wednesday nights, too.

Felted yesterday morning, this came out SO soft and "drapey" - about 65" x 9" of intentionally tattered alpaca love. 

Pre-felting, this measured about 96" in length - or long enough to wrap a zombie (yeah, slight exaggeration).  Really fine, lace-weight yarn, coupled with large needles, made for scary knitting - LOTS of it.  So much stockinette stitch that it got VERY boring in the middle parts.  The fun came in watching the intentional runs being knit into the piece, and letting them ravel downwards.

Whether for Zombie Hunting, or simply as a fashion statement, it's going to keep me warm (I say, while secretly longing for a trek through the woods with a cross-bow wielding man, instead of just driving around town with it on).  LOVE/HATE for sure, on this project - and evidently I hated it so much that I've pulled out another skein I have squirreled away, to make a white one next!  Nuts? Undoubtedly.  Thank you to Jackie and Christy, for providing the "vehicle" for staying awake on the couch during countless nights of horror shows this past month. May YOUR week be zombie free!