When I started reading this thread, I got a hankering for some pumpkin pie. So I went to the cafeteria downstairs and got a slice, came back up and resumed reading this thread while eating my pie. Then I got to Dianavan's first post about the baked pumpkin mishap. I am now wiping the mouthful of pumpkin off my screen that I had just taken when I got to the "...the damned thing exploded..." part. Not that I find people's suffering funny, but the picture your story conjures up is hilarious! I couldn't help myself. ILMAO and am still snickering. Certainly one for the books. Great material for a comedy skit (leaving out the burn injuries, of course).

Like Ponygirl, I too, am a pie snob. I make my own pastry crust, slightly sweetened. I puree fresh steamed pumpkin, add my spice blend and other ingredients, and whip the mixture slightly. It comes out of the oven really smooth and creamy that way. I serve my pie warm with unwhipped, unsweetened Devon cream poured over it. If you can't find Devon cream in your area (Stateside), plain old heavy whipping cream will do. I got used to not using whipped cream because my wife is from Scotland. They don't use much whipped cream over there, and they don't usually sweeten their cream. Besides, she says my pumpkin pie itself is sweet enough. Every Thanksgiving, my guests rave about it, so I guess she's right.