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Some of my favorite movies are romantic comedies. I love watching two people fall in love, and I love all the wonderful, fluttery feelings that tag along with falling in love. Butterflies in the stomach, starry eyes, held breath. All the clichés—I love them.
Simply thinking about the feelings associated with falling in love pulls a big girly sigh from my lips. But you know what I also love about finding that perfect someone? Having a best friend who knows you better than anyone else.
Someone who knows when you’re too tired to cook, so pizza is ordered. Someone who knows you’ve had the longest day in the history of longest days and wants to know what you need to relax. Someone who just wants to be beside you regardless of what you’re doing.
In chapter 12 of The Baker’s Man, titled Spice-Kissed Pumpkin Pie, Eli knows just what Anna needs after a whirlwind day in the bakery. She needs to put on her pajamas, curl up on the couch with a hot slice of pizza, and unwind. And who better to spend her relaxtion time with than someone who really knows her. Someone like Eli.
Spice-Kissed Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients
1 ½ c canned pumpkin puree
1 9-inch pie crust ¾ c packed light brown sugar 1 tbsp cornstarch ½ tsp salt ¾ tsp ground cinnamon ¾ tsp ground ginger ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg 3 large eggs 1 ½ c evaporated milk ½ c heavy cream
How to Make
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Fit the pie crust into pie pan; create the edge of your choice. Using a fork, prick the dough all over. Transfer to the freezer until firm, approximately 15 minutes.
Add pumpkin to a the bowl of a mixer. Add sugar, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, eggs, evaporated milk, and heavy cream, and use the whisk attachment to mix until well combined. Pour the filling into the pie crust.
Bake until all but the center is set, approximately 60-75 minutes. If the crust gets too dark, cover the edges with foil. Note: Baking temperatures might vary depending on accuracy of oven temperature. Start checking pie after 45 minutes of baking time.
The filling will be slightly loose in the center but will firm up as it cools. Place on a wire rack until completely cool.
Transfer to the refrigerator until well chilled, approximately 2 hours or overnight.
Serve the chilled pie with whipped cream.
The Baker's Man can be purchased paperback or for the Kindle from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, and other major retailers.
Chapter 1: Peanut Brittle
Chapter 2: Rum Cake
Chapter 3: Morning Glory Muffins
Chapter 4: Mudslide Cookies
Chapter 5: Chocolate Caramel Bombe
Chapter 6: Dark and Stormy Ganache
Chapter 7: Blueberry Pie
Chapter 8: Lady Fingers
Chapter 9: Mirror Glaze
Chapter 10: Black Sticky Gingerbread
Chapter 11: Bear Claws