Here’s what I’m doing on Fox 19 this morning with Rob and Sheila. It’s from Amy’s Table: Food for Family and Friends. I’m going to chat about the power of good garnish!

Spicy Pumpkin Pie with Bourbon Cream

Makes one 9-inch pie

Prep time: 25  minutes

Bake time: 40-45 minutes

Make ahead: Can be made 2 days ahead and chilled until ready to serve.  Bourbon Cream can be made several hours in advance and chilled until ready to serve.

Tip: I learned the idea of adding bourbon to whipped cream from Chef Richard Perry. I’ve served it  with my pumpkin pie every Thanksgiving since. Try the Bourbon Cream with Pecan Pie, too.

1 9-inch unbaked pie shell

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 -1/2 cups canned solid pack pumpkin (not pie filling)

2 tablespoons molasses

3 large eggs

1 cup heavy  cream

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Set pastry shell aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer combine the sugars, flour, salt and spices to blend.   Add the pumpkin, molasses, eggs and cream. Mix just to combine. Pour mixture into crust.  Bake 40- 45 minutes until the filling is set in the center.   Cool on a wire rack.

Bourbon Cream

1 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons sugar

1-1/2 tablespoons Bourbon (or to taste)

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine heavy cream, sugar and bourbon. Beat until soft peaks form.  Chill until ready to serve.

To Serve: Garnish each slice with a Pastry Leaf, Candy Acorn and Bourbon Cream.

Pastry Leaf Garnish

Enough pastry for one 9-inch pie

Egg wash made with 1 egg mixed with 1 teaspoon water

Food coloring

Small artist’s paint brush

Preheat oven to 400 °F.

Roll out pastry; cut with leaf-shaped cutters (or by hand with a small, sharp knife)

Transfer cut outs to a piece of parchment paper.

Divide egg wash into 3 small bowls. Add a drop or two of yellow food coloring to one bowl, green to another and red and yellow to the third.  Stir each to combine.

Brush each leaf cut-out with colored egg wash, starting with the lightest color first. Overlap with varying colors.

Transfer colored cut-outs to a baking sheet; bake 6-8 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool 10 minutes on the baking sheet, remove to rack to cool completely.

Use to garnish a whole pie or pie slices.

Candy Acorns

1 cup chocolate chips

Pecan halves

Finely chopped nuts

Place the chocolate chips in a small microwave safe bowl. Melt the chocolate at 50% power for 1 ½ minutes. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and smooth.

Spread a little melted chocolate onto one pecan half, sandwich with the second half.

Dip the top 1/3 of nut into melted chocolate; roll in finely chopped nuts.