PUMPKIN PIE

For all the time I spend in the kitchen cooking, I am a very timid baker. With cooking, I am free to add ingredients as I choose to taste, and the restriction of strict measuring has always made me shy away from baking. This year, I wanted to step out of my comfort zone this holiday season and whip up some pies for Thanksgiving. With the help of my friend Amy, (a seasoned baker and pie connoisseur) we spent a Wednesday night baking, eating, and binge movie watching "The Hunger Games" and "Catching Fire". To say we are thrilled for "Mockingjay" is the understatement of the year. We topped the pie with fresh whipped cream, and even though it melted a little on the hot pie, it sunk down through the pumpkin for a velvety richness all the way to the crust. With pie in hand and movies on the screen, the night couldn't have been more perfect. Well, if Peeta had baked the pie himself, that would be a totally different story.