This pie is absolutely delicious at any time of the year but everyone knows Pumpkin Pie is made for Thanksgiving dinner. Since it uses a storebought crust it's an easy pie to make and bakes up beautifully.
Unbox the refrigerated crusts and unroll one onto a large piece of lightly floured piece of parchment paper.
Starting in the center, use your rolling pin to make the crust a bit bigger than it is out of the box. You'll want about to roll your crust about three or four inches bigger than your pie pan. Don't roll the entire length of the crust but roll from the center out to the edge of each side of the crust to prevent tearing. Use a bit more flour if it sticks to the pin.
Once the crust is rolled out, gently fold it over your rolling pin and place it into your pie pan so that it covers the pan completely. Gently press it into the pan using your fingers, then crimp the edges using the excess dough.
FOR THE PIE FILLING:
In a large mixing bowl, beat the canned pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, and salt, and mix until all ingredients are blended.
Add the eggs and half and half, mixing until filling is completely blended.
Pour filling into prepared pie crust, and bake at 425 for 15 minutes to start. If the edges get too brown, cover the edges only with aluminum foil.
Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees, and bake for another 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
When the pie is done, remove from oven to a wire rack to cool for about 2 hours.
NOTE: For the decorative leaves and acorns, you'll need to purchase these 'FALL PIE CRUST CUTTERS'
While the pie is cooling, make the decorative leaves and acorns from the other pie crust in the box. Simple press the cutter down onto the crust, and then push the leaf, or acorn out with the little button on top, onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet, until you have as many as you want.
Bake the decorative leaves and acorns at 350 for about 10 - 12 minutes, or until golden in color. These burn really fast, so you have to watch them while in the oven.
Tip: Brush melted butter onto the leaves or acorns after they come out of the oven for a nice finish.
Once the pie and decorations have cooled completely, assemble the decorative leaves and acorns onto the pie using small dabs of whipped cream to hold it all together. Serve with more whipped cream in the center if you like.
The Pie Filling recipe makes one 9 inch pie - double the recipe for 2 pies, triple it for 3, etc.