[1] Here’s a different pumpkin pie for your holiday: made with pumpkin ice cream or frozen yogurt.

If you’re looking for something special beyond the traditional pumpkin pie, how about an ice cream or frozen yogurt pumpkin pie? This recipe, created by Louise McLane, comes to us from one of our favorite frozen yogurt purveyors, Sweet Scoops. The stores are filled with ice cream and yogurt in seasonal flavors.

Just scoop the frozen delight into a pie shell and top it with toffee bits, chopped nuts, and a chocolate and/or caramel drizzle.

Of course, the pie will taste that much better if you use the gingersnap crumb crust below.
 
 
RECIPE: PUMPKIN ICE CREAM PIE

The best nuts to use in this recipe are hazelnut, pecans or walnuts. If you want to omit the nuts, substitute unshelled pumpkin seeds.

We added some raisins to the mix, for a flavor counterpoint.
 
Ingredients For The Filling

 
For The Gingersnap Crumb Crust

 
For The Chocolate Glaze

 
Preparation

1. BAKE the crust. Place an oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. LIGHTLY BUTTER a 9″ pie pan. Stir together all crust ingredients in a bowl and press evenly on the bottom and up the sides of the pie pan.

3. BAKE until crisp, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on a rack to room temperature. As it cools, set the ice cream on the counter to soften.

4. SPOON the softened ice cream evenly into the cooled pie shell. Place in the freezer while you prepare the topping.

5. MIX together the nuts and toffee bits. Sprinkle liberally and evenly on top of the pie. Press them slightly into the surface to adhere. Return the pie to the freezer while you prepare the glaze.

6. MELT the chocolate and butter in a double boiler or a small bowl over a pan of hot water on moderate heat. Either way, do not let the bottom of the bowl touch the water. Stir until completely smooth.

7. USE a spoon to drizzle spoonfuls of the glaze over the pie in a zigzag pattern.

8. RETURN the pie to the freezer before serving, for a half-hour or until the glaze starts to look dull.
 
 
> THE HISTORY OF ICE CREAM

> THE HISTORY OF PUMPKIN PIE

> THE HISTORY OF PUMPKIN

A a NIBBLE Top Pick Of The Week (read the review and see close-up photos), Superseedz, a Gallo Prize Winner, are artisan-roasted and flavored with cinnamon, curry, sea salt or spice. Besides being iron-rich, healthy, snackilicious and guilt-free, there’s no spitting required: It’s all part of the Superseedz magic. Even if you don’t win, you should order up a bunch of bags for stocking stuffers (the small bags are just $2.00).

The Prize: A Gift Basket Of Superseedz Flavored Pumpkin Seeds

One winner will receive six large bags and four small bags of Superseedz Flavored Pumpkin Seeds in each of the four flavors: Cinnamon & Sugar, Original Curry, Sea Salt and Somewhat Spicy. The pumpkin seeds will arrive in a gift basket prepared by Well Baskets, a specialist in healthy gourmet gift baskets. Approximate Retail Value: $55.00.

Always be prepared at snack time with a tasty, healthy bag of pumpkin seeds!

To Enter This Gourmet Giveaway:

• See THE NIBBLE’S Gourmet Snacks Section, where you’ll discover more of our favorite snacks.
• Click on the link at the bottom of the page by noon on Monday, November 30th, to enter your email address for the prize drawing. (Privacy is observed; your email address will not be used for any other purpose.)

Photo by M. Gillow | IST.

You can turn the drink into a real cocktail by substituting an ounce of vodka and a 1/2 ounce of Calvados (apple brandy) for the club soda or ginger ale.

• For more holiday cocktails, visit our Cocktails Section.

The rack, which is 15″ x 11″ x 8¼”, holds up to three levels of heavy casserole dishes and then folds flat for storage. This rack is from Sur La Table (online at SurLaTable.com); but you may be able to find one locally as well. Easy assembly required.

Why didn’t we think of this one? Photo
courtesy SurLaTable.com.

Knorr + your pan drippings = easy, good gravy. Chart courtesy Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports did a taste test with commercial gravies to consider the options. The tasters tried 10 products—four dry mixes (add water, stir, and heat) and six canned or jarred gravies (just heat). They also tried them with and without the turkey pan drippings (minus the fat), which some products suggest—and which produced the best results.

Results

• Knorr is very good; in fact, guests might think it’s homemade. It has a big roasted-turkey taste, a fresh impression and slightly sweet, caramelized flavors nicely blended with herbs.
• McCormick actually tastes freshly prepared, though it’s a bit starchy—and meat or potatoes could mask those.
• Flaws increase as gravies fall lower on the list. Products rated “Fair” have even more drawbacks. The Franco-American is gelatinous; Simply Organic is also bitter; Serv-A-Gravy has little flavor, period.

Nutrition
Per serving, most of the gravies have 20 to 25 calories, very little fat, and 260 to 360 milligrams of sodium. (The exception, Serv-A-Gravy, has 15 calories and 210 mg of sodium.) Many include a little fat, stock, or broth from chicken or turkey, plus a dairy product. Those without meat flavor, fat or dairy—Simply Organic and Serv-A-Gravy—were lowest-rated.

Bottom Line
Try Knorr with pan drippings (minus fat).