Happy Thanksgiving!

This is the time of year to give THANKS. There is always something to be thankful for and people forget that these days.

Here is a great recipe for The Ultimate Pumpkin Pie. Try it on your Thanksgiving table next week!

Ingredients:

CRUST

2 cups all purpose flour, plus a little more for dusting

5 teaspoons sugar

Salt

12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

FILLING/TOPPING

1 15oz can pure pumpkin

2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter

Salt

3 large eggs, and one egg white

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 cup pecans

1 cup fresh cranberries

1 2.3 oz package amaretti cookies (about 12)

DIRECTIONS:

Make the crust first. Combine the flour, sugar and a pinch of salt in large bowl. Mix in the cold butter with your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Work in 3 tablespoons ice water until the dough holds together without being too sticky. If it's still crumbly, add more ice water, 1 tsp at a time. Form into a ball, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour.

On a floured surface, roll out the dough into an 11-12 inch circle with a floured rolling pin. Ease into a 9" pie pan. Press firmly into the bottom and sides. Trim the excess dough, then pinch the edges. Refrigerate until ready to fill.

Place a baking sheet on the bottom oven rack and preheat oven to 375. Make the filling: Whisk the pumpkin in a bowl with the butter and a pinch of salt. Whisk in 3 eggs and the sugar. Stir in the cream, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour the mixture into the pie shell. Lightly beat the egg white, then brush onto the pastry edges. Carefully place the pie on the preheated baking sheet, lower the oven temperature to 325 and bake until the pie is set, but still jiggles slightly - about 50 minutes. Let cool completely. Meanwhile, make the topping: Toast the pecans on a baking sheet in the oven for about 10 minutes. Cool. With a knife or food processor, coarsely chop the pecans, cranberries and cookies. Sprinkle over the cooled pie. ENJOY!!