Heavy rainfall made this year’s pumpkin harvest ‘one of the hardest’

It’s finally pumpkin season but this year’s heavy rainfall has made the harvest “one of the hardest,” according to University of Minnesota pumpkin expert Jenny Thull.

She said the rain delayed planting and led to replanting. In the end, the harvest arrived about two weeks late.

As a result, Thull said, prices may be higher for pumpkins this year and there may be fewer to choose from.

Despite the challenges, she was able to pick pumpkins this past weekend. She used some of the harvest to create a giant Oktoberfest pumpkin “tree” to honor a late friend.

Thull shared more of her pumpkin expertise on Appetites with All Things Considered host Tom Crann, including why she likes to make pie from speckled hound pumpkins.

Listen to the full conversation by clicking play on the audio player above and check out her recipe below.

Jenny Thull’s Speckled Hound Pumpkin Pie

Makes one 9” pie

Crust

1 and 1/4 unbleached all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon sugar

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch slices

1/4 cup cold vegetable shortening

2 tablespoons cold vodka

2 tablespoons cold water

Filling

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup whole milk

3 large eggs plus two large yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

15 ounces of Speckled Hound Squash puree (or any pumpkin puree, but Speckled Hound is the best!)

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup maple syrup

2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions for the crust

Process 3/4 cup flour, salt and sugar in food processor until combined, about two 1-second pulses.

Add butter and shortening and process until homogenous dough just starts to collect in uneven clumps, about 10 seconds (dough will resemble cottage cheese curds with some very small pieces of butter remaining).

Scrape bowl with rubber spatula and redistribute dough evenly around processor blade. Add remaining 1/2 cup flour and pulse until mixture is evenly distributed around bowl and mass of dough has been broken up, 4 to 6 quick pulses.

Empty mixture into medium bowl.

Sprinkle vodka and water over mixture. With rubber spatula, use folding motion to mix, pressing down on dough until dough is slightly tacky and sticks together. Flatten dough into 4-inch disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days.

Adjust oven rack to lowest position, place rimmed baking sheet on rack and heat oven to 400°F.

Remove dough from refrigerator and roll out on generously floured (up to 1/4 cup) work surface to 12-inch circle about 1/8 inch thick. Roll dough loosely around rolling pin and unroll into pie plate, leaving at least 1-inch overhang on each side.

Working around circumference, ease dough into plate by gently lifting edge of dough with one hand while pressing into plate bottom with other hand. Refrigerate 15 minutes.

Trim overhang to 1/2 inch beyond lip of pie plate. Fold overhang under itself; folded edge should be flush with edge of pie plate. Using thumb and fore finger, flute edge of dough. Refrigerate dough-lined plate until firm, about 15 minutes.

Remove pie pan from refrigerator, line crust with foil and fill with pie weights. Bake on rimmed baking sheet for 15 minutes. Remove foil and weights and rotate plate and bake 5 to 10 additional minutes until crust is golden brown and crisp. Remove pie plate and baking sheet from oven.

Directions for the filling

While pie shell is baking, whisk cream, milk, eggs, yolks and vanilla together in medium bowl.

Combine pumpkin puree, yams, sugar, maple syrup, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in large heavy-bottomed saucepan; bring to sputtering simmer over medium heat, 5 to 7 minutes.

Continue to simmer pumpkin mixture, stirring constantly and mashing against sides of pot, until thick and shiny, 10 to 15 minutes.

Remove pan from heat and whisk in cream mixture until fully incorporated. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh strainer set over medium bowl, using back of ladle or spatula to press solids through strainer.

Re-whisk mixture and transfer to warm pre-baked pie shell.

Return pie plate with baking sheet to oven and bake pie for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 300°F and continue baking until edges of pie are set (instant-read thermometer inserted in center registers 175 degrees), 20 to 35 minutes longer. Transfer pie to wire rack and cool to room temperature, 2 to 3 hours.

Cut into wedges and serve.

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