The chef-patron of Chapter One, Andy McLeish, on an old family favourite, pumpkin pie
Allotments have become quite trendy in recent years. Having an allotment was typically a hobby of your grandparents, who would always hand you a bag of 'goodies' from their garden whether you wanted it or not.
However, in recent years there has been a surge in the younger generation taking a keen interest in growing their own fruit and vegetables.
When I was younger, my parents had a vegetable area put aside in the bottom of the garden and one of the first fruits they produced successfully was pumpkins - that's right, a pumpkin is actually a fruit often mistaken for a vegetable.
We had lots and lots of pumpkins. In fact, we had so much that my mum had to become extremely creative in the kitchen to ensure they didn't go to waste. Mum's staples were pumpkin soup, pasta and stew.
I absolutely love pumpkins (I'm quite nostalgic like that), but they're very versatile. Great baked in a salad with seeds, lemon and olive oil, they also make vibrant purées that are silky smooth.
My favourite method of using them is for pumpkin pie - sadly, not as popular here as in the USA, where it's a traditional dish served at Thanksgiving.
The British season for pumpkins runs from October to December. Pumpkins are a member of the gourd family, which includes zucchinis (courgettes), cucumbers, honeydew melons, cantaloupe and watermelons. The majority of a pumpkin can be eaten, including the fleshy shell, the seeds, the leaves, and even the flowers.
This month's recipe is the perfect comfort food on an early autumn evening.
Pumpkin pie recipe
You need: a tart ring approx 30cm diameter and 2cm depth
For the pumpkin ?lling
Section one
900g pumpkin purée
150g soft brown sugar
2 tspn ground cinnamon
1 tspn ground nutmeg
1 tspn ground mixed spice
1 tspn ground ginger
500g double cream
Section two
4 eggs
2 egg yolks
100g caster sugar
Add all the ingredients in section one to a pan and slowly bring to the boil. Then crack the egg and yolk with the caster sugar into a bowl and lightly mix together. Pour the pumpkin mix over the egg mixture and whisk until it's all incorporated. Pass through a chinois (conical sieve with a very fine mesh) and set aside until the pastry is ready.
For the sweet pastry
225g plain flour
110g butter
80g sugar
1 egg
A drop of milk
Crumb together the ?our and butter until a breadcrumb consistency is achieved.
Add the sugar and the egg and a drop of milk and mix until a dough is formed.
Roll into a ball and wrap in cling ?lm and refrigerate overnight.
Roll out the sweet pastry to a thickness of 2-3mm and line the tart ring, letting the excess pastry hang over the edge. Make sure the pastry is pushed into the edges.
Put a piece of cling ?lm over the tart and pour some baking beans into the case, ?lling to the top. Fold the excess cling ?lm over the beans to encase them.
Place in a pre-heated oven at 180ºC for 30mins until golden brown all over. Remove from the oven and remove the cling ?lmed beans from the tart case.
Finally pour the pumpkin mixture into the tart and place back into the oven at 100 ºC for 30-40mins, until the tart looks set. Remove from the oven. Leave to cool for 20 mins before attempting to remove the ring.
Once cool, use a serrated knife to trim around the top of the tart, removing the excess pastry. Put on a plate and serve at room temperature with a little cream.
Find out more
Chapter One, Farnborough Common, Locksbottom BR6 8NF.
01689 854848. www.chapteronerestaurant.co.uk
Follow Andy on Twitter: @andy23471
