Recipe: Pumpkin Meringue Pie

Pumpkin Meringue Pie
rec.food.cooking/Rich Bails (1995)

1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, separated
1 cup evaporated milk
1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine the pumpkin, the 1/2 cup sugar, spices, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a bowl and mix well. Add the egg yolks, stirring until well blended, then, gradually, blend in the evaporated milk. Pour into the unbaked pie shell.

Bake for 35 minutes or until a knife inserted halfway between the center and edge comes out clean. Remove the pie from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees.

To make the meringue, beat the egg whites and the 1/8 teaspoon of salt in a bowl, using an electric mixer set on high, until foamy. Gradually add the 6 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until stiff, glossy peaks from when the beaters are slowly lifted. Spoon some of the meringue around the edge of the warm pie. Spread the meringue so that it touches the inner edge of the crust all the way around the pie, using the back of a spoon to do this. Heap the remaining meringue in the center and, again using the back of the spoon, push it out to meet with the meringue border. Using a flatware knife, form light small peaks in the meringue and then bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes or until the meringue is lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.