Do you like pumpkin pie?
The association is simple:
Pumpkin = Squash
Squash = Pinakbet
Pinakbet = Ulam (viand)
Therefore, pumpkin = ulam… and not dessert!
My apprehension to try Pumpkin Pie for the first time could then be understandable I suppose. I grew up associating pumpkin puree as baby food or a delicious soup starter. But dessert? Not quite, not quite.
My Aunt is a Pumpkin Pie addict though, and she told me Bakers Square had the best. So off we went to the restaurant, where I decided to give this pie a try! (This was during my L.A. vacation, by the way.)
Surprisingly, no visions of sauteed vegetables danced in my head when I bit into a forkful of Pumpkin Pie. While I’m open to new food experiences, I was finding it extremely hard to reconcile pumpkin with dessert. Call me weird!
I couldn’t quite explain the flavor at first. But with each forkful, I started to appreciate the sweetness of the pumpkin mixed with the “zing” of the pie’s spices (cinnamon? cloves? ginger?). I found myself nodding more and more with each forkful. I was getting to know Pumpkin Pie. It wasn’t so so bad after all.
The cold pie topped with whipped cream was perfect with a cup of hot brewed coffee. Yummy! I started to appreciate pumpkin pie more and more, and by the time I realized that I did like it — there wasn’t a morself left on my plate.
My immediate apprehension to associate pumpin with dessert can be likened to my cousin-in-law’s aversion to avocados as dessert. He grew up in the States identifying avocado more as a vegetable, liking it in his sandwiches and salads. But when mixed with milk and sugar, and served over ice? Nah. He tried it once and didn’t like it very much. Avocado ice candy probably grosses him out!
The associations are different for me now. While “pumpkin” still immediately brings a pot of hot-cooked pinakbet to mind, I already can picture pumpkins as dessert too. Thanks to my Aunt for introducing me to it. I just wish so badly that I can find a bakeshop here in Manila that serves good pumpkin pie! (Do you guys have any leads? 
)
How about you? Do you like Pumpkin Pie? 
Are you serving it for Halloween and Thanksgiving? Tell me about your Pumpkin Pie please! I am suddenly a convert.
October 18th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
I love pumpkin soup but never had pumpkin pie before. Many blog friends from other countries mentioned their fondness for this particular pie especially during Halloween when there is an abundance of pumpkins around. The pies on the photos surely look delicious. I’d love to give it a try some time.
October 18th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
My quick answer is NO.
We still have some from the last Thanksgiving Dinner…you want…? Sungit ba?
October 18th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Hay naku Toni you are correct, when I saw those pies on the counters I thought they looked yummy thinking that they were egg pies ha ha only to find out that they were pumpkin pies pala. I didn’t find them appealing when I learned that it was made from pumpkin so I didn’t taste it. Sayang masarap din pala? Tapos when I saw some avocados in the supermarket, I immediately thought of using them for avocado shakes and my mexican companion gave me a look that would mean “how weird can you be!” because they naman associate avocados in guacamoles. kakatawa no?
October 18th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
yummmmmm!!
saan ba meron nito sa ating minamahal na metromanila?!?!?!??!
October 18th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
i dont like pumpkin pie. but oohh lalala i LURVE WHIPPED CREAM
October 18th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Hi Toni. Thanks for reminding me that I still have a pumpkin to use for a pie.
October 18th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
pumpkin (and sweet potato) pie are staples during the Thanksgiving/Christmas season here in the U.S. I didn’t like it at first, but now I dig it served exactly the way you pictured it (with delicious whipped cream). i also make a pumpkin gingerbread trifle during the holidays that my family loves (courtesy of paula dean). i think you’d like it because it so darn light and looks pretty when served in goblets! Here’s link if you want to check it out: http://search.foodnetwork.com/food/recipe/pumpkin+gingerbread+trifle/search.do?searchString=pumpkin+gingerbread+trifle&site=food&searchType=Recipe
October 18th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Hello, writing from Colorado. Surprised you got pumpkin pie in Manila (or do you?) It took me a few Thanksgiving dinners to begin liking pumpkin pie. Then, again, there are good ones and there are bad ones. Libby’s canned pumpkin comes with a very easy to follow recipe using evaporated milk— not bad. I made it once. Now, if my family (my American husband, tisay daughter and me) wants some, we just get it from either Sams Club or Safeway— I’ve tried them from a few other grocery stores, I like the ones from these places. Drop by sometime at my blog: http://sweetlifewithmary.com/
October 19th, 2007 at 12:27 am
Pumpkin pie is okay especially during Thanksgiving, but I love Sweet Potato or Custard Pie better. Hmm…I’m hungry.
October 19th, 2007 at 12:52 am
hi ate toni, welcome back, dito ka na pla ulit. im sorry ha di ako updated medyo busy kasi. anyway never tried pa to eat a pumpkin cake, if may nakikita akong pumpkin laging pumapasok sa isip ko halloween. hehe. TC
October 19th, 2007 at 2:36 am
pumpkin pie and coffee…
almost better than beer and hot wings…
almost.
still…
it’s my favorite pie
bar none
or bar, what the heck
anytime of the year
pumpkin pie and beer
coors or MGD
(now I’m getting it. how to do a circuitous song-and-dance before you get to the point, which, somehow to me is always – beer)
October 19th, 2007 at 2:47 am
i’ve never tasted pumpkin pie…yeah it sounds kinda weird…the same way i feel about carrot cake, which i also haven’t tried…
but i tried ginger snaps and loved them…so i’ll take a bite out of a pumpkin pie or carrot cake if i see one…
October 19th, 2007 at 8:22 am
i remember having squash added to rice cake for color, not flavor. imagine the horror on my face when they answered that the grated squash was meant for <em>kakanin</em>! but my tastebuds were smiling after tasting the treat.
i’m definitely going to try pumpkin pie when i see it. feeling even more Potter-ish, wondering how pumpkin juice is… hmmm…
October 19th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
those cups of coffee look great!
obvious bang deprived?
October 19th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
oh Toni! this is one of the things I miss about the US the pumpkin pie…ohhhh I’d like to know a really good recipe. hmmmmm we don’t have it here in Oz.. I’d have to try and experiment baking this
–Miss B xox
October 20th, 2007 at 12:36 am
How funny Toni, I would never associate pumpkin pie with pinakbet! I do like pumpkin pie, and I love pinakbet, but they’ve never occupied my thoughts at the same time until now.
October 20th, 2007 at 1:33 am
I don’t even eat squash but thinking it as a dessert makes it seem yummy. From your entry and the comments here, it seems pumpkin maybe edible for people like me who are not veggie lovers. Haha. Sana meron nga dito sa Manila so that I can try it as well (hoping for upadate..hehe)… or maybe I can start with the pumpkin soup in the meantime (for pinakbet… hopefully in the future).
October 20th, 2007 at 3:35 am
Hi Toni! I love pumpkin soup and a long long time ago, I’ve also tasted pumpkin pie. I’m actually toying with the idea of making pumpkin pie. Pumpkin are everywhere right now! Perhaps when I get crazy enough? Hahaha! Happy weekend!
October 20th, 2007 at 8:19 am
hi toni! i have tried pumpkin soup, but have never even seen a pumpkin pie hehehe. that one looks delicious and i wont hesitate getting a slice.
avocados – maybe your relative would change his mind about avocado when he gets to try an avocado cake. there’s this bakeshop – lia’s – in commonwealth qc known for its avocado cakes. alanganin din ako nung una, pero when i tried it, sarap pala! bagay rin sa kape!
October 20th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
for me basta pagkain, esp. trying out new dishes… bring it on!
dito kaya sa desert land merong ganyan? dami ding pumpkin & squash dito. sana may ma-discover akong bakeshop or cafe selling pumpkin pie.
October 20th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
lolz, natawa ako sobra sa associations mo… may mga ganyan din ako that’s why i don’t eat a lot of things
October 21st, 2007 at 12:40 am
I do! i make a mean Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake. It’s got 8 sticks of butter!
October 21st, 2007 at 4:20 am
I love pumpkin pie! I had those years ago in the US but it’s not common here in London. I tried baking my own last year, it was okay, edible but not superb & I couldn’t be bothered with the cream topping. Since my toddler and my hubby didn’t “appreciate” it, I never tried since.
October 22nd, 2007 at 1:45 am
aha.. so you two have been introduced !!! buti pa kayo ! hehehe… bet i will be seeing the “two” of you more often together??? pero meron bang pumpkin pie sa pinas???
haven’t tried the pumpkin pie yet – like you – my connotation of pumpkin is squash is pinakbet! hahaha.. pinoy nga naman….
‘musta na?
October 22nd, 2007 at 5:33 pm
parang hindi ko ata kaya yung pumpkin pie!
carrot cake nga, hindi ko type eh 
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:38 am
I like pumpkin! And making pumpkin soup is so easy…. food for the soul. Thanks for reminding me:)
October 26th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
hi! bloghopping from new york. I do understand your apprehension of tasting pumpkin pie, as I did feel the same way may years ago. Been living here for almost 9 years and all I can say is I now have a love affair with pumpkin pies. I actually bought my first pie for the season a couple of weeks ago and it was so delish. Italian bakers make ‘em really good.
Pumpkins, although they’re in the family of squash, I think the taste is different from our usual kalabasa because they’re overgrown. I don’t know,theory ko lang yun.