Is pumpkin pie the perfect food?

Stuart Pedaso

Stuart Pedaso

In too deep
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My birth celebrations occur in the fall which, lucky for me, is also pumpkin pie season. Being my favourite dessert, I often request it in lieu of cake. The latter baked confection is devoid of any nutritional value -- empty calories. Pumpkin pie, by stark contrast, contains mostly real foodstuff generally regarded as part of a wholesome diet. A serving represents all five food groups: Protein in the eggs, Dairy in the milk and/or cream, Grain in the crust, and if we fudge just a bit, pumpkin/squash while technically a Fruit also offers a variety of nutrients associated with Vegetables.

So I indulge every opportunity throughout the holidays without nagging concern of adverse health effects. I further speculate that average persons could get on in reasonably good bodily health with a diet limited soley to pumpkin pie (and beverage) in a long term situation. Which, if true, would elevate it to "perfect food" status.

So what say you? Is there some vital factor I've missed? All just pie-in-the-sky blather? Or might there be merit to the speculation?

Also, has anyone else a single-dish perfect food to offer?

It's now 2 minutes to chimny drop. Happy holidays to all. And happy eating!
 
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pumpkin pie is generally similar to sweet potato pie. Being a true southern boy, I love me some sweet potato pie. My mother would may a few around the holidays and we always had leftover pie in the fridge. I recall eating it by the cold slice after thanksgiving or Christmas.
I sometimes make sweet potato pies mostly for myself. My wife’s family is french from New Orleans and they aren’t too big on sweet potato pie.

I usually make a sweet potato casserole for family gatherings during the holidays. My nephew loves it and has made it a family tradition. He called it “pecan casserole” because it’s topped with pecans.
I take 4-6 baked sweet potatoes and mix with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and an egg. That is spread in a shallow casserole dish and topped with a mixture of chopped pecans, brown sugar, butter, flour, and a bit of salt. This makes a sort of crunchy pecan crust on top. I’m in the deep south, this can be a side dish or a dessert.
 
Pumpkin pie is high on the list of favorite deserts. Perfect food? I wish it was. I never liked cake growing up, even asked mom for a birthday pie, wouldn't eat my own birthday cake.
I like any pie with real whipped cream.
 
El Rubio said:
I take 4-6 baked sweet potatoes and mix with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and an egg. That is spread in a shallow casserole dish and topped with a mixture of chopped pecans, brown sugar, butter, flour, and a bit of salt. This makes a sort of crunchy pecan crust on top. I’m in the deep south, this can be a side dish or a dessert.
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I'll run this by the wife -- see if we can slip it into the menu some evening. Sounds Dee-lish!
 
Born in one Carolina raised in the other. Plenty of sweet potatoes grown around here but much prefer pumpkin pie. Sweet potatoes get consumed other ways. Just learned don't eat a slice anywhere near bedtime unless I want acid reflux. Actually true of fruit pies too. Got reminded of that this weekend. Not a cake fan.
 
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Stuart Pedaso said:
My birth celebrations occur in the fall which, lucky for me, is also pumpkin pie season. Being my favourite dessert, I often request it in lieu of cake. The latter baked confection is devoid of any nutritional value -- empty calories. Pumpkin pie, by stark contrast, contains mostly real foodstuff generally regarded as part of a wholesome diet. A serving represents all five food groups: Protein in the eggs, Dairy in the milk and/or cream, Grain in the crust, and if we fudge just a bit, pumpkin/squash while technically a Fruit also offers a variety of nutrients associated with Vegetables.

So I indulge every opportunity throughout the holidays without nagging concern of adverse health effects. I further speculate that average persons could get on in reasonably good bodily health with a diet limited soley to pumpkin pie (and beverage) in a long term situation. Which, if true, would elevate it to "perfect food" status.

So what say you? Is there some vital factor I've missed? All just pie-in-the-sky blather? Or might there be merit to the speculation?

Also, has anyone else a single-dish perfect food to offer?

It's now 2 minutes to chimny drop. Happy holidays to all. And happy eating!
Click to expand...
That's just an absurd proposition. If you want perfection, it has to be a chocolate pecan pie with as little filling as possible (mostly nuts/chocolate) or a flourless chocolate torte made with almonds and a dark chocolate ganache. The perfect peak of anti-oxidants, stimulants, and calories. If you have to have fruit, something resembling an apple torte might fit the bill, but a distant third place, with anything containing peaches, sweet potatoes, or berries far far behind. Can't believe this is even a debate. :cool:
 
KeithTr said:
That's just an absurd proposition. If you want perfection, it has to be a chocolate pecan pie with as little filling as possible (mostly nuts/chocolate) ...:cool:
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My wife is solidly in your camp -- happens to be her favourite. I expect we'll see one emerge from the oven before this baking season wanes. Along with another pumpkin pie (or two)!
 
If you start judging desserts by their nutritional value, you gonna end up with a short list of crap that mostly ends up uneaten.
My SIL always finds some new recipe for stuff like that. She’ll bring it to family gatherings and take most home. Very few winners on that list.
 
Costco sold over 6 million pumpkin pies this year, i showed great restraint in only buying one. We traveled for both holidays and that impacted my consumption. I have had plenty of homemade ones that did not measure up and for the price of $6.99 they are tough to beat. Love pumpkin pie.
 
Not much of a fan of Pumpkin, but I can be quite happy with a slice or two of Boston creme pie (which, in reality is actually a cake VS a pie).... ;)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_cream_pie

A Boston cream pie is a cake with a cream filling. The dessert acquired its name when cakes and pies were cooked in the same pans, and the words were used interchangeably. In the late 19th century, this type of cake was variously called a "cream pie", a "chocolate cream pie", or a "custard cake".
 
As a recovering sugar addict, I'll take a ribeye steak.

Pumpkin pie was a favorite, along with my mother's cheesecake. She always made the cheesecake for things like First Communion, Confirmation, or any Holiday get together. It traveled really well. There was also this poppy-seed/sour cream cake... I digress.

We have an apple tree. Every late summer we go through a sugar binge with apple pies and apple dumplings. Made with lard, not shortening.
 
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