Desserts fit for Thanksgiving repast

Arlington cook Jo Green is really on the ball!

She's already getting on top of the Thanksgiving dinner situation and introduces us to a gluten-free pumpkin pie.

It's complete with a spiced-up whipped-cream topping, no less. She describes this creation as "super easy and fun to make,'' so how can we resist?

And another quick and easy Thanksgiving whipper-upper would be the following invention from the folks at Spice Islands. It's a time-saving frozen pumpkin pie that uses a store-bought pie crust.

Gluten-free pumpkin pie
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup Pamela's baking and pancake mix (see note)
2 tablespoons margarine, softened
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin
2 eggs
2 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons vanilla
Cinnamon and spice whipped cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a pie pan.

In a blender container, combine the sugar, baking and pancake mix, margarine, evaporated milk, pumpkin, eggs, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla. Process 1 minute. Or, in a large mixing bowl, combine the ingredients as listed and beat for 2 minutes with a rotary beater.

Pour into the greased pie pan and bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 50 to 55 minutes. (If pie doesn't test done, continue baking another 5 to 10 minutes.)

Remove from oven and cool completely, then refrigerate until needed.

Garnish with the cinnamon and spice whipped cream.

Makes one 9-inch pie.

Note: Pamela's baking and pancake mix is available at health food stores.

Cinnamon and spice whipped cream
1 cup cold whipping cream
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Dash nutmeg

In a chilled bowl with chilled beaters, beat whipping cream for 3 to 4 minutes. Blend in the brown sugar, then fold in vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate briefly.

Pumpkin ice cream pie
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon Saigon cinnamon (see note)
1/2 teaspoon ginger (see note)
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (see note)
1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened
1 prepared pie crust, pastry or graham cracker

In a large bowl, mix together the pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnnamon, ginger and nutmeg in a large bowl. Fold in the softened ice cream. Pour mixture into crust.

Cover pie and freeze until firm, a few hours or overnight. Remove from freezer 15 minutes before serving.

Makes 1 pie.

Note: If desired, 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice can be substituted for the ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg.

The next Forum will appear in Monday's Good Life section.