Ready for last minute holiday guests?  You’ll be well prepared with these tips for whipping up a fabulous pumpkin pie in minutes. Start with a 14.5-ounce can of pumpkin puree. Whisk in ¾- to 1-cup of sugar, depending on how sweet you like your pie. Use brown sugar for a deeper molasses flavor. Stir in two eggs –one at a time– mixing well before adding the second one, and 1½ cups of heavy cream or a 12-ounce can of evaporated milk. Toss in a pinch of salt and then your spices. 

Cinnamon is a pumpkin pie staple, but also consider adding nutmeg, ground ginger, ground cloves or ground cardamom to taste to give your pie a distinct flavor. Pour the filling into a 9-inch pie crust and bake at 425° F for 15-20 minutes then reduce heat to 350° F for another 40-45 minutes. Cool and serve with whipped cream.

Chef Danielle Turner is the creator of CookingClarified.com, a website featuring the A-B-Cs of cooking in 150-words daily. She shares helpful cooking tips, identifies common ingredients and kitchen utensils, and teaches readers to complete basic cooking techniques.