Pumpkin Nests

I love pumpkin pie and normally make it every year at Halloween. However this year I decided to try somthing different and a little healthier. Pastry is not always a good friend to dieters so I invented these little nests which use filo pastry instead.The filling is a normal pumpkin pie style custard which I have tried to reduce in fat and calories. I think they have turned out really well especially as they are one of the hardest and most fiddly things that I have ever made.

Ingredients
2 eggs
1 tsp ground cinnamonn
1 tsp nutmeg
50g demerara sugar
150g pumpkin flesh
170g low fat evaporated milk
3 tbsp plain flour
6 sheets of filo pastry

Method
1. Cut the pumpkin flesh into chunks and place in a larg pan with a little water. Cook over a medium heat until the pumpkin is soft.
2. Drain any excess water and put the pumpkin aside to cool.
3. Beat the eggs and sugar together until fully combined.
4. Use a blender to puree the pumpkin or if it is soft enough, you could just mash it with a fork, then add it to the mixtuure and stir.
5. Stir in the spices.
6. Add the evaporated milk and stir well.
7. Carefully fold the flour into the mixture and stir untiill it is fully mixed in.
8. Grease a deep muffin tin.
9.Take the sheets of filo paastry and cut each one into quarters.
10. Put 2 quarters together and scrunch them into the muffin tin to form a nest shape. Make sure the filo pastry iis touching the botttom of the  tin

11. Repeat this until all of the spacse in the muffin tin are full.
12. Carefully spoon the pumpkin mixture into each filo nest so that it is about half full.
13. Cook at the top of the oven for appproximately 20 minutes at 170 degrees or until the pumpkin mxiture has clearly set.
14, Allow to cool fully before removing from the muffin tin and do so with care to avoid damaging the filo pastry.
15. Dust witth icing sugar before serving.

Each Pumpkin Nest is only 73 calories each which makes them a much healthier alternative to pumpkin pie and one which won't break your diet.

If you are not going to eat the Pumpkin Nests straightaway then they can be stored in a container in the fridge for about 3 - 4 days.

I'm really proud of these so do let me know if you try making them.

Speak to you soon



Love Erica xxx