Makes about 8 to 10

For all you Harry Potter fans, here is a recipe for one of his favorite foods, Pumpkin Pasties.  These delectable treats are guaranteed to please all young wizards; muggles too.  Pumpkins are only available around Halloween, but you can make these delicious pasties any time of year by using canned pumpkin.  And Hey!  These freeze well and they are great in lunch boxes.  Please, please, please however, do not reheat them in the microwave.  A microwave destroys the texture of good pastry.  If you must heat them, do it in a traditional oven, however they are perfectly nice at room temperature.   Canned pumpkin incidentally, is one of the few processed foods that are pure and wholesome.  Read the label and you will see that it contains nothing but pumpkin.  Imagine that!  

About ½ recipe Perfect Pastry (remember, leftover pastry freezes well)

2 cups canned pumpkin

¼ cup cream

2 tablespoons of sugar, or to taste

1 tablespoon dark molasses

2 eggs, lightly beaten

½ teaspoon powdered cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon powdered ginger

1 large apple, peeled, cored and chopped small

½ cup chopped walnuts or almonds

Egg wash – (1 egg lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon of cold water)

Raw, Turbinado or Demerrara sugar

Make your pastry and chill.  Preheat oven to 500°.  Mix remaining ingredients except for egg wash and raw sugar together.  Roll the pastry out to about ¼ inch thick and cut into four inch circles.  Place about two tablespoons of the pumpkin mixture in the center of each circle, being careful not to get any on the outer edge of the pastry.  Paint the outer edge with the egg wash.  Fold each in half to form a turnover.  Press the edges together with the tines of a fork to seal.  Place on baking sheets lined with Baker’s Parchment.  Paint the surface of each pasty with the egg wash and sprinkle lightly with the raw sugar.  Using the tip of a sharp knife, make two small slits or air vents in the top of each.  Place in the pre heated oven and bake for five minutes.  Reduce the heat to 350° and continue baking for another twenty to twenty-five minutes.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool before wrapping for storage.  These freeze well.  They are best eaten at room temperature.