[Critique Group 1] group 1 submission for 2/28/18 (Feb) session

[sitting.duck at springmail.com]

539 words
Let Go My Sweet Potato Pie
by C. S. Boyd

I am very fond of sweet potato pie. One of my big problems is that several years ago I found out I am sensitive to wheat and allergic to milk. In addition, I try to avoid processed sugar. So, how am I going to indulge my craving for pie when some of the main ingredients should be avoided? Well, it is possible with a little bit of creativity and the internet.

With the help of a friend, I found a recipe for making evaporated milk from soy milk, I substituted a spelt tortilla from a local specialty store for the crust, and used liquid stevia instead of processed sugar. If you have an allergy to soy as well as milk, the same evaporated milk recipe will work for other types of milk substitutes. 

To make the evaporated milk, simmer three cups of unsweetened soy milk over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it cooks down to one cup. Remove from heat and stir in one teaspoon vanilla and one-fourth cup sugar. I did not try to substitute stevia in this case; however, you could probably use one-fourth cup fructose or one-half teaspoon liquid stevia if you want to avoid processed sugar completely.

Mix the sweet potato puree, soy evaporated milk, spices, 108 drops [one and one-half teaspoon liquid stevia substitute for three-fourths cup sugar], and two eggs in a mixing bowl. Pour into a nine-inch pie pan lined with the spelt tortilla. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. You will notice that the recipe below says to bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes then reduce heat to 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. My oven runs a little hot so adjust as needed for your oven.

Allow to cool for one hour before serving. Serves 6 to 8. (or, 4 in my case) Enjoy.

My friend and I had a lot of fun figuring out how to do the substitutions. One recipe we found for the evaporated milk said to add one tablespoon cornstarch to one cup of soy. We didn't try this since corn is also one of the things I need to avoid.

Recipes

Sweet Potato Pie

Ingredients

1 16 oz. can organic sweet potato puree 
¾ cup sugar [substituted 1 and one-half teaspoon liquid stevia]
½ tsp nutmeg
¼ tsp ginger
1 tsp vanilla
¼ tsp allspice (optional)
½ tsp cinnamon (optional)
1 cup evaporated milk [substituted evaporated soy milk - recipe below)
2 eggs slightly beaten

Method

Mix sweet potato with remaining ingredients. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes then reduce to 350 degrees for an additional 35-40 minutes.
Thoroughly cool pie before serving.
Serves 6-8.

Evaporated Soy Milk 
cooking time about 15 minutes

Ingredients

3 cups unsweetened soy
1 tsp vanilla flavoring
1/4 cup sugar

Method

Pour soy milk into 1 & 1/2 quart sauce pan.
Heat on medium heat stirring constantly  as milk begins to heat.
Simmer, do not boil.
Heat contents until reduced to 1 cup.
About 15 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Add vanilla & sugar.
Stir thoroughly.
Let cool before storing in sterile container.