I hesitated on whether or not I should do this post, can you think of a post with an odder title! 😉 However since Halloween and the holidays are quickly approaching. I figured that this Sunday would be the perfect day to make my first pumpkin pie of the season.
It may seem odd to those who aren’t American the importance of this peculiar pie also known as tarte à la citrouille. However now after living here 7 years, I realized that my relationship with pumpkin pie, has evolved as much as I have during my time living abroad.
I first came to Paris through a study abroad program in 2007. While there were alot of fun and games 😉 there was also homesickness. And I think no matter how adapted you are, it is always a difficult experience the first time you spend the holidays abroad. What do you mean there is no pumpkin pie! To the dismay of yourself, if you are surrounded only by French people 🙂 many of whom have never tasted this American staple.
When I took the plunge and finally moved for good in 2009, I can say Thanksgiving that year was truly depressing. It was just another day in France and pumpkin pie was no where to be found. I became desperate, and where there is a will there is always a way. Especially when it comes to an American searching for food 🙂 So I took myself to an American restaurant , which I felt was godsent. They were selling take away pumpkin pies. While I couldn’t be happier, I also paid 30€ a pie which you can buy in the U.S. for about 4,50€. Desperate much!
The following year, I decided no matter how strong my craving was I couldn’t live with paying 6 times the price I would pay in the U.S. So I ordered canned pumpkin from an online American grocery, along with other goodies. However upon reflection, I was only ordering from the site for the canned pumpkin pie buying stuff I didn’t need.
So I found myself again at a crossroads the following Thanksgiving. I realized I had no other option if I wanted to satisfy my craving while also protecting my pocketbook. I decided to make one from scratch. Quelle horreur! I should also add a disclaimer, I am a horrible cook. I only cook because it is necessary for survival not for pleasure.
After searching a bit on the internet, I came across a French recipe for pumpkin pie. I realized since it was a French recipe it would be easier and cheaper to find the ingredients in France.
In addition, since I am such an amateur cook, I found the tip that you can substitute the pumpkin with Picard: Puree potiron, all for a whopping 1,95€! This made my life even easier when preparing the recipe. I have been making pumpkin pie from scratch ever since. And can’t help to think of how far I have come with pumpkin pie but also as an expat in France. My daughters now look forward each year to making the pie at home. So here is to pumpkin pie and all of the stages of being an expat! Feeling sad, missing home, finding alternatives and eventually adapting and creating your own traditions 🙂
Expatriate Parents in Paris 