S13:E44. 10,31,2026.

Pumpkin Pies and Novelist Adriana Trigiani With Memories of Fall in Appalachia

James Gann, a music educator in Blount County, Tennessee, won a blue ribbon for his pumpkin pie at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center. James tells us about the type of pumpkin he grows and his pie.

Haylee Gibadowski describes how to process a fresh pumpkin for pies and shares her recipe for a delicious gluten- and dairy-free pumpkin pie. (Recipe below — keep scrolling.)

Fred Sauceman’s Pot Luck Radio series features novelist Adriana Trigiani, author of Big Stone Gap, Milk Glass Moon and Big Cherry Holler. She describes her Appalachian autumn memories and shares a story involving Elizabeth Taylor and choking on a chicken bone.

Links: James Gann - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-gann-296017122/

Adriana Trigiani - https://adrianatrigiani.com/home/

Emi Sunshine (sang our theme song when she was nine years old) - https://theemisunshine.com/

Haley's Gluten & Dairy Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Heat oven to 350°

Ingredients:

2 cups pumpkin puree
12 ounces of coconut milk, or almond milk (the consistency of the coconut milk is more creamy)
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 pre-made deep dish gluten-free pie shells.
Directions:

Beat eggs with sugar. Add pumpkin puree to mixture. Add coconut milk, beat in spices and salt until smooth.

Pour into unbaked pie shells.

Bake in a 350° oven for 45 minutes or until the middle is set and doesn’t jiggle. Do not overbake.