Pumpkin pie – does anything else really say 'autumn' like pumpkin pie does?Growing up in Canada, I ate plenty of pumpkin pie in my life. Yet, I never really liked it that much. Fall through winter, pumpkin pie was available as a desert at almost every dinner event I attended. And why not? Pumpkins are plentiful in fall and pumpkin pie is an easy and delicious way to enjoy this gift of nature. Yet...I noticed once I came to Japan that I started to eat a lot more pumpkin in my diet in the form of Kabocha squash. I also noticed that I missed the smell, and taste of pumpkin pie in Japan because it is not part of the culture to eat it. Yes, you can find it at some bakeries or restaurants, but 99% of the time it did not taste like the pumpkin pie of my memories.I first started making pumpkin pies in Japan, from scratch (ie. no canned pumpkin) and found that it was easy to make and delicious.Many years later, I still crave pumpkin pie at this time of year and this has led to me making it today. Over the years, I've had online battles with idiots who claim to make pumpkin pie from scratch (ie. from the start, without anything pre-made) only to find that they use a can of pumpkin pie filling. Why? How difficult is it to make the pumpkin for the pie? Also, can you really trust what comes out of that can to be nothing but honest to goodness great-tasting pumpkin?My pie-making today was not difficult. Yes, the pie crust was from scratch – total time to make was about 10 minutes. Yes, the pie filling was from scratch – total time about 25 minutes. Would it be easier to use canned pie filling? Yes. Would it taste the same? No. Would it be as good for you? I don't think so.Listen, most of us go through life one time only. Aren't you and your loved ones worth the extra 15 minutes work? My family and friends are worth the little extra work. In the end, it's the little details in life that make a difference.