Experiments with pumpkins

The challenge: Make a pie, muffin, or cupcake dish that combines pumpkin and apples so that their flavors are each distinct (no pumpkin muffins with squishy chunks of apple).

The inspiration: A can of pumpkin puree.

The result: A lot of fun with a mandolin and apples.  One apple tart with a very chewy pumpkin crust.  Twelve small and essentially inedible pumpkin cookies.

Lessons learned: Pumpkin needs a lot of sugar to be happy.  Mandolins are fun.  A pile of thinly sliced apples with cinnamon and sugar tastes great no matter what is underneath it.  Disgusting cookies should be labeled or thrown out, not left in the kitchen for unsuspecting visitors.