Pumpkin Pie (Paula Deen)

This pie is creamy and light--melt in the mouth delicious. The seasonings are subtile and thoroughly enjoyable. From Food Network's 2006 Thanksgiving menu.

• Ready In: 1 hr 35 mins
• Serves: 6-9
• Yields: 1 pie

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2  cups canned pumpkin, mashed
• 1  cup sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1  egg yolk, slightly beaten
• 2  eggs, slightly beaten
• 1  cup half-and-half
• 1⁄4 cup  melted butter
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground ginger (optional)
• 1 (9 inch)  refrigerated pie dough
•  whipped cream, for topping

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Place 1 piece of pre-made pie dough down into a (9-inch) pie pan and press down along the bottom and all sides. Pinch and crimp the edges together to make a pretty pattern. Put the pie shell back into the freezer for 1 hour to firm up. Fit a piece of aluminum foil to cover the inside of the shell completely. Fill the shell up to the edges with pie weights or dried beans (about 2 pounds) and place it in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the foil and pie weights and bake for another 10 minutes or until the crust is dried out and beginning to color.
3. (I dispensed with lining the pie tin with foil and weights. I pricked the bottom and sides lightly and baked for 10 minutes until the crust was begining to turn golden brown. I made a shield with foil for the edges of the crust and then filled and baked pie).
4. For the filling, in a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer. Add the pumpkin and beat until combined. Add the sugar and salt, and beat until combined. Add the eggs mixed with the yolks, half-and-half, and melted butter, and beat until combined. Finally, add the vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger, if using, and beat until incorporated.
5. Pour the filling into the warm prepared pie crust and bake for 50 minutes, or until the center is set. Place the pie on a wire rack and cool to room temperature. Cut into slices and top each piece with a generous amount of whipped cream.