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1
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
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2
Cut the pumpkin lengthwise into quarters.
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3
Scrape out the seeds and membranes from each quarter.
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4
Arrange the pumpkin quarters cut-side down on a baking dish.
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5
Cover closely with foil.
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6
Place in the oven and bake for one hour.
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7
Remove the pumpkin pieces and let stand, covered, 15 minutes.
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8
Scrape the flesh of each quartered pumpkin into the sieve of a food mill or ricer.
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9
Press to make a fine puree.
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10
There should be about five cups.
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11
Of this, you will need one cup for this recipe.
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12
The remainder may be frozen or refrigerated to be used later in soups, pies and so on.
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13
Put one cup of the puree into a saucepan and add the milk, cream, molasses and cinnamon.
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14
Stir to blend and bring slowly to the simmer.
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15
Select a mixing bowl, preferably of stainless steel, that will sit neatly and compactly inside a larger basin of simmering water.
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16
Into the mixing bowl put the whole eggs, egg yolks and white sugar.
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17
Beat until blended.
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18
Pour the hot pumpkin mixture into the egg mixture.
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19
Sit the custard mixture inside the kettle over barely simmering water and start stirring immediately and constantly with a wire whisk.
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20
At this point, great care and caution must be taken to not overheat the mixture, because excess heat will cause it to curdle.
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21
Stir rapidly over and around the curves of the mixing bowl.
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22
Cook for about 12 minutes, only until the mixture achieves a fairly thick, custardlike texture, then remove the bowl from the bottom basin.
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23
Spoon equal portions (about five ounces) of the custard into 10 individual six-ounce, heatproof, decorative baking dishes or custard cups.
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24
Wipe any spillage off the outside of the baking dishes.
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25
Cover with clear plastic wrap, and chill thoroughly.
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26
Fill a small sieve with the brown sugar.
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27
Hold the sieve over each of the dishes and sprinkle with brown sugar.
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28
Wipe around the rim of each dish to remove excess sugar.
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29
Preheat a broiler to high.
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30
Arrange the small dishes in a metal pan filled with ice.
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31
Place under the broiler until the sugar has formed a nice crust on top.
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32
Serve immediately.
