Let’s pretend for a moment that you’ve been asked to bring pumpkin pies to Thanksgiving dinner. Pumpkin pie? Right. Boring. You’re thinking, "Maybe I should just go out and buy one." After all, what can you do to make a pumpkin pie interesting?

Lights, please! Quiet everybody. It’s time for the annual Northern Lights Pumpkin Pie recipe. It's the answer to all your boring pie problems. What makes this pie a show-stopper, is how it’s layered. The crust is coated with several ingredients, before you pour in the filling. The result? The layers create a lovely banded affect so each slice looks like an aurora display in the night sky.

Here’s how to make your northern lights pumpkin pie: Line a pie pan with pie dough. Brush the bottom with melted butter. Follow with a layer of raspberry jam or red currant jelly. Then, sprinkle chopped pecans over the jam. Set the crust in the refrigerator while you prepare a pumpkin pie filling.

Remove the chilled crust from the fridge and pour in the filling. Bake the pie in a 350-degrees oven for about an hour, or until the filling sets up and the top is golden brown. A wooden toothpick poked in the center should come out clean. Before serving, top the pie whipped cream or vanilla yogurt and maybe a dusting of diced candied ginger. YUM.

Like the northern lights, this recipe shifts and changes. I’ve received emails from cooks in California, Iowa and Florida. Give this pie a try. You’ll be a sensation, just like the northern lights. And let me know how it goes. My email: marion@ptialaska.net.