PUMPKIN BANANA MOUSSE TART

It's that season of fall foliage, pumpkins and squash, and Thanksgiving!  

Although pumpkin pie is a staple of Thanksgiving meals, sometimes it is fun to do a one-off on a tradition, particularly when you are dining with a foodie.  This recipe, by Ina Garten (a/k/a The Barefoot Contessa), fits the bill and is truly delicious!  We don't typically think of pumpkin and banana together in a recipe but, trust me, this works!

PUMPKIN BANANA MOUSSE TART
This serves more people than a pie would, and can be made the day ahead.

For the crust:
*  2 cups graham cracker crumbs (14 crackers)
*  1/3 cup sugar
*  1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
*  1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

For the Filling:
*  1/2 cup half-and-half
*  1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree
*  1 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
*  3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
*  1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
*  1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
*  3 extra-large egg yolks
*  1 package (2 teaspoons) unflavored gelatin
*  1 ripe banana, finely mashed
*  1 teaspoon grated orange zest
*  1/2 cup cold heavy cream
*  2 tablespoons sugar

For the Garnish:
*  1 cup (1/2 pint) cold heavy cream
*  1/4 cup sugar
*  1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
*  Orange zest (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
CRUST:   Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter in a bowl and mix well.  Pour into an 11-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and press evenly into the sides and the bottom.  Bake for 10 minutes and then cool to room temperature.
FILLING:  Heat the half-and-half, pumpkin, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water until hot, about 5 minutes.  Whisk the egg yolks in another bowl, stir some of the  hot pumpkin into the egg yolks to heat them, then pour the egg-pumpkin mixture back into the double boiler and stir well.  Heat the mixture over the simmering water for another 4 to 5 minutes, until it begins to thicken, stirring constantly.  You don't want the eggs to scramble.  Remove from the heat.  
     Dissolve the gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water.  Add the dissolved gelatin, banana, and orange zest to the pumpkin mixture and mix well.  Set aside to cool.
     Whip the heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until soft peaks form.  Add the sugar and continue to whisk until you have firm peaks.  Carefully fold the whipped cream into the pumpkin mixture and pour it into the cooled tart shell.  Chill for 2 hours, or overnight.
GARNISH:  Whip the heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until soft peaks form.  Add the sugar and vanilla and continue to whisk until you have firm peaks.  Pipe or spoon the whipped cream decoratively on the tart and, sprinkle, if desired, with orange zest.  Serve chilled.