Martha Washington's Nutmeg Custard Pie (1770)

Step 1: Preheat oven to 425F.

Step 2: Line a 9-inch pie pan with pastry.

Step 3: Flute edge, and prick bottom and sides with fork tines.

Step 4: Bake for 7 minutes.

Step 5: Remove pie from oven.

Step 6: Reduce oven temperature to 325F.

Step 7: Meanwhile, In a medium saucepan, scald milk with bay leaf and cinnamon stick.

Step 8: In a bowl, thoroughly combine eggs with egg yolks, sugar, vanilla extract, nutmeg, and salt.

Step 9: Remove bay leaf and cinnamon stick from milk.

Step 10: Strain scalded milk over egg mixture gradually stirring like crazy to temper eggs, and mix well.

Step 11: Pour into baked pie shell.

Step 12: Bake in a slow oven until a knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 55 minutes.

Step 13: Cool on a wire rack.