Pie with Benefits

I don't know what it is with me and quantity, but I have a hard time using 8 eggs, 2 sticks of butter, or a whole carton of yogurt...  I previously avoided these types of  recipes and found one with 3 eggs, 1 stick of butter, and so on. I have turned a new leaf. Thanks to my parents and mother-in-law, who always show up with gifts of the food we enjoy, I had excess this week.  Including, three containers of yogurt, 3 packages of bacon, and 4 dozen eggs.  We made sponge cake, lemon curd, and this delicious yogurt pie!

The title "Pie with Benefits", comes from the probiotics in the yogurt, the Vitamins of the squash, and very little sugar.

Fall Yogurt Pie: Must Make Yogurt Cheese 8 hours + prior

Graham Cracker Crust
2 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 stick butter melted.

Pour warm butter on crumbs. Mix well. Reserve  1/2 cup in another heat proof bowl. Press into shallow pie plate, creating a thick crust at sides.  Bake both pie crust and extra bowl at 350F for 8-12 minutes.

Yogurt Cheese:
Place in a colander a few layers of cheesecloth.  Put colander in a bowl that will suspend it and allow whey to collect beneath without touching colander.  Place one 32 oz container of plain whole milk yogurt in cheese cloth. Tie closed with string and tie to a wooden spoon that reaches across colander.
Let drain for 8-12 hours in refridgerator.
You will have yogurt cheese (like cream cheese) in colander and whey below.  Save whey in a sealed glass jar for other uses.  Fermenting veggies, making bread, adding to recipes instead of milk...

Filling:
1cup pumpkin or winter squash ( I had a quartered piece of butternut squash left over)
3 tbs. maple syrup
1 tbs. brown sugar
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
Yogurt cheese

Blend squash or pumpkin with maple syrup first in a blender or food processor.  If you need more moisture add a small amount of yogurt.  Too much moisture may not set up.  Then blend other ingredients until smooth.  Taste and adjust sweetness or spice.
Pour into cooked and cooled pie crust.  Sprinkle extra crumbs on top.
Make a little bowl of scrapings from blender and a little bit of crumbs for your little ones (or you) to enjoy now.
Chill pie at least 1 hour, more if possible.

*Inspiration came from Moosewood Cookbook's Yogurt Pie.