Pumpkin Soufflé

1. HEAT oven to 375°F. COAT 4 lightly greased 8-ounce soufflé dishes evenly and completely with sugar.  PLACE in 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.
2. BEAT egg whites and cream of tartar in mixer bowl with whisk attachment on high speed until foamy. Beating constantly, ADD 1/2 cup sugar, 2 Tbsp. at a time, beating after each addition until sugar is dissolved before adding the next.  (Rub a bit of mixture between thumb and forefinger; it should feel completely smooth.)  Continue beating until whites are glossy and stand in soft peaks.
3. BEAT egg yolks in separate bowl on high speed until thick and lemon-colored. FOLD IN pumpkin and pie spice.  Gently but thoroughly FOLD yolk mixture into whites until no streaks of white remain.  POUR into soufflé dishes, dividing evenly.
4. PLACE pan with soufflé dishes on rack in middle of 375°F oven. POUR very hot water into pan to within 1/2 inch of top of dishes.  BAKE until soufflés are puffy and delicately browned, 15 to 20 minutes.  SERVE IMMEDIATELY.

• Serve with gingersnaps.
• Follow the age-old rule – the soufflé doesn’t wait for the guests, the guests wait for the soufflé. Be ready to whisk the soufflé to the table as soon as it’s out of the oven.

• For detailed soufflé techniques and information, see Basic Cheese Soufflé.
• The egg white component of this soufflé, made in step 2, is actually a soft meringue. For more information, see Basic Soft Meringue.

Nutrition information per serving (1/4 of recipe):

267 calories; 7 g total fat; 2 g saturated fat; 1 g polyunsaturated fat; 3 g monounsaturated fat; 277 mg cholesterol; 169 mg sodium; 42 g carbohydrate; 1 g dietary fiber; 10 g protein; 5,134.4 IU Vitamin A; 55.6 IU Vitamin D; 43.0 mcg folate; 46.2 mg calcium; 1.2 mg iron; 177.6 mg choline.

This recipe is an excellent source of protein, Vitamin A, choline, and a good source of Vitamin D and folate.