Pumpkin Pudding

I do NOT like pumpkin pie. I think it's a serious texture issue for me. So for Thanksgiving this year, I decided to make some pumpkin pudding. I saw it on Rachael Ray last year and was excited to try it. It was a big hit! Mostly just to my husband really. A lot of people filled up on pie before they could try it, but I'm glad Luke liked it!Here's the recipe:

• 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground clove
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 5.1-ounce package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 3 cups heavy cream
• 1 12-ounce box Ginger Snaps

( I didn't have ground clove, so I used pumpkin pie spice instead, and I also used vanilla wafers instead of ginger snaps. Oh and instead of whipping cream, I used Cool Whip: a lot cheaper and a lot easier)

1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk, pumpkin, spices, pudding mix and a good splash of water (about 1/4 cup). Using an electric mixer, beat everything together until smooth and thickened, about 2 minutes. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, whip the heavy cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture until blended and no streaks of pudding remain.

3. To assemble, layer the cookies and pudding mixture in a serving dish (or several individual dishes) in whatever fashion you like. Cover the puddings with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 and up to 8 hours (you want the ginger snaps to soften up from sitting in the pudding mixture).
So there you go! Enjoy! There's a few weeks left in Fall for you to bust out this recipe!

Birthday Banner

Sorry for the delay in blogging. I've temporarily lost my oomph! for blogging. BUT, that doesn't mean that I've stopped creating!!!

Isaac's first birthday is coming up in two week! Oh my, where did the last year go?!? So, I've been busy at work getting some stuff ready for his party. Here's one thing, and the other will follow later on!

I saw this banner, made by Sarah at CREATE. I loved it! And here's how mine turned out. Here are some differences. First, I used all solid fabrics as opposed to patterned. I'm super bad at coordinating patterns, mostly b/c all my eyes see are polka dots :) And Luke said he would rather have it in solids. Second, instead of buying iron on letters (stay at home mom budget, you know) I used what I had at home and made my own letters (I know, crazy) then hot glued them on. Very tedious but worth it in the end! Third, instead of using ribbon to connect all the flags, I used extra wide double fold bias tape. This made it so easy to just stink them in the fold and sew them in.

I'm so excited to hang it on his birthday. My favorite part is that we'll be able to use it for all our
kids. Stay tuned for another birthday treat that will also be reusable in our family!!!

Holidays Fit for the King 2009

It was awesome this year. The speaker concentrated on Simple Christmas. She used the verse Proverbs 17:1 that says, "Better is a dry crust with peace, than a house full of feasting with strife". What a great verse to remember not only for the holidays but for everyday living. God brought this verse to my heart months ago and it's what Luke and I strive for daily in our home and family.

This year I decorated a Christmas Tree themed table. I used this tutorial to make the little trees and felt to make the tree utensil holders. The only thing I added to the little trees were cotton balls in between to give them height. Oh, and instead of sewing them all, I just used a hot glue gun. It was a lot faster!I had a lot of fun making it and preparing it!

Here's a slide show of all the other tables that were decorated! They were all so beautiful!