Whatcha' gonna cook gals?
Any cool holiday gift ideas?

Pumpkin Mousse Trifle - I made this for the weekend as a test and it was a HIT! I got the recipe out of Rachel Ray's magazine. Here's the recipe.



Spiced Pumpkin Mousse Trifle

3 cups heavy cream
One 15-ounce can pure pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch ground cloves
Pinch salt
One 7.5-ounce jar marshmallow cream
3 cups chopped gingersnaps, plus crushed gingersnaps for sprinkling
3 tablespoons dark rum


1. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream until stiff. Reserve 2 cups whipped cream for serving; refrigerate until ready to serve.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt. Fold in half of the marshmallow cream, then half of the whipped cream. Repeat with the remaining marshmallow cream and whipped cream until combined.

3. In a medium bowl, sprinkle the gingersnaps with rum.

4. Spoon one-third of the pumpkin mousse into a clear glass serving bowl, spreading evenly, and sprinkle half of the cookies on top. Repeat with half of the remaining mousse and the remaining cookies, then top with the final layer of mousse. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve, at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours. Just before serving, top with the reserved whipped cream and sprinkle with the crushed gingersnaps.

I will be making my Bread pudding made from day old pumpkin cake Krispie Kreme Donuts.

The trick is to keep son out of donuts so they can get to be a day old. lol

I am also in charge of mashed potatos & gravy at Grandma's. Gravy deals her fits every time.


I can't wait- now I am really hungry already.
24 more days!

ummm Lefty34?? Are you sharing that bread pudding recipe or should I just come over to your house on Thanksgiving?!?!

Come on over- we can make an early batch to sample.

I will pull out the recipe and post a little later though.

How central MO are you? We are near 6flags.

That pumpkin trifle looks wonderful. please post the recipe. Yummy

I think for gifts we are looking at getting both kids GPS systems. Other than that, I'm kind of at a loss this year as to what to get them.

We are close to Jefferson City, about 25 miles west.

Catcher #1 is bucking for some Oakley sunglasses this year for Christmas, has picked out what options he wants on his. Options on sunglasses?? What is up with that anyway?

The kids around here all talk about the deal that Oakly has with Truman State. Apparently Truman students get some huge discount from Oakley. I said WHAT? Lets discount books or dorm rooms please. So I guess if youknow some one who is going to Truman it might be worth the call to see if they can get those "options" and the discount.

Our Son is picking out his "options" for his Lettermans jacket. Aren't they all the same?

lol options on sunglasses-

Long_Live_ Baseball:
Marshmallow cream and dark rum? Come to momma!!
I am so there!!! Looks pretty too.
I think it will add a nice touch to the table decor with its harvest colors.

Lefty34,

quote:

Bread pudding made from day old pumpkin cake Krispie Kreme Donuts.

Oh my gooodness.
That sounds AWESOME!!!! I have never heard of that before. Please post the recipe when you get a chance. I want to try it out on the ladies at work too!

Were getting a new Starbucks in my building at work. ( -insert SQUEAL- )

Now for you city gals, that's probably not big news because you have them on every street corner...but where I live, I have to drive at least 45 minutes away to get my foofie, kinda over-rated, expensive, yet gotta have-it, my little treat to me, coffee fix.
This new local Stabucks addition is causing ssmomma to do the ol' cafe-ole' happy dance! The anticipation of the holiday red paper coffee cup is almost too much to bare.

Can you imagine,...( I think I'm drooling ) Krispie Kreme donut pumpkin cake bread puddin',...with a cinnamon coffee?? Heaven.
Work? Huh? What work?

On a sunglass note:
Oakleys, Oakleys, Oakleys. What I like about them is that you can change out the lenses should, heaven forbid-( cause they cost a fortune ) one get scratched or scuffed. You can also get the interchangable ear pieces in custom colors as well. ( And men thought woman were picky.- ha! )
My son worked all summer two years ago to buy his ( " Had " to have him cause he's a lifeguard ),..and then he just found out that his college team is also sponsored by Oakley and they will get custom colored ones to match their uniforms in Spring.
Big lucky ducks.
( Perhaps he'll hand down the old boring standard colored ones to his momma- ha! )

My son is hoping for some sort of ipod thingamajiggy that can also have several movies downloaded onto it for when they travel on the bus. I have no clue. Anyone have any suggestions?

Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding

1 1/2 dozen doughnuts, cut into sixths (I use pumpkin, my sister has used the chocolate cake or the sour cream cake, Paula Deen uses glazed)
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups milk
7 large egg yolks
2 large whole eggs
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk


Preheat the oven to 250°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spread the doughnut pieces on baking sheets and bake for about 20-30 minutes, until dry on the outside and semi firm in the center. Raise the oven temperature to 350°.

In a large bowl, whisk 2 cups of the cream with the milk, egg yolks, whole eggs and condensed milk. Add the doughnut pieces and let soak until the pieces are softened, about 1 hour; stir every 15 minutes.
Lightly butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Spoon the doughnut mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover with foil. Set the dish in a roasting pan and add enough water to the pan to reach halfway up the side of the baking dish. Bake the bread pudding for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for about 20 minutes longer, or until the bread pudding is set.
Preheat the broiler. Broil the bread pudding for about 3 minutes, or until top is lightly browned. Let cool for 30 minutes.

Take insulin shot.....and enjoy.

Some make a butter rum sauce or a Jack D sauce. I think this is best with a little caramel swirl, coffee or french vanilla ice cream though. Oh yes a cup of Starbucks coffee. shortstopmom-Congratulations on your new Starbucks they just put our new one right next to the bank. Drive through the bank then drive thru Starbucks.

quote:

Originally posted by FirstTimer:
I think for gifts we are looking at getting both kids GPS systems. Other than that, I'm kind of at a loss this year as to what to get them.

Well, if you're at a "loss", perhaps you should get a GPS, too!

ssm, a portable DVD player is useful on those bus rides as well if he's one to have a DVD collection already. Mine uses both....batteries only last through one movie on the DVD player. Non-holding players want to watch, too, and the screen is bigger on the portables!

Here's another bread pudding I saw this morning on food tv.

Ingredients
1 stick unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
12 croissants
1/2 cup raisins
3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped small
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.


In a food processor, combine butter and sugar process until well blended. Add cinnamon, and vanilla, and pulse to combine.

While the processor is running crack 5 eggs into the mixture. Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides. Add the heavy cream and pulse to combine.


Lightly butter a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Break up the croissants into 1-inch pieces and layer in the pan. Scatter the raisins and shaved bittersweet chocolate over the top, and gently mix to incorporate. Pour the egg mixture over the croissants; soak for 8 to 10 minutes. You will need to push croissants pieces down during this time to ensure even coverage by egg mixture.


Cover with foil and bake for 35minutes. Remove foil and bake for additional 10 minutes to brown the top. The croissant bread pudding is done when the custard is set, but still soft. Allow to cool.

Serve with Ice Cream Sauce

2 cups melted vanilla ice cream
(to your taste enough Wild Turkey to ruffle your feathers) - pour some on each serving of Bread Pudding.

Only in the ladies lounge will you find a thread with delicious sounding recipes right above the weight loss thread! I LOVE bread pudding! Heck, I LOVE FOOD!

Kinda like Women's Day or any other "woman" magazine--a giant picture of something gooey that makes you salivate right above the caption of losing 10 lbs in 2 weeks! Or a picture of someone in a swimsuit above the caption of "Double decadent chocolate pecan truffle cheesecake recipe inside!!"

I can't wait to make these bread puddings and that trifle thing looks good too! (right after I work out! )

Got a good pumpkin recipe for you ladies! This is easy to make and a crowd pleaser. Of course, anything with two sticks of butter has got to be good (now I sound like Paula Dean). Don't skimp on the butter though - makes the recipe.

Pumpkin Crunch

1 1/2 cup sugar
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
1 large can evaporated milk
4 eggs
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves)
1 tsp. salt
1 yellow cake mix
2 sticks butter or margarine
1 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Mix and pour first 6 ingredients in a 9 x 13 pan sprayed with Pam. Sprinkle 1 yellow cake mix on pumpkin mixture; sprinkle 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans on cake mix. slice 2 sticks of butter and place randomly on top of mixture. Cover and bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until golden on top. Good to serve warm with a little Cool Whip on top!

Speaking of Paula Dean - I just found this recipe that I'm going to try on my visitng father-in-law this week. Sounds great & got good reviews in the comment section!

Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake

Cake:
1 package yellow cake mix
1 egg
8 Tablespoons butter, melted
Filling:
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 15 oz can pumpkin (NOT pie filling)
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 16 oz box powdered sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350. Combine cake mix, egg, & butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat mixture into bottomof lightled geased 13 x 9 pan.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter and beat together. Next, add powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mix well. spread pumpkin mixture over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to overbake as the center should be a little gooey. Serve with fresh whipped cream or Cool Whip.

1st do you think I could sub mashed sweet potato for pumpkin in the "Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake" recipe? I have a child that does not like pumpkin but likes sweet potato . We are skipping bread pudding at Thanksgiving this year to try either the Pumpkin Gooey Butter or
Luscious Four-Layer Pumpkin Cake





Rate RecipePrep Time:
20 minTotal Time:
1 hr 50 minMakes:
Makes 16 servings.

What You Need
1 pkg. (2-layer size) yellow cake mix
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin, divided
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup oil
4 eggs
1-1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, divided
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened 1 cup powdered sugar
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed
1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
1/4 cup PLANTERS Chopped Pecans

HEAT oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round baking pans. Beat cake mix, 1 cup pumpkin, milk, oil, eggs and 1 tsp. spice in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Pour into prepared pans.

BAKE 28 to 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min. Remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely.

Beat cream cheese in small bowl with mixer until creamy. Add sugar, remaining pumpkin and spice; mix well. Gently stir in COOL WHIP.

CUT each cake layer horizontally in half with serrated knife; stack on serving plate, spreading cream cheese filling between layers. (Do not frost top layer.) Drizzle with caramel topping just before serving; sprinkle with nuts. Refrigerate leftovers.

quote:

Only in the ladies lounge will you find a thread with delicious sounding recipes right above the weight loss thread!

LOL! I am starting to plan Thanksgiving dinner, but since you mentioned the other thread, I have lost 15 lbs. so far and I refuse to gain it all back in one day!

How many people are you all expecting for Thanksgiving dinner (at your house, or the home you are going to)?

My co-worker told me she is hosting 30 people for dinner! Oh, my! I asked her if they all bring various dishes, and she said No! Oh my goodness! But then she explained that her mom and sister help her cook several days in advance, and they freeze some make-ahead dishes. Whew!

T-Day dinner is at my house and we will have just a small group, 8 of us. (My family plus hubby's brother's family...the rest of our extended family lives several hours away.)

The men in this family prefer ONLY the traditional dishes, so I'm afraid to make any of the delicious sounding yummies above. If the guys fill up on turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and a tiny bit of cranberry sauce...who gets stuck eating the marvelous pumpkin-caramel-cinnamon-mousse-krispy-kreme-decadent-pudding-pie-trifle???

So, I'm looking for suggestions for a tempting veggie dish and a super salad, to add to the must-haves (turkey, potatoes and gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, rolls, relish tray, and your basic pumpkin and apple pies).

Did I mention the men in this family are very traditional when it comes to the Thanksgiving feast?

Julie

Oh, any good ideas for an appetizer to set out about an hour before dinner?