TEACH ME HOW TO ROTATE WHEN U'RE IN THE BAY PLEASE! =)

flowers from mom's garden... aren't the colors pretty? 

pumpkiny goodness

instead of making the traditional pumpkin pie, i tried my hand at making pumpkin pudding with ginger spiced whipped cream (recipe from Food & Wine, Nov 2004) dessert on thanksgiving. cute pumpkin shaped ramekins were courtesy of a birthday present from about two years ago. =) mechanics of the pudding making were pretty easy... although i think it could have used a little bit more pumpkiny flavor. i like to call my version "low fat" because i used non fat milk instead of whole milk. hahahaha....


Pumpkin Pudding with Candied Ginger Whipped Cream

ACTIVE TIME: 20 MIN
TOTAL TIME: 4 HRS 30 MIN
SERVES: 12

ingredients

PUDDING
4 large egg yolks
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of ground cloves
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
One 15-ounce can unsweetened pumpkin puree (1 3/4 cups)
4 tablespoons (2 ounces) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

TOPPING
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons minced crystallized ginger
1 cup coarsely crumbled store-bought gingersnap cookies (about 4 ounces)
directions

MAKE THE PUDDING: In a medium bowl, combine the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Using a handheld electric mixer, beat at medium speed until the egg yolk mixture is thickened and light yellow, about 4 minutes.
In a medium saucepan, heat the milk and half-and-half until small bubbles appear around the rim. Gradually beat 1 cup of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture, then add the egg yolk mixture to the saucepan. Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly with a heatproof rubber spatula, until the pudding is gently boiling and as thick as mayonnaise, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat.
In a small skillet, cook the pumpkin puree over high heat, stirring constantly, until slightly dry, about 3 minutes. Add the puree to the pudding along with the butter and vanilla and stir until the butter melts. Transfer the pudding to a large bowl and press a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the surface. Refrigerate until very cold, about 4 hours.

MAKE THE TOPPING: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the heavy cream with the confectioners' sugar and minced crystallized ginger at high speed until firm peaks form.
Spoon the pudding into wine glasses or dessert bowls and dollop the ginger whipped cream on top. Sprinkle with the crumbled gingersnaps and serve.

MAKE AHEAD The pumpkin pudding can be prepared through Step 3 and refrigerated

sewing machine

egged on by the promise of a working sewing machine by christmas and by another craft crazed friend, i have signed up for a beginning sewing class up in the city... it promises to teach the essentials that i know nothing about. threading and the sort... if the class is good i might venture up again to learn some more crafty things... another friend promised to accompany me to a crocheting/knitting class... can't think of a more appropriate way to waste lots of time! =)

Heap

Last night, during my "study break," I cast on for hat number 2. It is currently languishing in a heap amongst a collection of my unloved library books. I was supposed to be done with a draft for my paper by now. Also, I'd like to say the the scaled ruler off in the corner is in the pile because I was using it to check gauge on the hat, but in reality, it just slid out of mass of scary papers and other objects up above and fell into the pile.

Crazed

As finals and the holidays approach simultaneously in a slow, inevitable march of doom, I am flailing about wildly. I can't work on finals! I have to do online shopping! What am I going to get people for gifts? What if I decide to make gifts? Then I need to do online shopping for the supplies NOW! Aggggghhhh!

What? Twenty page papers and take home exams? Noooooooo...

In related news, I have completed one of the earflap hats from "Knitting for Baby." It looks cute, but I can't tell if it's the right size because there are no two-year olds nearby that I can hold still while I stuff their heads into the hat. Lucky for the two year olds.

Mission: Drive Self to Insanity

I'm currently on a suicidal mission to complete two sets of hats and mittens for the children in my life in the same 1.5 week span that I need to write a 20-page paper, two in-class exams and a take home final. I may die of stress, but the hats will be cute, dammit!!