One For The Table: Put the Pumpkin in a Parfait

One For The Table: Put the Pumpkin in a Parfait HPFB.init();
HuffPost's QuickRead... ShareBox.ad = function (tag_id){if ($(tag_id) == undefined) return; if ($(tag_id).innerHTML != '') return;ad_spec = {"zone_info": "huffpost.food/blog;food=1;nickname=one-for-the-table;entry_id=777383;fall-recipes=1;holiday-recipes=1;libbys-pumpkin=1;pumpkin-mousse=1;pumpkin-recipes=1;trader-joes-almond-butter-thins=1","ord": 1288661405,"tile": 3,"width": 300,"height": 250,"el_id": tag_id + "_js","class_name": "ad_block ad_wide top","type": "iframe"}HuffPoUtil.WEDGJE.write(ad_spec, tag_id);};Loading... HuffPost's QuickRead... Loading... BIG NEWS:Chefs|Recipes| Energy Debates| More... | LogoutLog In| Sign Up  The Huffington Post November 1, 2010 Front PagePoliticsBusinessMediaEntertainmentComedySportsStyle WorldGreenTech Food Travel LivingHealth Arts Books Religion Impact Education College NY LA Chicago Denver Blogs#ad_curtain {display:none}


One For The Tableoneforthetable.com

Posted: November 1, 2010 08:12 PMBIOBecome a FanGet Email AlertsBloggers' Indexfunction hide_user_promo_bubble_second_stage() {var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble");bubble.style.display = "none";}function hide_user_promo_bubble() {var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble");var myAnim = new YAHOO.util.Anim(bubble, {opacity: {to: 0}}, 1, YAHOO.util.Easing.easeOut);myAnim.animate();setTimeout("hide_user_promo_bubble_second_stage()", 1100);}function handle_promo_username(params) {var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble");var img = $("user_promo_bubble_image");var anchor = $("user_promo_bubble_link");if (params.has_photo == "true") {img.src = "http://images.huffingtonpost.com/profiles/" + params.user_id + "-tiny.png";} else {img.style.display = "none";Dom.addClass(anchor, "wide");}anchor.innerHTML = "Shared by " + params.user_name;anchor.href = "http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/" + params.user_name;bubble.style.display = "block";var myAnim = new YAHOO.util.Anim(bubble, {opacity: {to: 1}}, 2, YAHOO.util.Easing.easeOut);myAnim.animate();}if (HuffPoUtil.getUrlVar("user_promo")) {YAHOO.util.Event.onDOMReady(function() {var parts = document.location.hash.split(","), shared_by = "", badge = "", i;if (parts.length Put the Pumpkin in a Parfait What's Your Reaction: HPConfig.entry_digg_promo_url = 'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/one-for-the-table/put-the-pumpkin-in-a-parf_b_777383.html';digg facebook Twitter stumble redditdel.ico.us Amazing
Inspiring
Funny
Scary
Hot
Crazy
Important
Weird
Read More:Fall Recipes, Holiday Recipes, Libby's Pumpkin, Pumpkin Mousse, Pumpkin Recipes, Trader Joe's Almond Butter Thins, Food News
Get Food AlertsEmailComments

I stopped at two grocery stores today and both were completely out of Libby's brand canned pumpkin. Years ago, when I first moved to Fargo, I had a young neighbor (we were both young at that time) who grew up in a small town not too far from Fargo. She often talked about the wonderful things her mom could whip up in the kitchen. Once, when we were discussing some kind of pumpkin dessert, this neighbor told me the only kind of canned pumpkin her mom would use was Libby's. That was enough for me. I've been buying Libby's ever since, except for the times I buy an organic brand of pumpkin. But today, with no Libby's on the grocery store shelves, I wound up buying the store brand.

I used the store brand to whip up this pumpkin mousse. Guess what? It tastes perfectly delicious when mixed up with pumpkin spices, whipped cream and vanilla pudding.

I like to layer the creamy pumpkin mousse with crushed cookie crumbs. Today I pulled a box of Trader Joe's Almond Butter Thins from my freezer. I crushed some of them in a large zip-top plastic bag, using my fist as a hammer. In the past, I've used ginger snaps in the parfaits. But, I think I'm sold on the Almond Butter Thins.

The Almond Butter Thins make perfect dippers for the Mousse. A bowl of the Pumpkin Mousse surrounded by your favorite cookies would be a nice sweet treat to have out at a party.

The Mousse can also be spooned into a crumb crust and topped with the remaining whipped cream to make an extra special no-bake pumpkin pie.

I love these individual, not-too-big parfaits to serve as a light, something sweet ending to a meal. They're nice for Thanksgiving, too. I made a couple larger desserts in custard cups to share with my next door neighbors.

Get creative as you choose little glasses or cups that will be filled with Pumpkin Mousse Parfaits. I use something different every time I make them. But, they always taste the same -- like a creamy, dreamy pumpkin pie. So much better than the traditional pumpkin pie that I've openly admitted to not being very fond of.

Pumpkin Mousse Parfait

1 pint heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 (5.1-ounce) package vanilla instant pudding mix
1 (15- to 16-ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 cup cold milk
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Cookies or graham crackers, crushed
Pecan halves or candy corn, for garnish

In a mixing bowl, beat whipping cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Put in the refrigerator while mixing pumpkin mousse.

In another mixing bowl, use a wire whisk to blend pumpkin with pudding mix. Gradually add milk, blending well after each addition. Add nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon and mix well. Gently fold half of the whipped cream into the pumpkin mixture.

Put a layer of crushed cookies in the bottom of custard cups or small glasses. Spoon some pumpkin mousse on top of cookies in each glass. Repeat layers of crushed cookies and pumpkin mousse as many times as you wish. If not serving immediately, cover the parfaits with plastic wrap and refrigerate. At serving time, top each parfait with a light sprinkle of crushed cookies and a dollop of whipped cream. Garnish with a pecan half or a candy corn.

Makes 8 to 10 parfaits in 4-ounce glasses.

- Sue Doeden

  More in Food...
10 Chefs and the Sandwiches They LovePan dei Morti (Bread of the Dead)...Japanese Vending Machine Grows Vegetables, Without SunThe U.K.'s 100 Best Restaurants   function returnCommentDetails(params) {// this is the proxy method. just proxyreturn CommentsSharer.getHoveredCommentDetails(params);};function callback_for_loaded_Badges(params) {//console.log("callback_for_loaded_Badges() called");CommentsSharer.badge_object = params.badge_object; // not actualy used, by could be usefulCommentsSharer.badge_holder_id = params.badge_holder_id; // not actualy used, by could be useful}diggstumbleredditdel.ico.usCommentsSharer.initBadgeBox("comment_share_popup"); Comments 0 Pending Comments 0 View FAQ Login or connect with: More Login OptionsLogin with: Google Account Huffpost Account Yahoo AccountYou must be logged in to comment.Post CommentPreview CommentTo reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to.

Share your Comment:

Post to Facebook.Post to Blogger.Post to Twitter.Post to WordPress.Post to TypePad.Post to Tumblr.Post to Yahoo! View All Recency  |  Popularity     New comments on this entry — Click to refreshLoading comments… Loading twitter module... Most Popular on HuffPostcRs%2FP0zP%2FVcaYsTeUQjqNk8fRUv2FFhevscwlTR%2BMlON%2FfJgyWK4syAr7%2FamBeKF5tpNAtNJZxlCn6x5ycueIw%3D%3DUB3x%2FAsXy8fTlxU4U89sz%2B2tTN5Y8x7kMLiuBkXDmn6aDcYdKANCNQgEedhEres%2Bda7MLycjNI8EX1fh%2BRHQ%2Bw%3D%3D1 of 2 Sanity Rally Gets Huge Attendance Estimate
14,446 Comments The Funniest Signs At The Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear! (PHOTOS)
1,109 Comments 'Sopranos' Actress Dies At 46
185 Comments 4 Relationship Myths That Almost Everyone Perpetuates
510 Comments HuffPost TV Arianna And Dick Armey Disagree About Jon...
1,256 Comments HuffPost TV Howard Fineman Makes Midterm Election...
319 Comments My Day At The Rally To Restore Sanity
10,080 Comments WATCH: Christine O'Donnell Reveals Surprising Personal Info
2,419 Comments Zach Galifianakis Smokes Joint On Bill Maher's Show 'Real...
2,488 Comments Don't Miss HuffPost Bloggers1 of 5Mark Ruffalo Taking on Karl RoveRussell Simmons Don’t Vote And We’ll Get The Alice In Wonderland Congress From Hell!Paulina Porizkova On PoliticsDavis Guggenheim Do you Dither?Wyclef Jean What You Gonna Fight For?Van Jones A Beautiful Coalition Against Dirty EnergyBill Gates Great Ideas from Unexpected PlacesTim Kaine A Response to Michael Steele: What Do Republicans Really Stand For?Adrian Grenier We’re Driving the Bluefin Tuna Population Towards ExtinctionChris Matthews A Politician Is Like a Human ArcadeHot Trends bros icing bros dangers of four loko day of the dead bread dia de los muertos noma restaurant  Follow Huffington Post TOP VIDEO PICKS1 of 5 Close-Up: LA's gourmet food trucks Chef on a Shoestring: Halloween Party Menu Undercover Boss Goes Bananas var ndn_max_page = 5;var ndn_entries = [[{'title':'Close-Up: LA's gourmet food trucks', 'entry_url':'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/newsinc/landing_page.html?vid=106007&cid=9056&freewheel=90057&sitesection=huffingtonpostfood_lif', 'img_url':'http://thumbnail.newsinc.com/106007.jpg'},{'title':'Chef on a Shoestring: Halloween Party Menu', 'entry_url':'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/newsinc/landing_page.html?vid=105968&cid=9056&freewheel=90057&sitesection=huffingtonpostfood_lif', 'img_url':'http://thumbnail.newsinc.com/105968.jpg'},{'title':'Undercover Boss Goes Bananas', 'entry_url':'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/newsinc/landing_page.html?vid=105857&cid=9056&freewheel=90057&sitesection=huffingtonpostfood_lif', 'img_url':'http://thumbnail.newsinc.com/105857.jpg'}],[{'title':'Creepy Cocktails', 'entry_url':'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/newsinc/landing_page.html?vid=105849&cid=9056&freewheel=90057&sitesection=huffingtonpostfood_lif', 'img_url':'http://thumbnail.newsinc.com/105849.jpg'},{'title':'Treat This, Eat That', 'entry_url':'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/newsinc/landing_page.html?vid=105678&cid=9056&freewheel=90057&sitesection=huffingtonpostfood_lif', 'img_url':'http://thumbnail.newsinc.com/105678.jpg'},{'title':'Four Loko Drink Sickens Students', 'entry_url':'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/newsinc/landing_page.html?vid=105353&cid=9056&freewheel=90057&sitesection=huffingtonpostfood_lif', 'img_url':'http://thumbnail.newsinc.com/105353.jpg'}],[{'title':'Cuba rum sales immune to embargo', 'entry_url':'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/newsinc/landing_page.html?vid=105076&cid=9056&freewheel=90057&sitesection=huffingtonpostfood_lif', 'img_url':'http://thumbnail.newsinc.com/105076.jpg'},{'title':'Chef on a Shoestring: Striped Bass', 'entry_url':'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/newsinc/landing_page.html?vid=105089&cid=9056&freewheel=90057&sitesection=huffingtonpostfood_lif', 'img_url':'http://thumbnail.newsinc.com/105089.jpg'},{'title':'Chef Samuelsson's Braised Short Ribs', 'entry_url':'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/newsinc/landing_page.html?vid=104550&cid=9056&freewheel=90057&sitesection=huffingtonpostfood_lif', 'img_url':'http://thumbnail.newsinc.com/104550.jpg'}],[{'title':'World's biggest enchilada', 'entry_url':'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/newsinc/landing_page.html?vid=104440&cid=9056&freewheel=90057&sitesection=huffingtonpostfood_lif', 'img_url':'http://thumbnail.newsinc.com/104440.jpg'},{'title':'Sweet success for chocolate fanatics', 'entry_url':'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/newsinc/landing_page.html?vid=104281&cid=9056&freewheel=90057&sitesection=huffingtonpostfood_lif', 'img_url':'http://thumbnail.newsinc.com/104281.jpg'},{'title':'Happy Meal Doesn't Decay After 6 Mo.', 'entry_url':'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/newsinc/landing_page.html?vid=103316&cid=9056&freewheel=90057&sitesection=huffingtonpostfood_lif', 'img_url':'http://thumbnail.newsinc.com/103316.jpg'}],[{'title':'Bobby Flay's German Chocolate Cake', 'entry_url':'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/newsinc/landing_page.html?vid=103334&cid=9056&freewheel=90057&sitesection=huffingtonpostfood_lif', 'img_url':'http://thumbnail.newsinc.com/103334.jpg'},{'title':'Turks egg-static at largest omelette', 'entry_url':'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/newsinc/landing_page.html?vid=103065&cid=9056&freewheel=90057&sitesection=huffingtonpostfood_lif', 'img_url':'http://thumbnail.newsinc.com/103065.jpg'},{'title':'"Bitchin' Kitchen": Rock Your Tastebuds', 'entry_url':'http://www.huffingtonpost.com/newsinc/landing_page.html?vid=102783&cid=9056&freewheel=90057&sitesection=huffingtonpostfood_lif', 'img_url':'http://thumbnail.newsinc.com/102783.jpg'}]];var ndn_pagination = new CommonPaginator({'moduleName': 'ndn', 'maxPage': ndn_max_page, 'is_circle': true, 'is_custom_data': true, 'custom_data': ndn_entries, 'custom_img_width': 74, 'custom_img_height': 54, 'custom_play_button': true});HuffPoUtil.ImageLoader.foldCheck("hp_ndn_page_1"); MOST DISCUSSED RIGHT NOW 10 Chefs and the Sandwiches They Love
64 Comments LA Food Critic Jonathan Gold On Paula Deen Being Named Grand Marshal Of 2011 Rose Parade
139 Comments HOT ON FACEBOOK PHOTO: Pre-Chicken Nugget Meat Paste, AKA Mechanically Separated Poultry [Updated]
1,898 Comments The Most Annoying Wine Words
93 Comments HOT ON TWITTER Japanese Vending Machine Grows Vegetables, Without Sun
15 Comments Healthy Recipes: Meatless Monday & The Protein Principle (RECIPES, PHOTOS)
1,435 Comments HUFFPOST'S BIG NEWS PAGES Redistricting The Real Prize In Tuesday's ElectionsElections 2010 David Hartley Memorial Service Will Be Held On SundayMexico The Myth of ProgressChristianity Car Buyers Likelier To Find Deals Later This YearCars Obama Walks Back Call For Latinos To 'Punish' Their 'Enemies'Barack Obama Sarah Palin Endorses Tom Tancredo For Governor, Records Robocall (AUDIO)Sarah Palin Adrian Alvarez, Cuba's Longest-Held Political Prisoner, To Be ReleasedCuba 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Extended Indefinitely By Federal Appeals CourtDon't Ask Don't Tell The REAL Urkel Meets His Halloween Doppelganger (PHOTO)Halloweenmore big news pages »  
Front PagePoliticsBusinessMediaEntertainmentComedySportsStyleWorldGreenTech Food Travel Living Health Arts Books Religion Impact Education College NY LA Chicago Denver BlogsAdvertise | Make HuffPost your Home Page | RSS | Careers | FAQ | Contact UsCopyright © 2010 HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. | User Agreement | Privacy | Comment Policy | About Us | Powered by Movable Type

HuffPost Lightbox

View the original article here