Hello again, I wanted to write an impromptu post to share a sweet, easy recipe with you all. In the end, I decided to carve out time to write this post for two reasons. Last week, I made a homemade lavender and rose milk bath. The milk bath recipe I made called for powdered milk. Now, I do not know about you- but generally I do not have many occasions to use powdered milk. However, being thrifty makes me not like unnecessary waste. After some thought, I decided to make a recipe that I knew my oldest son would enjoy.
Actually, my boys were the inspiration for this post. I will further elaborate a bit later in my post, but I would ask you to turn your attention to the “green grass, flower, weeds” in the cream thrifted vase. These beauties will be the star of the show.
Keep reading along to get the back story on the “green grass, flower, weeds” as well as learning how to make an easy recipe that is perfect for welcoming in the fall season.
So, if you are game, let’s go!
~Making the Powdered Milk Pudding~
Normally, if I was making a homemade chocolate pudding, I would use regular milk and maybe some cream. However, the point of this recipe was to use the powdered milk that I had bought for my lavender and rose milk bath. Naturally, I did adapt the recipe a bit by adding extra chocolate, because how can chocolate pudding have too much chocolate?
If you follow my blog posts, you will know that I generally handwrite my recipes. I find this practice charming and pleasing- as it means I have a stack of recipes that I can sort through at my fingertips. I also love that those handwritten recipes can be passed down to my children- when one day, I am no longer on this earth. However, for this impromptu post (as my time is limited), I typed the recipe which I will share with you all right here:
~Chocolate Pudding Recipe~
Homemade Chocolate Pudding with Homemade Pumpkin Whipped Cream
4 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
1/3 cup Cane Sugar
3 ½ Tablespoons Corn Starch
10 Tablespoons Powdered Milk
2 cups of Water
2 Teaspoons Vanilla
½- 1 cup of Milk Chocolate Chips
¼ teaspoon of Coarse Salt
Instructions: Add dry ingredients to a saucepot and stir to combine. Add water. Stir. Cook the pudding on medium heat. Stirring frequently as the pudding begins to thicken and bubble. Add the vanilla at the very end. Allow to cool and serve in bowls or mugs. Top with homemade pumpkin whipped cream.
~Homemade Pumpkin Whipped Cream~
I decided that I wanted to take this recipe a step further and add a splash of “fall” to it. (And no, I did not go out into the backyard and begin foraging for colorful leaves and acorns.) Instead, I decided to make homemade whipped cream. Initially, I was going to add a splash of orange food coloring to make my whipped cream a fall celebration. However, my daughter chimed in, “No mom…what about pumpkin puree so you don’t have to add artificial colors to your recipe?”
This was a wonderful idea. I love that my blog helps my children think outside the box and become better chefs and bakers as a result. I was pleased with the outcome of our pumpkin whipped cream, and I feel certain we will be using this idea many times over this autumn season.
It was very simple really, we made the heavy whipping cream with the cream, powdered sugar, vanilla, pumpkin puree, and a dash of pumpkin spice. I will share the recipe for my pumpkin whipped cream below (also not handwritten):
~The Recipe for the Pumpkin Topping~
Homemade Pumpkin Whipped Cream
1 ½ cups of Heavy Whipping Cream
1 teaspoon of Vanilla
3-4 Tablespoons of Powdered Sugar
4-5 Tablespoons of Canned Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin Pie Spice to taste
Instructions: Add cream and sugar to the mixer. Whip until the cream begins to thicken. Add vanilla and pumpkin puree. Continue to whip cream until it is thick. Taste and adapt as desired.
~Chocolate Pudding with Pumpkin Whipped Cream~
While this recipe is not necessarily English-inspired it does feature rich cholate. England has delicious, rich chocolate. Some of the best chocolate I have ever had. So, in a way, this recipe is an amalgamation of English chocolate and American pumpkin.
Unarguably, chocolate is one of the finest ingredients. Do you agree?
Making a creamy chocolate pudding, served warm or cold, with a delicious dollop of pumpkin whipped cream is surely… by any definition- a decadent treat.
This simple recipe could also be added to a graham cracker mini pie crust and served chilled as a hand-held pie. The possibilities are endless!
~A Boy's Gift to His Mom~
At the beginning of this post, I mentioned my sweet boys who were the inspiration for this post. Let me explain how they motivated me to write this post by setting the scene for you all.
Picture this: after playing in the backyard, my two sweaty boys burst through the dining room door breathlessly saying, “Mom! Mom, we picked these for you!” As I wiped my hands from doing the dishes for the second time that day, I turned to see two little boys who were overjoyed to present their mom with large fistfuls of “green grass, flower weeds”.
(Experience has taught me that a weed is only a weed- if the beholder of the weeds- views it as such).
I smiled, bent down, and scooped those lovely “green grass, flower weeds” out of their little hands. Then I placed the wild plants in some water, in the middle of the dining table, pride of place- before replying, “Thank you, thank you! I love them!” As quickly as my boys came running through the door, they dashed back outside to play.
The glass of “green grass, flower weeds” looked at me all day. I couldn’t help but smile and remember the boy’s excitement to present me with such a valuable gift.
Of course, I knew I made the right decision to add these” green grass, flower weeds” to a blog post as my oldest son later said, “Mom, I knew you would want to use those flowers for your blog.”
Pause, oh so sweet! Precious moments, precious boys.
~Thanksgiving and Gratitude~
In thankfulness and fullness of heart, I say this: my husband and my children have been my biggest blog cheerleaders. It truly has been a team effort, with each helping me in some way. I am so thankful for their love and support.
~Homeschool Nature Walks-A Simple Joy!
As the seasons are beginning to change, and the days are a bit cooler, we like to go on nature walks for our homeschool activities. During our walks, we look for items in nature that begin with certain letters of the alphabet, or we look for evidence of changes in the seasons. It works as a Physical Education lesson as well as a science lesson, or even a literature lesson -as we discuss what we see and hear. Putting the things we experience into words is a wonderful activity… for any age.
In the evenings, I go for jogs whenever time allows. This is the only time alone I have all day. As I jog, I can almost “see” the past moments when I was walking with my children on a nature walk, just hours before. It makes me smile, but it also reminds me of the fact that, try as I might, I cannot go back to those moments. I cannot give more attention to that little bug or colorful leaf that one of my children wanted to show me. Moments forever lost in time but cemented in my heart and mind.
Let us all use this as a challenge to value the moments we have. Even the moments that seem insignificant or lackluster. For some of the most beautiful moments- are the quiet moments- spent with those you love.
~Thrifted Treasures for the Boy's Room! ~
None of you will be surprised that I also wanted to include a fun thrift find my son pointed out this week. We found this heavy, solid brass sailboat in the window of a very tidy thrift store. “Look Mom!” (I do love hearing the sweet voice of my children when they are eager to show me something. The fact that God chose me to be a part of that exciting moment in their lives is humbling!) Hopefully, I aways take the time to stop, look, and truly listen-pushing away the temptation to be in a constant hurry.
After a thorough inspection of the sailboat, we all decided this sailboat was a worthy purchase. So, we bought our gem and took it home for a good polish.
Now, our sailboat friend looks shiny and new. I do, however, adore the little imperfections in the brass. Those imperfections add character and interest- and I am often on the lookout for such things.
I think this charming sailboat would look quite at home on a bookshelf, a desk, a man’s office…maybe even a nautical themed bathroom space. There are so many opportunities to use a humble sailboat.
Trinkets, trinkets, that’s the ticket!
~Where our Treasure Landed~
If you like these simple shelf ideas, you can read here about some other thrifted items I have used in my boy’s bedroom… as well as my daughter’s bedroom.
~Until Next Time~
By casting your eyes on the above photograph, you will see one of the vintage books, on the boy’s shelf, is titled Growing Up. That is exactly what my children are doing. Growing up before my eyes- tempus fugit. May we all take the time to stop and smell the “green grass, weed flowers.” Much value exists in simple gifts, given in love.
I hope this impromptu post has given you a few resourceful ideas. As we say in our home, “waste not- want not”. Also, I hope it reminds us all to slow down and enjoy the moment that is in front of you. Take the time to invest in what is right in front of you. Love who is right in front of you.
And again, I write this as a reminder to myself. I am often convicted as a mom- just how easy it is to speed on to the next activity. To look forward to nap time or bedtime. I am a work in progress myself- and I am consciously trying to savor each moment and find solace in the joy that is set before me.
Until Friday.
Lovely ideas and comments. Yes, you blink and they are grown, with babies of their own.
I love this! I sure want to try your chocolate pudding with pumpkin cream! Our family loves you!
John has 2 boys, 3 1/2 and 7 months, of course i adore them.
I enjoy your blogs so much. It’s like I step back in time.
Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement! I am so glad to hear John is doing well with two precious little ones-what a gift! I am happy you enjoy reading the blog. It reminds me so much of my teaching days. Please tell everyone I said hello!