Individual Pumpkin Pie Trifles

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Hi friends.

I had a difficult week last week. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I'm like still grieving over this silly kitten (or Cat, as we called her; our attempt to not get attached to her. #FAIL). We found a fantastic home for her and she left us on Saturday :(  ---->me

Many of you have asked the simple question of why we couldn't just keep her. The truth is that though we totally fell in love with her, the logistics of having a cat for the next 15 years is just not something we were willing to commit to. And that's really what it came down to (the thought of a litter box in our small home especially once babies are in the picture, scratching at the furniture, leaving a kitten home alone all day while we're at work, etc); we just didn't think it would work for us in the long run. But we still love Cat, and even now I tear up thinking about her and her cute little face, leathery kisses and her overall sweet disposition. Oh and the non-stop purring. Love that.

Ok, I'm done with kitten talk now.

So obviously, I've been a silly emotional wreck.

I spent most of Saturday and Sunday cooking and baking, if only to keep my mind busy and my tears at bay (I may or may not have hid in the bathroom when Susan came to pick up Cat). I'm a lot better with bottling my feelings until I'm ready to talk about them ;) And then I unload them all on you.

So of course with cooking and baking in mind, it was beyond time to break out some pumpkin, an ultimate comfort food in my opinion. I whipped up this super easy pumpkin pie trifle in no time.

There's no baking, no cooking, no muss no fuss. It's the perfect dessert for a pumpkin emergency. It's basic enough for a Sunday night on the couch, but chic enough for a small dinner party. I just love individual desserts...I have a feeling that you and your future guests will too!

Individual Pumpkin Pie Trifles
1 pkg sugar free, fat free vanilla pudding mix
2 C skim milk
1 C pumpkin puree
3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
6 low fat graham crackers
1 tbsp butter, melted
1 1/2 C whipped cream or Cool Whip

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the pudding mix and milk for 2 minutes. While it soft sets, stir in the pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Refrigerate for 5 minutes (at least; longer is ok too). Meanwhile, place the graham crackers in a food processor and pulverize. Add the melted butter, which will just slightly moisten the grahams.

In 4 glasses, layer a spoonful of graham crackers followed by a couple spoonfuls of pumpkin pie pudding and whipped cream. Repeat the layers.

Serve it up and enjoy! These can also be made in advance; simply cover each trifle with plastic wrap and refrigerate. In fact, these are even better when they sit in the fridge for a few hours since the graham cracker crumbs soften.

Delish.

Grab a spoon and dig in. Fall is here!

So that's what's going on with me. This trifle is so easy and really tastes like delicious, comforting, decadent pumpkin pie with whipped cream...except it's with a fraction of the calories or baking time! Please try it. I know you'll love it.

Questions of the Day:

What's your go to comfort food?

What's the easiest dessert you've ever whipped up?

psst...I'm blogging all about motivating myself to get back to the gym over on The Peach & The Pit today!

Nights at Home + Pasta Primavera

I've been loving life post-Labor Day. I always say that the summer is so fantastic and fun, but I'm definitely a homebody by nature. When I don't have enough time at home to keep my life in order, I end up feeling scattered and stressed out. Lately, my apartment has been tidy, I've had dinner on the table before 8:00 and I've gotten to just spend time hanging out with Shaun. I'm liking it a lot.

 

Last night was another one of these nights. Admittedly, we're still dealing with our little terrace visitor.

 

She is still hanging around. Apparently our neighbor who rescued her hasn't found a home yet. We've been feeding her and playing with her. She is so friendly and truly so adorable. We're now on the hunt to find her a really good home. Unfortunately Shaun and I made the decision that we just cannot keep her, but we will do everything possible to take care of her until then and find her the best home we can.

Like I mentioned, we are not cat people. But I've almost changed my mind after meeting this kitten. She (we're no biologists, but are fairly certain she's a girl) just wants to be around people and wants to be loved! If you are in the area and are in the market for a sweet kitten, please send me a message. If I don't find a home for her by the end of the week, I plan to take her to the vet on Saturday for a check up. But she does seem healthy and playful!

 

Shaun is totally smitten with this kitten (and this is a good shot to show you how small she is).

Aside from that, we spent the night hanging on the couch watching Castle and How I Met Your Mother. Castle was so good! Anyone watch?

We also whipped up a little veggie pasta with Ronzoni Garden Delight. I sauteed some zucchini, mushrooms and red pepper. Topped with parmesean cheese, this was an easy, healthy dinner that we will definitely be enjoying again and again!

 

Pasta Primavera
1 lb pasta
1 zucchini, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 pkg button mushrooms, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp olive oil
kosher salt
pepper
dried thyme
dried parsley
1/2 C parmigiano reggiano
1/2 C+ reserved pasta water

In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sautee for 30 seconds. Add vegetables and sautee until soft. Season with salt, pepper, thyme and parsley.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package. When finished drain about 2 cups of the water into a glass measuring cup. Drain the rest through a strainer. Move the pasta back to original pot or a serving dish. Add vegetables, 1/2 C reserved pasta water and parmigiano reggiano. Add more water or parmigiano reggiano to taste. Serve and enjoy!

So fresh and yum-inducing.

So that's what I've been doing with my nights. And I've been liking it! Have a great day friends!

Questions of the Day:

Are you a homebody?

What do you do on slow evenings?

Do you want to adopt this cutie pie kitten? :)

Our Terrace Visitor

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Shaun and I have a new little visitor.

This guy has been hanging out around our terrace for the last few days. Our neighbor found him in the parking lot and rescued him. Since then, he's been running around our little courtyard going from terrace to terrace. Supposedly another resident in our building is going to adopt him, but until then, he's just hanging out, curling up next to our broom and getting his lounge on.

Shaun and I have spent an inordinate amount of time peeking out our bedroom window and terrace door looking for the kitten. He's really just so cute. In fact, the other night we were watching television and saw his tiny little head pressed up against the terrace door looking in. Despite how he looks in the photo, he's probably about the size of my hand. I can't even stand the cuteness!

I have to tell you...I'm really not a cat person. In fact, I openly dislike cats. I grew up with a cat (named Thurman, after Thurman Munson the baseball player) and he was such a mean cat! I think he ruined me from cats forever.

Dogs, on the other hand, I have a small obsession with. They are so loving, so sweet and so cute. And I don't discriminate...I love them all! I always joke that someday I'll be a crazy dog lady, surrounding myself with 100 of them. Though we don't have a dog of our own, I grew up with this little peanut, Chloe.

Chloe is my family's cockapoo who is pushing 14-years-old. She's still going strong! You may read about Chloe's adventures in Jersey City in this article. Once we got Chloe when I was a freshman in high school, my love for dogs has just grown and grown.

But our new little terrace visitor is so darn cute. I never thought I'd say this, but I kind of want to keep him! Too bad I don't do cat hair (or dog hair for that matter). Perhaps it's just a sign that Shaun and I really need a pet! For now, I'm happy to oogle them from afar...

Questions of the Day:

Are you a dog person or a cat person?

Do you have a pet?

psst...we're rounding up a bushel of links over on The Peach & The Pit...head on over to see what we're digging this week!