Easy Pumpkin Mousse for Thanksgiving

This recipe is from Alton Brown from Food Network (from his show "Good Eats") and is the most failsafe, delicious holiday dessert I've ever made. So here is the world's simplest mousse recipe (with a few of my own suggestions along the way) - and the great video from Alton's show. First off, if you don't have a big mixer to make the "soft peaks whipped cream"? - replace it with a single container of defrosted cool whip or whipped cream from your grocer. (usually found in the freezer section next to pie crusts) You could also use a can of pressurized whip cream if you want to bring on the fun factor for cooking with kids. Second, spiced nuts (which he features in the recipe) isn't everyone's favorite and some folks are allergic. So I usually top mine (at the last minute or they go soggy) crushed gingerbread cookies and a dollup of whipped cream.

The best part of this recipe - is that you can replace the pumpkin with say - Mango Puree or Chocolate - and this recipe makes a delicious dessert of many varieties. I've made it several different ways (see pictures below) Pumpkin Mousse, Mango Mousse, Chocolate Mousse and Raspberry Mousse. So this really is the holiday dessert recipe that keeps on giving all year long! Enjoy!

( Alton Brown's hysterical video demo and his recipe, slightly altered, follows )

The Battle of the Tryptophan Turkey Walk - A Calorie Burning Idea for Thanksgiving Day

Every year - we have dinner with our friends and one of the best things we do for ourselves is a 30 minute or so walk after dinner. We all bundle up and armed with flashlights and still on the sugar high from various pies and moussi (what is the plural of mousse, anyway?) -- we go for the annual Thanksgiving "Stroll". It's a tradition that we talk about all year long. (and should probably consider at other giganto-gastronomical events we all gather at during the year)

Most people want to go directly from the dinner table to the couch! But consider this year, avoiding that and grab a walking partner to take a 30-minute walk. It will aid digestion as well. It's initiating the walk that's the problem. But everyone finds that once they've started the walk, they're very glad they've done it.

and you'll burn 200 calories or so - and your body will thank you for the boost. :)

learning to walk all over again....

I get teased (nicely) a lot about how many things I work on at the same time - projects, ideas, novels, recipes, spiritual exploration - etc. Many people remarking that just reading my prolific esoterica is tiring; leave alone actually doing all of it. The last year or so has been a series of goals that have really worked for me. and the over-arching pace - purposefully - has been to walk instead of run. I spent my 20s and 30s on the run - too busy and too hurried. and this year's overarching goal was to slow to a walk and enjoy some of the scenery around me more, soak in the scent of falling leaves, watch basil grow. And trust me - stopping myself and reeling it back has been a hard thing to address.

( a longer reflective post behind a cut for your comfort )

I realize this turned into a longer post - and most scrolled past my esoteric psychobabble. (no harm no foul, right?)

But I am very thankful. and its one of those quiet dark late fall nights. I've got jazz playing (Deborah Cox's shockingly good Dinah Washington tribute album, "Destination Moon"). This topic has been on my mind for a long while - so I was glad to get it out there here on LJ. because well - there'll be a few of you this will resonate with and we'll have some nice chatter about walking. :)

Ya'll be well now? :)