Pumpkin Time

If it's Fall then it must be pumpkin time. I love anything pumpkin except pumpkin pie. Don't ask me why, but I've never been a fan of pumpkin pie. This is the time of year I head to Sonic for a pumpkin milkshake, Einstein's for pumpkin bagels, I-Hop for pumpkin pancakes, etc. The list goes on and on.

Back in 1998 someone shared a recipe for Crockpot Pumpkin Dessert on an old AOL recipe board. It's low fat, easy to make, and something I enjoy. I guess it's kind of like a pumpkin pudding. I thought I'd share the recipe here.

Crockpot Pumpkin Dessert

16 oz. can of pumpkin

2 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

2 teaspoons of vanilla

1 -12 oz. can evaporated skim milk

¾ cup sugar

½ cup reduced fat Bisquick (I use Pioneer Low Fat)

Egg substitute to equal 2 eggs (1/2 cup)

Spray inside of crockpot with non-stick cooking spray. Beat ingredients together until smooth with hand mixer. Pour into crock pot.

The original directions said to cook it on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. I have never cooked it that long. I’m sure cooking time varies from crockpot to crockpot, but I cook it on low for two hours and then I check it every fifteen minutes or so until a knife inserted in the center comes out looking a little moist, but with none of the pumpkin adhered to it. (Yesterday it was probably 2 1/2 hours.)

I like to eat it warm with some fat free whipped topping. I keep the leftovers in the refrigerator and then reheat it in the microwave.

I haven't been very good lately about keeping up with correspondence or reading blogs. Things have been a little hectic lately and then I spend Monday and Tuesday evenings watching Dancing With The Stars. Is anyone else disappointed with the show this season? Personally, I thought Maks was abusive towards his partner in the clip they showed last night. I'm disappointed in the producers and ABC for even showing it. Instead, they should have dealt with the situation immediately. That kind of conduct should never be tolerated. (OK...I'm off my soapbox now.)

Last week Reid was down at MD Anderson and got the results of his latest CT scan. I thought he wasn't going to be scanned again until December, but I had forgotten about the scans he must have for the clinical trial. They only had the CT scan of his neck and abdomen. They were still reading the chest CT scan. Since we haven't heard anymore we're assuming it was OK. They went ahead with the clinical trial anyway, and I don't think they would have if there had been a problem. In the past the results have always been ready the next day.

Meanwhile, Jim has also been going down to MD Anderson for treatment of his prostate cancer. We were told that his case is unusual in that you wouldn't expect the quantity of cancer in relationship to his PSA score. Last month he received two injections to stop the cancer and begin to shrink it. It seems to be working and today he received another injection. We still don't know if he'll eventually have surgery and/or radiation. The doctor didn't want to commit to the exact treatment yet. He had a bone scan and an MRI last week. He does have some tiny spots of cancer in his back, neck, rib, and some nodes. We're hopeful that the injections will clear up the cancer in those spots.

While we were down there today we went ahead and bought our Christmas cards. We've actually been buying the MD Anderson Children's Art Project Christmas cards since we first moved here in the 1980's. They've really expanded over the years and in addition to the cards and ornaments they sell jewelery, iPhone covers, dishes, etc., decorated with the children's art. Funds raised are used for various programs to help benefit patients lives.

I also went into the gift shop and bought an adorable Christmas street lamp that will be perfect for a Christmas doll scene...assuming that I ever get around to setting up a new scene. I still have my dolls set up in some scenes from last Christmas. I never got around to taking them down.

We've also been getting in touch with our German heritage lately. Some months back we discovered a German restaurant in the next town. Actually, we saw it right after they opened, but it was located in an industrial type building behind a car wash. I know that seems like a strange location, but we looked online and found their menu and decided to give it a try. We have really enjoyed going there. Once you get inside it's got atmosphere and the food is delicious. They don't advertise because the place has become so popular and now they're expanding the building. In September the Houston Chronicle did an article about businesses that are a combination car wash and something else and they wrote about our German restaurant. We were afraid the place would get even more crowded!

Recently Reid and I decided to drive down to Galveston for Oktoberfest and a little more German food. We enjoyed it, but decided the place in the next town is better. I should have brought my camera and taken pictures, but I didn't feel like lugging the camera around. Maybe next year!

We've been able to turn off the A/C off a little lately, but this evening I turned it back on again to get the humidity out. I'll probably turn it off before we go to bed. It's really not that warm. It's probably only in the 70's right now. Did you see the snow in the northeast? I was envious!