Homemade Pudding

How to Make Your Pudding From Scratch

Well it hasn't been a sit-on-the-couch-and-do-nothing kind of day but is has been a relaxing Memorial Day after a very busy weekend. I will admit I almost decided not to post anything just out of pure exhaustion and needing a break, but I know myself well enough ... one day could turn into two or more and it will then no longer be a "perfect" challenge and which could give way to an end to a very good thing! 

I am always making something everyday but right now my focus has been on cutting down on my grocery list by replacing things I would normally buy with a homemade version. Homemade pudding was a first for me and although I made this last Friday for my momma bear's birthday cake, I am usually trying something new each day. Today I did try my hand at potato salad for the first time because the Mr. absolutely loved some German potato salad my sister made on Saturday and wondered "Why have we never eaten this?!?! It is SO good!" You see, the Mr. has always turned his nose up at potato salad so I just never attempted it myself and never wasted our money on it. So today I decided I would make some of this German potato salad for him and then realized it called for cornstarch which I am out of. Now if cornstarch was something I could make at home ... you better believe that would have been my post for today! :)

Instead, I tried a new recipe for a bacon potato salad. Through this we discovered the Mr. really doesn't like potato salad, just German potato salad! I even agreed the recipe was a "tweak-er not a keeper" but the real problem for the Mr. is the texture and cold potatoes. I will just stick with the German potato salad as soon as I get to the store for some cornstarch. Since I wasn't overly thrilled with the outcome on today's potato salad attempt, I decided I would try some homemade chocolate pudding and share both a vanilla and chocolate recipe, but guess what all the recipes called for? Yeap, cornstarch! So that'll have to be an update! I tweaked Lynn's Kitchen Adventures' recipe. 

Homemade Vanilla Pudding

1 1/8 cup sugar

6 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup cream

3 3/4 cups milk

5 egg yolks

1 1/2 tablespoon butter
1 1/2 tablespoon vanilla

Combine sugar, salt, and cornstarch in a saucepan. Whisk in cream, milk, and egg yolks. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring continually for 3-5 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and butter. Whisk until butter is melted. Transfer to a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap making sure to allow for the plastic wrap to touch the pudding to prevent a film from forming. Enjoy. Refrigerate any unused servings.

Momma Bear & Pappy with the cakes
Layered Cream Puff Dessert Cake & Ella Scharlach Cake

In closing for today, I would like to thank all of the family members who have lost their loved ones while they were serving in our country's armed forces. It's because of your selflessness and support they were able to serve and protect their's and our country! I am thankful for those who serve currently or have served in the past. God Bless You All for you courage!

Today's Question: Vanilla or Chocolate?