IOS 5 & Pumpkin Pecan Dessert!

Has everyone downloaded the new update for the Iphone??  I did, and I have to say, I am loving it.  They just keep making that thing better and better.

I especially like the new notification/update center that shows you a quick view of all your updates at the same time!

I have also found a new app that I am going to try out for a little while to see if it is really useful or not.  It's called Grocery Pal.  It allows you to make shopping lists for specific stores and it will show you if they have any discounts or coupons available.

The thing that I like about it though, is you can enter in the price of the item and then put it in your shopping cart after you've picked it up and it will keep a tally of how much you are spending.  So if you are on a budget like I am, then it allows you to stick to it better.

We tested it out last week, and it worked pretty well.  There were a few things that Cody wanted that weren't on the list, so I told him that if we didn't go over our limit when we've gotten everything on the list, we could get his extras.

I would like it, though, if it had a bar-code scanner so that you could just scan something and instantly get the price of it instead of manually having to enter it yourself (after searching for the product and adding it to your list).

I have also been on a recipe kick lately.  I want to become a better cook!  So I have started a recipe word document (thanks Claire for giving me the idea...) on my computer.  So far, I have mainly found recipes for desserts that I want to make.  Darn my sweet tooth!

Here is one that I'm really excited about:  Pumpkin Pecan Dessert from the blog that I read, Glorious Treats!

Pumpkin Pecan Dessert

1 can (15oz) pumpkin

1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk

3 eggs

3/4 cup sugar

4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

 (or 2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon allspice)

1 boxed cake mix (white or yellow cake)

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

3/4 cup butter, melted whipped cream, or vanilla ice cream, or serving

Directions ~

1.  Preheat oven to 350*F

2.  In a large bowl add the first 5 ingredients, and whisk together until fully combined.

If you're making one 9" x 13" dish of dessert....

3.  Spray dish with non-stick cooking spray.

4.  Pour pumpkin mixture into 9" x 13" dish.

5.  Sprinkle cake mix (dry) onto of pumpkin layer.

6.  Then sprinkle chopped pecans all over.

7.  Pour melted butter over top.  

8.  Bake 50-60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, and dessert is a nice golden brown. 

9.  Cool at least 30 minutes before serving. 

If you're making this dessert in jars....

3.  Lightly spray 12, wide mouth 1/2 pint jars with non-stick cooking spray.

4.  Use a measuring cup to put about 1/2 cup pumpkin mixture into each jar.

5.  Sprinkle two rounded tablespoon of dry cake mix on top of pumpkin layer, in each jar.

6.  Then sprinkle on one rounded tablespoon of chopped pecans in each jar.

7.  Pour one tablespoon of melted butter on top (of each jar).

8.  Bake jars on a large baking sheet (so they are easy to put in and out of the oven) for about 40 minutes, until toothpick inserted in the center of a jar comes out clean, and dessert is golden brown.

9.  Cool at least 30 minutes before serving.

Note:  When I baked mine using these measurements they filled the jars fully when baked, and as they cooled they shrunk down just a bit, a perfect amount of space to close the jar.

Before serving, top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

This dessert is equally delicious the next day. 

Recipe Source:  Betty Crocker, Holiday Recipes booklet, 2000.