Kyle's Instant Pudding Faux-mousse Recipe

July 12, 2015 1:47 pm

(Updated Oct 2021 to change the name from "ganache" to "faux-mousse.")

A few months ago we had a pint of whipping cream in the fridge that needed to be used and I pondered what would happen if I added chocolate pudding mix to the whipping cream for some kind of chocolate whipped cream.

So, what happens?  Something amazing is what happens.

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Instant Pudding Vanilla faux-mousse

I refined my technique over a few trials and now present my recipes for Instant Pudding Chocolate Faux-Mousse and Instant Pudding Vanilla Faux-mousse.  (I had originally referred to this dessert as "mousse" or "ganache" but not really either of those. It's closest to a mousse, but stiffer and has no eggs.)  The recipes are almost the same, but some slight adjustments between the two are necessary.  We used the vanilla faux-mousse as the filling for my chocolate birthday cake this year and it was tasty.

Instant Pudding Chocolate Faux-Mousse
  • 1 pint whipping cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 5.9oz package of chocolate instant pudding
  1. Chill metal bowl and whisk in freezer as if preparing to make whipped cream.
  2. Remove 1 tablespoon of chocolate pudding mix and discard (there is just a bit too much in the package).
  3. Begin whipping 1 cup of the whipping cream as if making whipped cream.
  4. As the cream is whipping, in a separate bowl mix the milk, remaining whipping cream, and instant pudding mix.  Work quickly to mix in the pudding mix, it sets fairly rapidly.
  5. When soft peaks form in the cream being whipped pause and add the pudding mixture then resume whipping.
  6. Continue to whip until the mixture becomes fairly stiff and the pudding has been fully incorporated; scrape sides with rubber spatula as necessary.
  7. Spoon into serving dishes (we have 6 dessert cups, but it's rich and could easily be split into more servings) or keep in a bowl, cover, and chill at least 10 minutes before serving.  Keeps in the fridge for at least a few days, probably longer, but it's always gone after only a few days around here.
Instant Pudding Vanilla Faux-mousse
  • 1 pint whipping cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 5.1oz package of vanilla instant pudding
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  1. Chill metal bowl and whisk in freezer as if preparing to make whipped cream.
  2. (Unlike the chocolate recipe, there's no need to remove any pudding mix for the vanilla.)
  3. Begin whipping 1 cup of the whipping cream as if making whipped cream, add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  4. As the cream is whipping, in a separate bowl mix the milk, remaining whipping cream, and instant pudding mix.  (The vanilla mix doesn't set as quickly as the chocolate, so speed isn't as critical.)
  5. When soft peaks form in the cream being whipped pause and add the pudding mixture then resume whipping.
  6. Continue to whip until the mixture becomes fairly stiff and the pudding has been fully incorporated; scrape sides with rubber spatula as necessary.
  7. Spoon into serving dishes (we have 6 dessert cups, but it's rich and could easily be split into more servings) or keep in a bowl, cover, and chill at least 10 minutes before serving.  Keeps in the fridge for at least a few days, probably longer, but it's always gone after only a few days around here.

Family Pictures

July 11, 2015 6:15 pm

I decided to make use of my new photography lighting equipment and took some family pictures today.  Originally it was going to be a little photo shoot for Corinne, but that rapidly expanded.  Unfortunately, I wasn't planning on taking a full family picture so I didn't have the tripod and remote out and configured.  So don't have one of the whole family, but we're all in there in some way or another.

It was tough trying to get Heather and Corinne looking in the same direction at the same time with something amounting to a smile on their faces.  I resorted to tickling Heather as she's reached the age where asking her to smile results in bizarre grimaces.

Here are some of the best shots:

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And the other shots that came out well:

June Junk

July 4, 2015 10:13 pm

Okay, not junk. Not at all. But alliteration, you guys! And I get sick of titling these posts "miscellany" or "camera dump." But anyway, here are all the fun pictures from June that didn't already get their own blog post. Enjoy!

Heather with some art. She loves to art.1-IMG_20150602_164523as

If you're going to be realistic about feeding your doll, you need the Boppy. Obviously.2-IMG_20150603_105238as

On any given day, looking into the family room, you may see something like this: 3-IMG_20150604_133348asTotally normal, right? Isn't this how everybody uses their tablet?

Sometimes feeding the baby gets boring. That's when you move to the family room and watch TV.4-IMG_20150605_092807as

Kyle turned 30 this year! Wahoo! The girls helped him open his presents.5-P1010506as 6-P1010508as 7-P1010510as 8-P1010519as

And blow out the candles.9-P1010527as 10-P1010530as 11-P1010532asSo we decided to experiment with the cake this year, and it came out YUMMY! I just used the recipe for chocolate cake and frosting off the back of the Hershey cocoa tin (also found here), but the secret was the filling. Kyle has invented this mousse stuff (it's essentially instant pudding made with whipping cream instead of milk) that is divine, and that's what I used (vanilla flavored). Kyle needs to blog the recipe, and when he does, I'll link it (Edit: Link!). He also declared it's even better the next day. It did not last long.12-P1010533as

Heather really likes to snuggle up in blankets. Even when it's 100F outside. She's also started piling up the cushions and pillows and making all sorts of comfy arrangements.13-P1010536as

I'm the Primary secretary in our ward, and our chorister asked me to help out a few weeks ago. To help the kids review the song for Father's Day, they got to put something in my hair for each line they remembered. Everybody had a lot of fun with it!14-singing time

One afternoon, Heather came up to Kyle and said she wanted to marry him. (When I asked her what that meant, she said they dance!) So she put on her flower tiara thing and they danced. When I showed her this picture and asked her what it was, she said, "Me and daddy...being married..." in a sweet, sing-song voice, and she twirled away. She obviously has fond memories of this event.15-H and K marrying

 

Kyle walked by Heather's doorway one morning to discover her in bed with what she declared to be her "perfect family." I don't think that requires any further explanation.17-perfect family

This is Heather's dance class at their in-studio dress rehearsal. Too cute.18-dress rehearsal

And this was a Mommy fail. I packed the sunscreen! I just forgot to put it on her. Poor thing. Ibuprofen and aloe vera helped, but she was pretty uncomfortable for a couple of days.19-sunburn

On Father's Day, Heather helped me make some peanut butter brownies for Kyle.20-Fathers Day brownies

In Primary, the kids got cards with Pop Rocks candy to give their dads, and Heather thought the candy was amazing. She liked watching it pop in Kyle's mouth:21-Fathers Day pop rocks

And lastly, Heather had swim class the last two weeks in June. It was her first time not being in a parent/child class, and she loved it! They were in a 2-foot pool and the class was very small, so she had a lot of one-on-one time with the teacher. I love watching her learn new things!IMGP3277as IMGP3279as IMGP3281as

Corinne: 3 Months Old!

8:43 pm

Okay, we're catching up now. I don't really know what to say about Corinne except that she's just a calm, mellow baby. Very easy to have around. And starting to be more fun, too! I'm really enjoying her, even from the beginning, which I didn't expect. She's just a delight!

Trying out her new WubbaNub:1-IMG_20150522_135435asWe later bought two more, because they're great. Corinne still can't grab the binkie, obviously (pincer grasp is a ways off yet), but she can wrap her arms around the critter and pull it towards her face. (I decided to give this a try because I noticed her doing that with our hands/arms as we held a binkie to her mouth.) And now she can grab the head or body and hold onto it, too, so that gives her some more control.

Playing on the playmat:

As you can see, she has a special relationship with the monkey. Friend or foe has yet to be determined.

Sleeping beauty:3-IMG_20150525_202512as 4-IMG_20150525_202539as

She's very studious. Now that she's out of the sleepy newborn phase, she's always looking around and checking things out. Not much else for her to do, of course.5-IMG_20150603_141641as 6-IMG_20150603_141655as

Wearing the dress Aunt Mollie sent:7-IMG_20150607_084823as

Hanging out with Daddy on his birthday:8-P1010512as 9-P1010520as 10-P1010526as

Sleeping propped up on my lap:11-IMG_20150611_164458as

Full tummy = content baby.12-IMG_20150614_154703asAnd of as June 17th, Corinne is 3 months old! Crazy how time has flown, and how much she has changed in such a short time.