Pumpkin Mousse

This is from a recipe book titled The Gathering of Friends, Vol 2.  It has gorgeous pictures to go with each recipe, but I'm nothing like Jerianne because I'm usually too lazy to make anything new that I haven't already tried.  This has become one of the Burr family favorites, since we aren't really pie people.

1 large box instant vanilla pudding mix (5.1 oz.)

1 3/4 c. pure pumpkin (canned)

1 2/3 c. sugar (divided)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

2 c. heavy whipping cream

1 tsp. vanilla

store bought or homemade gingersnap cookies

Beat whipping cream until stiff, add 2/3 c. sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla and set aside.

In a large bowl combine pudding mix, pumpkin, 1 c. sugar, condensed milk, nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice.  Fold in half of the whipped cream, blend completely.

Break up cookies in bottom of trifle dish and spoon mousse over the top.  Spread a thin layer of whipped cream, add another layer of cookies, mousse, and cream.

(I used cool whip instead of whipping cream and I thought it tasted just as good as the original, if not lighter.  I don't know that I'll ever actually go to the trouble of whipping my own cream unless I'm trying to impress my mother-in-law or gain an extra 20 lbs. in one sitting.)