Pistachio Pudding Parfaits

Sometimes joy is found in simple things like these pistachio pudding parfaits.

Last fall I couldn’t wait for the year to end. I wanted to crumple 2016 up like a piece of paper and slam-dunk it in the garbage can. And the phrase “everything happens for a reason” was enough to send me over the edge because that meant accepting everything that happened in 2016. For me, acceptance and seeing any good in 2016 was a very tall order.

But these days, after months of self-reflection and bravely facing the pain, I’m able to see things differently. I don’t want to throw away one whole year of my life because things were hard, so I’m working on acceptance starting with a small step: I’m excavating all the simple, everyday things buried deep under all the not-so-great stuff of 2016. I’m hoping this project leads to acceptance of all the other stuff, too, because I’m learning that authentic acceptance goes hand in hand with peace.

So, I’m starting with the small stuff and, after some digging, I found something: homemade pudding. It tops the list of joyful things from 2016.

Pistachio Pudding

I find pudding such a treat because it reminds me of the happiness I experienced as a kid after finding glasses of the creamy, cool dessert tucked away in the fridge. Pudding-for-dessert nights meant my dinner-time broccoli disappeared at a rapid pace. Funny how that works.

The joy reignited early last year with banana pudding and from there I was hooked like I was when I was a kid. Chocolate soon followed, I shared a Nutella Pudding Cups in January, and last week, after being stared-down for weeks by a post-it scribbled with a reminder to make it, pistachio has joined the ranks. It’s high time I made it because of all the desserts my family shared growing up, pistachio pudding topped my list of favorites.

And pudding-for-dessert these days brings as much joy as it did growing up. Maybe more given all that’s happened because it’s hard not to be happy when some pudding is within reach and any extra happiness is worth holding on to these days.

Oh, and when I shared my pistachio pudding plans with my friend, Bridget, she reminded me the timing couldn’t be better. With St. Patrick’s day on the horizon a naturally green dessert fits right in.

I think it’s one of those “everything happens for a reason” things.

More Dessert Recipes

Cranberry-Apple Crisp

Peach Hand Pies

Berry Crumbles

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