I just made pumpkin custard last week but used the Libby's website recipe. It called for sugar and evaporated milk. If you've got a recipe to try, I don't see why you couldn't use regular milk with some instant dry milk added to give it more heft. After all, regular custard is often made with plain milk. I just wouldn't use fat free milk. Or you could add an extra egg. No matter what you end up doing, I'd be sure to bake in a water bath and no higher than 325 degrees. That way the mixture wouldn't curdle. I found two recipes that were identical but one called for half & half and baking in a casserole at 350 without a water bath. The Libby's recipe called for baking at 300 with a water bath. I used to make plain egg custard all the time years ago and knew I should use a water bath, so that's what I did. The low & slow method resulted in perfectly done and beautifully creamy pumpkin custard.

I'm glad you didn't disappear! I've been wondering how it's been coming. Sounds like you are moving forward despite some frustrations. I can hardly wait to see it all!

Caution on the rubbing it on. It should be smoothed on as rubbing will irritate the skin. I have not tried it but recently I purchased Shaving Powder that you mix with water. Smooth on wait a while then remove similar to Nair. For the hair on my legs I find that Nair takes longer than suggested and still leaves hair even if there is a continuous coat. This according to a friend who used it has been used by people who have a problem with infected hairs after shaving.

We built our home and moved in 20 years ago. Brought our 1987 Maytag washer with us to the new house but bought the rest of our appliances. The oven was Kenmore, the dishwasher Kenmore, the fridge Maytag with icemaker and water in the door, the cooktop Kitchen Aid. The cooktop went first and another gas cooktop (can't remember the brand) replaced it. Then I got tired of gas and had an electric induction cooktop, in 2007, installed. It is a DeDetrich from France (only about 3 brands available in the U.S. in 2007 and I didn't like any of them). The DeDetrich is still working perfectly and I expect it will continue for many more years. The fridge is now in our garage after the icemaker went kaput in 2012. The fridge and freezer still work (one repair this year to the thermostat). The wall oven quit in 2010 and I got a GE replacement that, under warranty, stopped working and the control panel replaced (GE admitted that it was re-designed due to problems). The Kenmore dishwasher was still working in 2007 but we replaced it with a Siemens which went kaput in 2018. I wish we'd repaired it for $600 as we went through two Samsungs in 3 months which were sent back for refund, and a Bosch that never was installed as it was damaged when we received it. We now have a Blomberg (never heard of it but it is German designed and the 3rd selling brand in Europe and not made in China and had many good reviews). Now, about the washer. It died on us in 2016 (after 29 years with no repairs whatsoever). I wish we'd spent the money to have it repaired. Got a Samsung which was recalled as it was blowing up and hurting people. Replaced it with a top-loading GE. It was horrible - clothes didn't get clean and it bounced all over because the tub was attached differently than old-style agitator models - the Samsung also bounced all over. We finally declared three weeks ago that we were getting rid of it. Was going to get a Speed Queen but found that they changed the design in 2019 and it is now like all the other cruddy washers now being made. So, I went online and found a Maytag, probably about 20 years old on Craigslist sold by a repairman who buys appliances, refurbishes them and resells them. It is like new and it is music to our ears to hear it washing our clothes which come out clean. I offered to almost give the GE to the repairman and he refused. Says it is a piece of junk. Also had a minor repair to our gas Kenmore dryer a couple of years ago. The repairman said that, if the dryer (which is now 19 years old) ever needs a major repair, I should fix it as it is a much better dryer than what is now being sold. The foot lowering device on my sewing machine, a Kenmore, about 12 years old, broke two months ago. The repair service I called wanted almost the same amount of money to repair it than what I paid for it. When I told him that, he said that the machine I have now is much better than the junk that is now on the market. So a word to the wise: The appliances being made today are mostly junk, especially if made in China and by American companies. It's really too sad that I have to say that.