Mother's Day 2013 & Banana Pudding

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Although I think everyday should be Mother's Day....just sayin'! As we get older, we realize all the sacrifices our Mom's made and how unconditional their love is for us...and all the hell we put them through! Sorry Mom! I am proud of my Mom...she worked really hard when we were young kids...had 5 children by the time she was 30, and going to nursing school while raising 5 young children, and working at the same time! I know that could not have been easy for her, but she did it, and is one of the best nurses I have ever met. She and I did not always see eye to eye...especially in my teenage years...but I knew she loved me and she knew that I loved her.When I finished high school, I wanted to get as far away from her and Thibodaux (my dinky home town) as I could. So I joined the National Guards...without her or my Dad knowing about it. To say they were shocked is an understatement! But I was hell bound and determined to do this. I was away at boot camp for 2 weeks....and let me just say this...O M G !I was on the phone every chance I could get, crying, begging for her to do something to get me back home!!! Trust me, putting up with your Mom when you are 17-18 is nothing compared to boot camp! I stuck it out and completed boot camp...by the hardest. Then I was lucky enough to be able to return home and complete my training working at our local National Guard Armory. I was so happy to see my Mom....and I actually saw her in a different light. I think I kind of grew up while at boot camp! Don't get me wrong, I was still a rebel...but I appreciated what I had at home! THEN I got married...and had children. WOW now I REALLY appreciated my Mom! There is nothing like becoming a Mom to make one realize how much you actually put your parents through! So on this Mother's Day, I am here to say....Mom, I am sorry! But even more than being sorry, I want to say Thank You! I would like to think that I am the Mom, Nurse and YaYa that I am today, because of your guidance, strength, faith & love! Being a Mom is a tough job, but one I wouldn't change for anything in the world!

My Mom....

My sweet children - the ones who call ME Mom....

And my sweet sweet grandson - the one who calls me YaYa

 

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there!

A few Mom-isms

A little soap & water never killed anybody.

Always wear clean underwear in case you get in an accident.

Am I talking to a brick wall?

Are you going out dressed like that?

As long as you live under my roof, you’ll do as I say.

Beds are NOT made for jumping on.

Bored! How can you be bored? I was never bored at your age.

Did you brush your teeth?

Did you clean your room?

Did you comb your hair?

Do you think your socks are going to pick themselves up?

Don’t ask me WHY. The answer is NO.

Don’t cross your eyes or they’ll freeze that way.

Don’t eat that, you’ll get worms!

Don’t EVER let me catch you doing that again!

Don’t make me come in there!

Don’t sit too close to the television, it’ll ruin your eyes.

Don’t talk with your mouth full!

Don’t use that tone with me!

Don’t walk away when I’m talking to you!

Life isn’t fair

Go ask your father.

Go play outside! It’s a beautiful day!

Go to your room and think about what you did!

How can you have nothing to wear? Your closet is FULL of clothes!

If I’ve told you once … I’ve told you a thousand times.

If you don’t stop crying, I am going to give you something to cry about!

If you’re too sick to go to school, you’re too sick to play outside.

I’ll treat you like an adult when you start acting like one.

I’m doing this for your own good.

It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s that I don’t trust everyone else.

I’ve had it up to here with you.

Life isn’t fair.

Look at me when I’m talking to you.

Money does NOT grow on trees.

Over my dead body!

Turn that racket (music) down!

Watch your language!

What part of NO don’t you understand?

When I was a little girl…

When I was your age…

When you have kids of your own you’ll understand.

When you have your own house then you can make the rules!

Where do YOU think you’re going?

Who do you think you’re talking to?

Why? Because I SAID so, that’s why!

You’ll understand when you’re older.

You’re going to put your eye out with that thing!

This is our dessert for this afternoon....yummy, can't wait to dig in!

This dessert reminds me of our younger days...nobody could make it like Mom!

BANANA PUDDING

 Ingredients:
                                                   
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
3 cups cold milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
4 bananas, sliced
1/2 (12 ounce) package vanilla wafers
                           
     Directions:
1.In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. 

 Beat in condensed milk, pudding mix, cold milk and vanilla until smooth. 

 Fold in 1/2 of the whipped topping.   

                        
2.Line the bottom of a 9x13 inch dish with vanilla wafers. 

Arrange sliced bananas evenly over wafers. 

Spread with pudding mixture.

 Top with remaining whipped topping.
Chill. 

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS.....

Good Sunday morning! I hope this Sunday finds you healthy, happy and content with life! It is storming here, but that's okay, I love the sound of the rain on a Sunday morning. Especially when you don't have to get out in it and can just relax in your jammies all day if you choose to! And I choose to!

A fellow blooger issued a challenge last week. The challenge was to list 10 of your "Favorite Things". So on this stormy Sunday morning, I am taking the challenge! Are you ready? 

Okay...here are a few of My Favorite Things....

1.Philosophy's Amazing Grace. LOVE the smell ...clean, light and fresh.

2. Anyone that knows me really well, knows how much I love Jujubees!!

 

3. My New Orleans Saints!!! Love them...win or lose!

4. My E-reader...I love to read and really enjoy my E-reader, although sometime, there is nothing like holding a book and turning the pages!

 

5. Louisiana Life Magazine

 

6. Hydrangeas - they remind me of my MawMaw so much!

 

7. My man....James Taylor!

8.Our brand new camper...just got it yesterday!!

 

9 My great nieces and nephews...love these kids so so much!

 

10. And my most favorite person in my world.....my sweet Joshua

THE VOICE AND ELEGANT ALMOND BARS

Don't you just love THE VOICE? We sure do...never miss it! Of course it helps to have Blake, Adam and Usher sitting there with me in my living room! Mercy! There is some awesome talent on there this year. I still like to watch American Idol, but THE VOICE is my fav!!!

I remember back in my high school days, I used to love to sit on the front steps and play my guitar with my BFF MaryBeth...we were inseparable! And we played a mighty fierce guitar. Ahhh the good ole days! Life was so simple back then, although we thought it was hard. Looking back, it was easy peasy! I miss those days. But now my days are filled with different joys..my children and my grandchild...they are music to my soul, the best kind of music ever! We had a wonderful Easter weekend....quiet time spent here at home. Good food, great family, more memories to fill our memory banks. Love it! And at the end of the day...this little face fills me with so much love.....

I love the way he puts those arms behind his head when he sleeps!

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week...rain is in our forecast for the next couple of days.

Have to have some rain if we want the rainbows right?

Speaking of rainbows...I cannot wait to curl up in bed tonight and read my

latest Kindle download....

Carry On Warrior

If you have never visited her blog...you MUST! and if you haven't

ordered her new book...DO IT...you won't be sorry!

ELEGANT ALMOND BARS

 

Cookie Base

1

pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix

1/2

cup butter or margarine, melted

1/2

teaspoon almond extract

1

egg 

 

Filling

1

can (8 oz) or 1 package (7 oz) almond paste, crumbled into 1/2-inch pieces

1/4

cup sugar

1/4

cup butter or margarine, melted

2

eggs

1/2

cup sliced almonds 

 

Topping

2

oz white chocolate baking bar, coarsely chopped (1/3 cup)

2

tablespoons shortening

1/4

cup sliced almonds

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir cookie base ingredients until soft dough forms. Spread in ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until light golden brown.
2. Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat almond paste, sugar and 1/4 cup melted butter with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Add 2 eggs; beat until well blended (mixture may be slightly lumpy).
3. Spread almond paste mixture over partially baked base. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup almonds. Bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until filling is set (filling will puff up during baking). Cool completely, about 1 hour.
4. In 1-quart heavy saucepan, melt white chocolate and shortening over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth. Pour and spread over cooled bars. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup almonds. Let stand about 30 minutes or until topping is set. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 4 rows. Store covered at room temperature.

Makes 32 bars 

ELEGANT ALMOND BARS 

 

 

HE BRINGS ME FLOWERS

I know that I have commented more than once about how much I love having Friday's off, but how about having a Friday off and spending the entire day with your grandson? He spent the night here last night and will be here until Sunday! Does that make me happy...oh heck yes it does! His Daddy will be spending the weekend with us too and I am thrilled about that too. Mommy is away for the weekend for some girl time...so we reap the benefits of that! I am going to enjoy every single minute! He is so much fun and is talking so much....amazes me!

So it's going to be a fun weekend and I am looking forward to it. I will be worn out by Monday but every minute will be worth it! Can you tell how much I love this kid?

Then Poppa takes him for a walk in the yard and he comes in and hands me these...along with a big smile! Be still my heart!

I am so lucky...and so blessed!

If you like bread pudding (and I do) and pecan pie ( I do also) then you will L.O.V.E. this recipe! I cannot wait to make it...looks like a good dessert for Easter perhaps?

ENJOY!

PECAN PIE BREAD PUDDING

 

Ingredients

• 8 cups bite-sized bread pieces
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1/3 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon maple or vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 cup pecans, halved or chopped

Instructions

1. Prepare an 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish by lining it with parchment paper and spraying well with a non-stick cooking spray.
2. Place all of the bread pieces into the baking dish.
3. Pour the melted butter over the bread.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, granulated sugar, maple or vanilla extract, cinnamon, and the salt.
5. Stir in the pecans. Pour evenly over the bread pieces. Use a rubber spatula to push and "prod" the bread pieces around in the dish until all are coated in the syrupy mixture.
6. Bake at 375º for 45 minutes. Serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream!

SOMETHING SWANKY 

This Little Light of Mine and Strawberries!

OH how I love Friday's! Especially the Friday's when I am off...even if it's for 1/2 day! It's a nice prelude to the weekend, especially when the weather is as gorgeous as it has been this week! I wish I could just get in my car and drive....I don't mean just drive around here..I mean D.R.I.V.E. like all over our beautiful country! I know for sure I would head to each coast...because I LOVE the beach, and the water...not so much the sand. OH and I love lighthouses...they simply amaze me.....

 GREECE

ADDIE TOOK THIS PICTURE IN BILOXI

Aren't they all so beautiful? I am not sure what it is about them that intrigues me.

LIGHTHOUSE - JAMES TAYLOR

What intrigues you?

Since strawberries will be in abundance soon...here is a super simple and
sweet recipe!

Angel Food French Toast

 

Yield: serves 4-6
Total Time: 30 minutes or less

Ingredients:

1 angel food cake, sliced into 12 pieces
3 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
1 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2-3 tablespoons butter
for topping:
whipped cream
strawberries
blueberries
maple syrup
fresh mint

Directions:

In a measuring cup, whisk flour into a few tablespoons of milk until it's totally dissolved to create a bit of a slurry. Add back to the rest of the milk.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla extract, salt and cinnamon. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium to medium-low heat. Gently dip each piece of angel food cake into the egg mixture, fully submerging it and covering all the sides. Make sure to let most of the egg drip off. Place a bit of butter in the skillet/griddle, then place cake on it and cook until golden, about 2-3 minutes per side. The only additional step here is you want to fry each side, then turn it on it's "back" and get that thick third end of the cake. Repeat with remaining slices, adding a bit of butter each time.
Serve with syrup, berries, whipped cream and fresh mint!
Borrowed from.....

How Sweet It Is Blog

2ND BIRTHDAYS AND WARM WINTER LEMON CAKE

My sister emailed me the other night and asked "What? No more blogging?" I didn't realize it had been over a month since I posted a blog entry! I just have not been inspired to blog...I never intended for this blog to be filled with unhappy or sad thoughts. I want it to be positive and uplifting. But life isn't always positive and uplifting, so maybe I should blog whether I am feeling happy or sad?  Yep, that is what I will do...but I promise to always leave you with a happy thought!

This weekend my happy place (thought) is my sweet sweet grandson, who turns 2 years old today! O M G I cannot believe it has been 2 years since I first laid eyes on that precious child! He has filled such a void in our lives and in our hearts. I cannot even begin to explain it...just trust me...he has! 

The day he was born

Yesterday for his party!

Cutie Pie huh?

He had a blast for his Toy Story birthday party and made the cutest

Woody ever!

Poppa and YaYa loves you so much Joshua!

Happy Birthday lil man!

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. This weather is yukky...good stay inside

in your jammies, reading kind of day! And I think that is exactly what I will do!
Here is a yummy warm recipe for you...perfect for this weather.

WARM WINTER LEMON CAKE

 
1 pkg.  (2-layer size) yellow cake mix
2 pkg.  (3.4 oz.  each) JELL-O Lemon Flavor Instant Pudding
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 cups cold milk
1-1/4 cups water
2 Tbsp.  powdered sugar


HEAT oven to 350ºF.

PREPARE cake batter as directed on package;
pour into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.

BEAT dry pudding mixes, granulated sugar, milk and water with whisk 2 min.;
 pour over batter in dish.
  Place baking dish on baking sheet.
  (Baking sheet will catch any sauce that might bubble over sides of dish as dessert bakes.)

BAKE 55 min.  to 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
 Cool 20 min.  (Sauce will thicken slightly as it cools.)
Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
 Serve warm.
Refrigerate leftovers.

KRAFT- WARM WINTER LEMON CAKE

HOLIDAYS .. DONE....NEXT...MARDI GRAS !

Not sure about you guys but I am so glad the holidays are over with...of course in S Louisiana there seems to always be a holiday! No sooner is Christmas over with and here comes Mardi Gras! I used to be a huge fan of Mardi Gras but now I could take it...or leave it. Last year, I left it! In our "younger days" we used to make as many parades that we could...racing from one to another...even on a weeknight!!! I cannot imagine doing that again but it sure was fun back then!!

Here are just a few pictures from the HOLIDAY's..

My Family

Mike and Addie

Kristen - Jordan - Joshua

See my Joshua's picture in the background? : )

What a sweet face huh?

He got the hang of that remote control really quick!

Couldn't you just squeeze him?

Yes...he rules the roost!

Christmas breakfast compliments of Poppa

And the day ended with a little jig !

I have tons more, but I won't bore you with ALL of them!

And now we prepare for Mardi Gras.... 

Throw me something mister!

Easy Peasy King Cake

Make your own King Cake with this easy recipe 

Ingredients

• 1 can of cinnamon rolls, with icing
• 3/4 cup of sugar, separated into 3 parts of 1/4 each food coloring
• plastic baby (available at most party stores)

Directions:  

The traditional King Cake is made from twisted strands of cinnamon dough, topped with icing, and sprinkled with purple, green, and gold colored sugar. Here is an quick and simple take on the traditional recipe.

• Separate the cinnamon rolls and roll them out by hand so that they look like hot dogs. Then attached them by pinching the ends together  into one long roll and shape into an oval by closing the ends together with another pinch. Place on a cookie sheet. Cook as directed.
• While it is cooking, use food coloring to dye sugar. Make one part purple using blue and red, one part green, and one part gold using yellow.
• When the cake is finished cooking, ice the top with the white icing.  Then sprinkle the different colors of sugars alternating as you go around the oval. Enjoy!!