A Recipe For Homemade Banana Pudding That's Sure To Make Your Day A Little Happier

Hello there! 

I hope you're having a good day so far.

 It's so hard to believe that March is already here!

The older I get, the faster time seems to go.

I am excited to see Spring coming!

 I always love to see the new blooms growing on the trees and to see the daffodils and other pretty flowers popping up everywhere! 

There's just something about Spring!

~A new beginning~

Speaking of flowers...

My favorite flowers are Tulips!!  

I love them in every color!

A couple of sweet ladies from church brought these beautiful red tulips to me at our Ladies Breakfast in February!  

There's just something about fresh cut spring flowers!

I don't know about you and your family, but my family usually enjoys eating certain foods during certain holidays.  

In the spring, with Easter just around the corner, a menu of 

Ham

Deviled Eggs

Yeast Rolls

Macaroni and Cheese

Green Beans...

comes to mind.

Oh, and of course there will be dessert!  

One of my very favorite desserts at Easter time is

Homemade Banana Pudding 

Oh dear me!!

Does it get much better than this???

Let me share my favorite recipe for 

Homemade Banana Pudding

 with you... 

Here's what you will need:

1 Cup of Sugar

1 and 1/2 Tablespoons of Self Rising Flour

1 and 1/2  Cups of Milk

1 Teaspoon of Butter

2 Large Eggs, Separated

Vanilla

and 

Vanilla Wafers

Oh and of course you will need...

 Bananas!

The first thing that I do is to pick out a pretty bowl that I want to use for my banana pudding.  

Then, I line the bowl with vanilla wafers.

Next, I slice bananas over the top of the wafers.

Now, in a large saucepan, I mix my sugar and flour with a whisk.

 I add 1/2 cup of the milk and whisk.

Next, I beat my egg yolks with 1/2 cup of the milk and mix that into the other mixture.

Add the rest of the milk, the vanilla and the butter.

 Now, I turn on the heat to medium and cook until I see the mixture is to the thickness that I want.  You will want to continue to whisk the mixture as not to burn it.  

It won't take too long before you will see the mixture is a thick and smooth pudding!

This is just so yummy and rich!

Head over to the bowl of bananas and wafers and pour some of the pudding right over the top of the bananas!

 I'm drooling!!!!! 

Repeat the layers until you run out of filling!

Now, it's time to top your pudding with meringue to make it extra beautiful!

Just beat your egg whites and some sugar (about 1 tablespoon)  with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.

After you have a big puffy meringue, spread it over the pudding and bake in a 350 degree oven for a few minutes, just until it is lightly browned on top!

That's it!! 

You've just made a delicious 

Homemade Banana Pudding

from scratch!  

Put your pudding into the fridge for a couple of hours before serving!  

You will LOVE this recipe!

~ Enjoy your day~ 

~ Hebrews 13:2 "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (KJV)

 

 

Sharing A Recipe For Homemade Lotion

Good morning! 

I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend.

 The weather here in Alabama was just beautiful!

It's Monday; and since sometimes Mondays can be a little bit "Blah", I decided to share a quick and easy recipe that is sure to perk up your day!

Today I'm sharing a recipe for 

Homemade Lotion! 

I LOVE this recipe! 

My dear friend from church, Sherrie Stephens, shared it with me about a year ago and I've been making it ever since.  

It is the softest lotion and smells oh so good! 

Here's what you will need:

8 Ounces Of Vitamin E Cream

7 1/2 Ounces Of Vaseline

15 Ounces Of Baby Lotion

This is so easy to do! 

You just mix all of your ingredients together with a hand held mixer and that's it!!

Fill containers with your lotion! 

I use the container that the Vitamin E comes in by just peeling off the stickers and washing the empty container out.

 

I think it's my favorite type of container to use. 

I didn't this time, but sometimes I use small canning jars too for pretty gifts. :)

You can change the scent of the lotion to fit your preference.

I sometimes make Cocoa Butter and I've made Lavender for a soothing scent, but my very favorite is Baby Lotion! 

Hmmmm... I wonder why.

I'm forever thinking of when I had babies! :)

They may not smell like baby lotion anymore, but they will always be my babies! ;)

Happy Monday!

~ Ephesians 4:4-6 "There is one body, and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (KJV)

 

Sharing A Little Laundry Tip On Getting Whiter Whites

Good morning! 

I hope you are having a wonderful Saturday!

If you are anything like me, your Saturday probably consists of

doing some laundry. 

I recently came across a handy laundry tip for getting your

whites whiter and I gave it a try.  

I was very pleased with the results! 

I decided that I would try it out on my yellowing bed pillows...

This is how one of my pillows looked before the treatment.

Ewwwwww!

Here's what I used ...

1 Cup of Liquid Laundry Detergent

1 Cup of Powdered Dishwasher Detergent

1 Cup of Bleach

1/2 Cup of Borax

and

VERY HOT WATER

First, you will need to boil some water.  I just boiled one big pot to 

 add into my washer.  While your water is boiling, mix all of 

the other ingredients together in a bowl.

At first, the solution will look like this.

But, as you stir, it should look like this. 

Now, put your laundry into the washing machine and 

set your cycle on HOT water, letting your water rise 

to a level that is just above your laundry.

Stop the cycle and add your solution and your boiling water.

Let your laundry soak for 2 hours in this solution.

Then, restart your laundry cycle.

After the laundry is washed, tumble dry.

This was my pillow after the treatment...

Let me show you a side by side comparison...

BEFORE

AFTER

I was extremely pleased!! 

I even tried it on my hand towels...

I hope you'll give this laundry tip a try!! :)

Happy Saturday!! 

P.S.  I just remembered another tip that I wanted to share 

with you!  

These handy little bowl covers...

They are like little shower caps for your bowls. I find them 

very handy for leftovers.  I just grab one and fit it over the 

top of the bowl. 

 Easy as that!

They come in a box with 3 different sizes included.

They are only $1.00 at the Dollar Tree!

* Thank you to my mother-in-law for sharing them with me!

 ~ 2 John 6 "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments.  This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it." (KJV)

 

 

 

Let's Bake Some Homemade Cookies!

Good Morning! 

I hope you are having a beautiful Wednesday.

Here in Alabama, it's a sunny day, but very cold outside!

I would imagine that it's cold where you are too. 

On days like this, I would love to wrap up in a warm blanket and sip a hot drink all safe and 

snug at home. 

Days like this make me want to stay home and bake! 

 What a great day to stay in and bake 

HOMEMADE COOKIES!  

Here's a couple of cookie recipes that my family loves...

 OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES

This recipe was given to me a long time ago when I taught a 3 year old preschool class at a

church preschool.  At the time, Ashley was only 4 years old!! 

 One of the mothers brought these for a snack one day and she was kind 

enough to share the recipe with me! 

 I've been making them ever since! 

Here's what you will need...

1 Cup Of Self Rising Flour

1 Cup Of Quick Cooking Rolled Oats

1/2 Cup Of Raisins

1/4 Cup Of Melted Butter

1/4 Cup Of Melted Shortening

1/2 Cup Of White Sugar

1/4 Cup Of Brown Sugar

1 Egg

1 Teaspoon Of Vanilla

2 Tablespoons Of Milk  

Speaking of Oatmeal...

My sweet sister-in-law, Tammy, gave me this pretty little container to keep 

my oats in! 

I just love it!!

Thank you Tammy! <3

I also wanted to share a handy kitchen tool that I absolutely LOVE having in my 

kitchen!

 It's a mess free measuring cup!

I think I've shared this with you before, but you just need to hear it again! This is a perfect 

solution to measuring out shortening or peanut butter!  You fill your ingredient to the proper

lined measurement and then push the bottom of the cup to "pop out" the ingredient, then

 swipe the excess from the top of the cup! So easy and so clean!! 

You can order those from Pampered Chef! :)

Okay, okay, back to the recipe!

Now, mix all of the ingredients at once in a bowl until blended.

Once the ingredients are all mixed together, drop your cookie dough about 2 inches apart

 onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes! 

Then, cool and enjoy!! 

These are so good! 

~ <3 ~

Now, to share another recipe that you are sure to fall in love with!

HOMEMADE SUGAR COOKIES

This recipe is from a little lady whose husband attends church with my Mama and Daddy. 

 These are VERY POPULAR and will melt in your mouth!

Let's get started...

You will need only 5 simple ingredients.

1 Cup Of White Sugar

3/4 Cup of Vegetable Oil (DO NOT USE CANOLA OIL)

1 Egg

2 Teaspoons Of Vanilla

1  and  3/4 Cup Of Self Rising Flour

That's it!!! :) 

So simple!

Mix all of the ingredients well.

Now, spoon out onto an ungreased cookie sheet, by the teaspoon, leaving space for the 

cookies to spread out while they bake.

Bake  at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Cool on racks

and enjoy!! 

P.S. Don't forget to share! ;)

I hope you'll give these two family favorites a try!

Stay warm and enjoy your day!

~ <3 ~ Hebrews 10: 24

 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works" (KJV)

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hi there everyone! I just wanted to drop in with a quick Thanksgiving post to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and leave you with a couple of quick recipes that my family and I are enjoying this year.  

One is a quick recipe for a 

Warm Apple Cider

 

 Here's what you will need:

One Gallon of Apple Cider

One Frozen Apple Juice Concentrate (thawed)

One Orange

One Tablespoon of Allspice

One Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon

One Half Cup of Sugar

About one fourth of a bag of Fresh Cranberries

Cinnamon Sticks

Three Granny Smith Apples

How beautiful this looks!!

You just put all of the ingredients into a crock pot and simmer on low all day! 

Your home will fill with the wonderful smells of the holidays and it is so yummy and it just makes you feel all warm and cozy! 

I even thought about packaging some up and sharing the love...

I just love giving and getting homemade simple gifts! 

Another yummy fall treat I've learned about lately is a recipe for 

Pumpkin Spice Muffins

These take a lot of steps to make, but once you get started, they are easy and soooooo worth it! 

Here's the list of ingredients that you will need:

Eight Ounces of Softened Cream Cheese

One Half  Teaspoon of Vanilla

Two and Three Fourths Cups of Sugar

Three and One Third Cups of All Purpose Flour

Three Teaspoons of Ground Cinnamon

Four Tablespoons of Cold Butter

One Half Teaspoon Ground Cloves

One Half Teaspoon of Ground Nutmeg

Two Teaspoons of Baking Soda

One and One Half Teaspoons of Salt

Three Large Eggs

One 15 oz. Can of Pumpkin

One Cup of Vegetable Oil

One Half Cup of Milk

Okay, let's get started!

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and put your muffin tin papers in your muffin pan. 

This recipe will make 24 regular sized muffins.

Now, in a small bowl, stir together your cream cheese, vanilla and 1/2 cup of sugar.

After mixing this together, set this bowl aside.

Next, combine 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/3 cup of flour, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and the cold butter in another small bowl and use a pastry blender to mix together, forming a crumb topping. 

When you get this all mixed, set this bowl aside also.

Lastly, in a larger bowl, mix the remaining 3 cups of flour, 1 and 3/4 cup of sugar, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, the cloves, nutmeg, baking soda and salt together.

 In another large bowl, mix your eggs, pumpkin, oil and milk. 

Combine the dry mixture and the wet mixture together and set the bowl aside.

At this point, you should have 3 bowls ready to go!

By the way, this is just a side note... While washing my bowls, I noticed something. I'm sensing that I must like red and green bowls! 

Haha! :)

Okay, let's get these muffins going!

First, let's fill each muffin cup 1/2 full with the pumpkin mixture.

Next, we will put a dollop of the cream mixture into the center of each muffin cup (on top of the pumpkin mixture).

I have used a spoon, a ziplock bag with a hole cut on the end and a piping bag.  Here you see me using the piping bag, but to me, I have found the ziplock  to be the easiest, as far as mess is concerned.

Now, on top of the cream cheese, you will put a spoonful of the pumpkin mixture again.

 This will leave a nice little creamy surprise inside of each muffin!

Last, but not least, you will sprinkle on the crumb topping over each muffin cup.

You are now ready to bake!

Bake at 375 degrees for about 18-20 minutes. 

You will need to insert a toothpick to check to make sure they are done.

Aren't they beautiful????

Let them cool on a rack

Then enjoy these delicious treats that look as if you've bought them at a bakery!! 

I think that both the Apple Cider and the Pumpkin Muffins would be a great "Black Friday" snack on the go! 

I hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday with those you love the most! 

 With much love from my family to yours

~ Psalm 107:1 "O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." (KJV)