Quick Nanner Puddin'

My dad's favorite thing in the world is banana pudding. When I was younger I made it for him for every holiday and birthday.  Although I know that there are other family members who made it much better (i.e. from scratch),  he always told me mine was good. (Because he's my dad!)  Here is an easy, short-cut way to get that "homemade" flavor -

Ingredients:
1 box vanilla wafers (I use the generic brand and they are just fine)
3 bananas
2 large boxes Cook & Serve vanilla pudding
Milk (amount that is stated on pudding box)
large container Cool Whip

Prepare pudding per package directions. Layer wafers, bananas and pudding in casserole dish. When cooled, top with Cool Whip. For garnish, I sometimes crumble a couple of wafers into bits and spread over the Cool Whip.

The trick is to keep it away from my dad and nephew long enough for it to cool. They say they like it warm anyway.

Starting with the Oldies

Five years ago we moved to this house and I stored my recipe books on a shelf somewhere. I don't think I've opened one since we've been here. Thankfully the old handy recipe box was right where I could find it... 

I decided to post some of my favorite dishes that I've collected over the years. And later, I'll have an index and everything!  I'm excited about this blog. I mean, I have four others but this one is real different!

An Early Birthday Gift to Myself

I have no idea what has gotten into me.  For years, my motto has been "if it takes longer to cook it than to eat it - what is the point?"  Cooking has been on my list of Things I Enjoy Least.  I'd rather clean up the aftermath than actually prepare the meal.

There is even a magnet on my refrigerator that says "WHERE THERE'S SMOKE THERE'S DINNER."  It was a gift from my dad, who knows me well!

However, here it is, a couple of days before my birthday and I just sat down with my old recipe box.  I got this recipe box as a wedding anniversary gift (26 years ago) and have collected recipes from all over the place. Family members, magazines, cookbooks, the internet.

After going through the note cards, I decided to make a list of the ingredients I'd need to make a few of these dishes. So... I am saying good-bye to "open can, microwave, serve" and hello to "chop, dice, saute, etc."

We'll see how it goes...