YaYa's Low Fat Banana Pudding

This is the easiest banana pudding ever. This recipe has been the most requested among my co-workers and family. Whenever there is a dinner planned, this is always what I am asked to bring.

Banana Tip: If you peel the banana from the bottom, you won't have to deal with the little strings!!

Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 Box Nabisco Vanilla Wafers (no substitutes)low fat
1 Large Box instant Vanilla Pudding ( mix as directed for pudding)
1 Large container cool Whip (lite)
1 Can sweetened condensed milk (fat free)
3 Bananas

Prepare the pudding mix as directed then place in refrigerator until set.



Remove pudding from refrigerator. Gently stir in sweetened condensed milk, then fold in the Cool Whip.


Choose a "pretty" dish and begin to layer. First place a layer of wafers in the bottom of the dish. Pour on top of wafers about a third of the pudding mixture. Top with bananas, continue this layering process until all the mixture is used. Top with wafers.






Place the pudding dish in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
You won't believe how easy, how tasty!! And just think, it is low-fat. Yum

Are you an idiot??

I just could not resist. Is my son--a product of my womb, my second child, the soon-to-be father of twins calling his mother an IDIOT?

Please note the following e-mail from my son:

Six Truths of Life

1. You cannot touch all your teeth with your tongue.
2. All idiots after reading the first truth, will try it.
3. And discover that the first truth is a lie.
4. You're smiling now because you're an idiot.
5. You soon will forward this to another idiot.
6. There's still a stupid smile on your face.


He must remember what goes around comes around. He will soon be subject to this kind of abuse when his boys follow in his footsteps. I can hardly wait! ha!! I know he is just having fun pickin at his Mom. I am thankful we have such a relationship! I love you Jeremy.

Sweety Peanut Butter Pie

This is a great recipe...simple and oh, so easy! This is from "The Lady & Sons, Too!"
by Paula Deen

Ingredients:

One 3-ounce package cream cheese
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter ( I like to use crunchy)
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups Cool Whip
One 8-inch graham cracker crust
1/3 cup chopped peanuts (optional)



Whip the cream cheese until fluffy, then beat in the sugar and peanut butter.
Slowly add the milk , blending well.



Fold the Cool Whip into the cream cheese mixture and spoon this into the pie crust.

Sprinkle with peanuts (optional).



Chill in refrigerator until set. Slice and top with Cool Whip




ENJOY !!

BAM!! Crayons

Crayons--5 cents and a box of Crayola crayons--that was all it took to make me happy on the first day of school.

I love crayons. Just the brief scent will whisk me away to a time of carefree fun and childhood memories. As a child my mother would spend cherished time with me coloring the most perfect drawings in my coloring book. I was always enchanted just watching her create such beauty while mine was always scratchy and "out of line". She would enhance the drawings with just the right amount of red for perfect cheeks and pouty lips. Now some 50 years later all it takes is a good long whiff and BAM! I am right back there with her, my precious Mother. I love you, MOM.

Post Card beautiful

Isn't this beautiful?? Yes, we had a great time minus the bugs, minus the flight delays, missing our limo, not connecting with friends....like the saying goes "making lemonade when life gives you lemons".

What an awesome place. The sun and beach was picturesque. Sunday we enjoyed the water rides and slides offered at the resort. Pappy has been soooo blistered. As his belly stung and his body chilled he said he knew better. I did not burn as I am not fair complexioned as he is. All in all it was a great time....would love to return.......

This is the group that went on the trip.Yaya and Pappy on the right, next to last couple.
(this was before the burn)!

We were entertained Saturday evening by native Bahama dancers and brass band. They were incredible.
Can't wait to go back. would recommend trip to anyone. loved it....



I could talk on and on ,but got to get ready for work....back to the real world folks!

Up, Up, and Away Bahamas here we come

WOW, what an awesome feeling as you sit confined tightly in your seat, you feel the gradual pressure and final lift off of the monsterous power beneath you. What a rush as you look out the window and see the life as you know below slowly disappear. Yes, we have finally departed after sitting on the runway over an hour as all flights into the Atlanta airport have been "put on hold" due to fog. Once arriving there we were again delayed for 6 hrs due to mechanical problems. At least we were on the ground and not airborne! YIKES!!

Eventually we arrived at our destination!! What a beautiful place.
Of course, as we were delayed we had missed our limo and had to "hitch" a ride from the airport. After registering we were unable to find our party, thus returning to our room since we were tired and it was getting late (10:30pm) HA!! (remember I am a YaYa now) HA!! You will not believe at this point what happens!! OMG
We were staying at Atlantis on Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas.....I found freakin BUGS IN THE BED!!!!!!!!! along with hairs under the mattress pad. I know this sounds bad but consider this a warning to check your beds when you are staying away from home.

At this point, it really got ugly...realizing I was tooooo far away from home. Needless to say some phone calls were made and we were given, correction "moved", to another room. (nothing there was "given") I had to really "talk to myself" to be able to stay there.....but where would I have gone??? Not much sleep that night...itchin & scratchin..HA!!

Who would have thought this would have happened in a resort like this?? YUCK!!

I will let you think on this a while......to be continued.....


(I'm itch'n now as I write these words)

Gett'n Fit

As you know we are going to the Bahamas tomorrow, been trying to get in shape to tote all those bags through the airport....

Fitness strengthening....

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, with plenty of room on each side. With a 5lb. potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute and then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for a bit longer.

After a couple of weeks, move up to 10lb. potato sacks. Then try 50lb. sack and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100lb. potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full min. (I'm at this level)

After you are comfortable, at this point you will begin to add one potato to each sack.

HAHAHAHA!!!! Ya think I'm ready for those tote bags now????

Love letter

As I stated in my earlier blog, I am using this as a method to document events for future generations.

Yesterday I was working on my mountains of work on my desk and ran across a letter written by my older son when he was younger. It was his gift to me as a "Mother's Day present" Get out the tissue!!

It reads:

Mom, if I had alot of money. I would buy you a new BMW, tons of new clothes, and a month in Hawaii to just lie out by the beach and soak up the sun all day. But, since I don't --yet--, all I can offer is this letter of thanks and love.

If I could write you a poem or a song, I would. But since we all know I'm not gifted with words, all I can write is this letter if thanks and love.

I thank you for all of your love, patience, strength, care, and hard work you have given this family. I can honestly say I believe that I have had a better childhood than most people. Not because we lived "high on the hog", but because you showed us more love and care than any mother I have ever met. I thank God everyday for sending us such an awesome mother. God has to be so proud of you because you are exactly what He talks about in Proverbs 31. The Bible said God rewards us according to our works. Your work in this family is going to cause God to go bankrupt. (Not really, but you know what I mean).

I love you Mom more than you will ever know. You are my mother, but you are also one of my best friends. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!! You're the best!!!

Love, "your little peanut"

Now what did I tell you!!! I cry everytime I read this....more Kleenex, please.

Bambi eyes

check out the Bambi eyes. We have come a long way in just 3 short weeks. Isn't she just gorgeous? HA!! and they say she looks like her Aunt Becky!! HA!!!!!!! just kiddin. Her big sister, Kylie, as I understand is a great help to Mom. I don't get to see her as often as I would like, but I am kept posted on her progress.

My college friend is now finished with chemo. She sounds so much better. Hopefully, everything will settle down for her.

As I am posting, the weather update is Ike is a com'in. Projected path is from the mouth of MS River to Port Mansfield,TX. Presently 100MPH, expecting landfall Friday, Sept.12, 2008 at a category 3 or mild 4 (135MPH).

Well, the word is the Bahama trip is still on. I guess you can just call me Bahama Mama or storm chaser, whichever is most appropriate at the time.
Hopefully, will have lots of pictures to share when I return.

FYI I have discovered a great blog.....http://tinamommyx3.blogspot.com
She has the most delicious recipes. I think you will enjoy. Great southern cook'in, which is what all my guys love. Hope you will too!! I don't know exactly where "she" is, but I do know she is somewhere in Texas. Hopefully, she is not in any danger from IKE.

Ok, ok...I'm finished ramblin! Talk to ya later.

Here We Go Again!

Oh Brother! Here we go again! Ike,Ike take a hike! We don't want you here.

Fay, Gustav,Hanna, now Ike....Forecasters said it is too soon to know where Ike might hit along the U.S.Gulf Coast. Only God know and He ain't telling.

There continues to be much uncertainty about Ike's predicted path. My fear is that with the recent evacuation from Gustav's visit, people will be too weary and financially strapped to evacuate again, or simply feel "it won't happen". I don't wish anyone any harm, but I certainly hope the MS coast gets a break from this one. I just read that Katrina in 2005 caused $100 billion in damage. We still have not fully recovered from that. As I said, God knows. We must put our trust and faith in Him.

Yum...Yum

I don't know why the first picture loaded side-ways. mmm should that mean anything?

As you know, I don't cook that much anymore. But I do like to bake (when I'm in the mood) HA!! I got this recipe from a book I just finished reading, "Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs. Yum, yum and they are pretty good for you, too! I know that just doesn't sound right, does it? "Good for you" and "Yum,Yum" in the same sentence!!

P.S. Don't tell my older son it has coconut....he says he doesn't eat toenails!! YUCK!!!!


Dakota's Oatmeal, Blueberry, and Orange muffins
Bursting with flavor--makes 12 muffins

Ingredients: 1 cup plain rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp each baking powder, baking soda, and salt
1 1/2 cups flaked sweet coconut
Grated rind of one large orange
1 egg
1/2 cup liquid pasteurized honey
3 TBSP canola or extra light olive oil
1 TBSP vinegar
juice 1 orange and add water to make one cup of liquid
1 to 1 1/4 cups fresh or frozen bluberries

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with paper cups. Combine the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl: oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Add the coconut flakes and orange rind to the dry ingredients.
Get a separate bowl and beat the egg. Then incorporate the wet ingredients: honey, oil, vinegar, juice, and water. Add the wet ingredients to the dry mix and stir until just moist.
Fold in the blueberries. Pour batter into muffin cups.
Bake in a pre-heated oven 20-25mins.
ENJOY!!!

Spread'in His Love

It has been a busy week, preparing and watching. While Gustav was no Katrina he still left his mark as he came through just spread'in his love. Traffic along I55 has been horrific. Who knew that many vehicles could cooperate on the journeys home after evacuating from the coastal area and LA. Now we have our eyes on Hanna, Ike, and Josephine...OH, brother! Our trip to the Bahamas may be postponed as I am NOT interested in a new career, STORM CHASING!! So, we will see.

Baby update, excuse me! Babies, as in TWINS>>> They are growing nicely. Baby A is 11 0z, Baby B is 12 oz.....SHHHH, SHHH, don't tell, but "mama" is growing nicely also. HA!! tee,hee. Pray for them. "Mama" is still trying to work. Doctor is talking about bedrest in the near future. Anticipation. I tried to reassure her, God is in control and He will take care of her and the babies.
Pray for health and peace of mind.