Cherry Almond Pudding

It’s that time of year again. As you might know, if you read my blog this time last year, once yearly the town of Iola, Texas holds a family meeting and picnic. It more about the family cemetery than anything else, in fact I would say that it’s all about the family cemetery. But either way it is an amazing picnic that follows. Oh how I love a potluck.

Thinking back to what a hit the Pistachio Pudding was last year I knew I needed something as good. Only every time I ran searches to find something, and there are a ton of pudding/salad recipes out there, everything seemed like something that has been over served. I had an idea in mind I just needed to make it work.

I brought home an empty serving dish, enough said.


Cherry Almond Pudding

1 jar maraschino cherries, chopped, with juice
1 small tub whipped topping
1 box instant vanilla pudding
1 cup finely chopped almonds
2 teaspoons cherry extract

Mix all the ingredients together and place in icebox overnight.


This pudding is cold and creamy, not to mention very cherry, all of which are very good things in my book. I dare you to try it, you’ll love it.

Stay out of the heat,

Corn Pudding

Um okay. I can't even put into words how in love I am with this dish. I can think of so many people right off the top of my head that will just love it to death. Side dish meet dessert. Not the only recipe out there that could easily pass for both but one of the best for sure.

I happened upon this recipe while try to find a way to cook some chicken thighs, last post Apricot Chicken, and saw a curious picture (because when I search I do search by picture) and clicked just to see what it was. Am I ever so glad that I did. It is creamy and swee. The corn adds a little crunchy sweetness. Keeper. Total keeper!


Corn Pudding
recipe found on Closet Cooking

2 ears worth of corn kernels
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon of melted butter
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix everything in a bowl.

Pour into a baking dish.

Bake until it is golden brown on top and set like a custard, about 30 minutes. (A knife inserted into the center should come out clean.)


I could not be more serious, y'all have have have to make this. Baby Cakes loves it so much that he ate some for breakfast this morning and I already snuck a little dish of it for a snack today. Bad. So bad. But oh so good.

One more thing, it is just as wonderful cold from the fridge as it is warm from the oven.

XOXO,

Grandma Lolly's Banana Pudding

This afternoon my husband, Baby Cakes in case you didn't know, informed me that he committed me to making a desert for a work luncheon he is attending… Tomorrow! Now I know I made it seem as if this bothered me but in all honesty, as anyone who loves to cook knows, I was actually excited. I love making food for people and making food for guys is so much easier. So knowing I would have to run to the grocery store on my way home this evening I put quite a bit of thought into what to make that would travel well and pare with fried catfish. I was clueless. Then I thought about when I used to waitress at a local café during lunch and remembered that the biggest dessert seller with all the men eating during lunch was banana pudding. Here’s goes nothing.

Growing up, and even now, I cannot recall a single Jones family get together that does not have a huge bowl of this dessert adorning the buffet. Now I don’t know if this is my Grandmas original recipe or if everyone’s Grandma makes it this way but for me this is her recipe. I’ve had it a million different ways and this is my all-time favorite.


Grandma Lolly’s Banana Pudding
recipe from Grandma herself

2 small boxes instant banana pudding
3 cups cold water
2 14 ounce cans sweetened condensed milk
1 large tub whipped topping
2 boxes nilla wafer cookies
6-8 bananas, sliced
1 regular tub whipped topping

In a large bowl whisk together the instant pudding, water, condensed milk and whipped topping until well combined. Set aside.

Place a single layer of cookies into the bottom of serving dish; you’ll need a large dish or two dishes as this makes a large quantity.

Top the cookies with a single layer of the bananas, about 1-2 sliced bananas.

Spread about half of the pudding mixture over the bananas and spread evenly.

Repeat with another cookie, banana and pudding layer. (You’ll have 2 layers of each at this point.)

Spread another layer of sliced banana and a single layer of cookies over the top.

At this point you can either top with more whipped cream or opt out and that’s it.


You know I opted for more whipped cream.


I want to ad that the blue bowl of pudding is not the total amount that it made. In fact it made this bowl, for Baby Cakes and I, and a large salad bowl full for Baby Cakes to take with him tomorrow. It makes alot.

I honestly beleive that this is as good as if not better than Paula Deen's Not Yo Momma's Banana Pudding. Make it and judge for yourself.

I hope you like it. I hope the guys tomorrow like it. We'll see when Baby Cakes brings the bowl home tomorrow evening.

XOXO,

Pistachio Pudding

Every year, without fail, my grandma makes this dish. "The Green Stuff" adorns the table at every get together and every holiday. This recipe is home to me.

When I was little I always asked for the green stuff whenever I knew we were going to Grandmas for supper. I am now 27 years old and I am still enjoying this pudding on a regular basis. Everytime she asks me what she should bring I tell her still the green stuff. I love her for so many reasons and this is one of them.

Saturday BCakes, my Father-in-Law and I went to the Annual Iola Cemetary Meeting and Picnic. This is my second year in attendance so I had an idea of what dish to bring along with me. It is so hot this time of year and light dishes are best so I thought of Grandmas recipe. I was right to make it, almost all of it was eaten up and it got so many compliments.

Make it, not only is it super simple but it's super tasty.


Pistachio Pudding, aka The Green Stuff
recipe from my Grandma

1 can crushed pineapple with juice
1 small tub whipped topping
1 box instant pistashio pudding
1 cup finely chopped pecans

Mix all the ingredients together and place in icebox overnight.


See, it's that simple and it really is sooooo yummy.

Love.

Banana Pudding

To be more specific this pudding is adapted from the Paula Deen's recipe for Not Yo' Momma's Banana Pudding. My adaption is a bit diffrent, I add a secret recipe- a little bit of nutmeg- it makes a world of diffrence, don't turn up your nose until you try it.


Slap Yo' Momma Banana Pudding

Ingredients
2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
6 to 8 bananas, sliced
2 cups milk
1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream
1 Tbs. of nutmeg

Directions

Line the bottom of a trifle dish with cookies and layer half of the bananas on top. In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended.

Pour half the mixture over the bottom layer of cookies and bananas. Layer with more cookies and last half of bananas, add other half of pudding and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.



My little nugget nephews better keep me in mind for the best aunt ever award. I am so lucky to have them right next door, or are they?



Hope you try it. Yum!