Banana Pudding

Combine in blender the following 5 ingredients.


Use low setting to stir.


2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
dash of salt
4 egg yolks (save whites)








Pour liquid into a heavy saucepan or the top of a double boiler (safer).  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened.  Reduce heat and cook stirring occasionally, for five more minutes.  Do not let pudding boil.  Remove from heat.  Add 1/2 tsp vanilla extract.

Line the bottom and sides of 1 1/2 qt casserole with a single layer of vanilla wafers.  Spread a layer of vanilla pudding (perhaps 1/2 cup).  Top with a layer of sliced bananas.  Repeat layering (wafer, pudding, banana) three times.  This will take 5-6 medium-sized ripe bananas and a full box of wafer (and all the pudding.)

Beat four egg whites until soft peaks form; gradually add 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.  Spoon meringue on top of pudding, covering entire surface and sealing well to the edges of casserole.  Bake at 425 for 5 minutes or until delicately browned.

Even though this recipe makes 8 servings, I always double it, preparing it in several dishes in order to share ~

WORD OF THE YEAR 2019

SIMPLE

As 2018 draws to a close and the demands of 2019 are barreling down upon me, I have chosen a word to help me tackle my responsibilities.

S = straight-forward

I =  important

M = meaningful

P =  pleasing

L =  loving

E = economical

In this year's Advent devotional, each day I chose a word to focus on.... to help me remember how to apply the lesson.  As I read, usually the word would come quickly to the forefront and I would try and use it later in the day.

So with my anagram to help direct my steps in the coming year,

I will ask myself questions based on this SIMPLE word.

I will search Scripture for these adjectives, like a word study.

I will expect God's Protection.


Here's a link to the post the last time I chose a word  ;-)

Sunday Lunch

White Chicken Chili

Fruit Salad
(escarole, diced pears, red grapes, pine nuts, fig vinaigrette)

Toasted Cornbread

 Pinot Noir
 Coffee

Thanksgiving

Gettin’ together to smile an’ rejoice, 
An’ eatin’ an’ laughin’ with folks of your choice; 
An’ kissin’ the girls an’ declarin’ that they 
Are growin’ more beautiful day after day; 
Chattin’ an’ braggin’ a bit with the men, 
Buildin’ the old family circle again; 
Livin’ the wholesome an’ old-fashioned cheer, 
Just for awhile at the end of the year. 


Greetings fly fast as we crowd through the door 
And under the old roof we gather once more 
Just as we did when the youngsters were small; 
Mother’s a little bit grayer, that’s all. 
Father’s a little bit older, but still 
Ready to romp an’ to laugh with a will. 
Here we are back at the table again 
Tellin’ our stories as women an’ men. 


Bowed are our heads for a moment in prayer; 
Oh, but we’re grateful an’ glad to be there. 
Home from the east land an’ home from the west, 
Home with the folks that are dearest an’ best. 
Out of the sham of the cities afar 
We’ve come for a time to be just what we are. 
Here we can talk of ourselves an’ be frank, 
Forgettin’ position an’ station an’ rank. 


Give me the end of the year an’ its fun 
When most of the plannin’ an’ toilin’ is done; 
Bring all the wanderers home to the nest, 
Let me sit down with the ones I love best, 
Hear the old voices still ringin’ with song, 
See the old faces unblemished by wrong, 
See the old table with all of its chairs 
An’ I’ll put soul in my Thanksgivin’ prayers.

by Edgar Guest (1881-1959)
 "the poet of the people"

Favorite Books/Authors

Challenged to post the dust jackets of 7 favorite books (on Facebook), WITHOUT any explanation, I spent a week contemplating the possibilities.

First, for the sake of simplicity, I am limiting my choices to fiction.

Second, I decided to divide my life into decades.  That made it easier to select a favorite from that time in my reading life, despite the fact that ten years is too long of a period for choosing just one favorite.

Third, as I was jotting down titles, I realized that many were part of a series by a single author.

Finally, in order to ease the pain of not defending myself (the selected book titles) on Facebook, I am logging my opinions here, where I can later re-examine them.

Elementary Age (0-9yrs)

I loved reading biographies and have very pleasant memories of library time in elementary school.

The one book cover to make the cut is Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder, probably because it fits the series approach for cataloging my reading experiences.












Youth (10-19)

I remember loving historical fiction/romance, and started collecting books for my own library.

Lighthouse by Eugenia Price, the first in a trilogy about St Simons Island, is a clear favorite from this time period, in addition to being a favorite vacation spot.












Young Adult (20-29)

I first read Gail Godwin, the author of A Southern Family, during this decade, and did not re-visit her until my forties, when I read five of hers in a row.
















Adult (30-39)

Frankly, in my twenties and thirties, I read mostly non-fiction (theology, childbirth, and parenting stuff).  So, anything I read during this decade was very light.  I only finished four in this particular series but it fits my taste for historical fiction.















Adult (40-49)

Over the years, I have revisited this Georgia author sporadically.


This title I enjoyed so much that I bought another and gave it to a good friend.


The first Terry Kay novel that I read was The Year the Lights Came On.











Adult (50-59)

Not too long after I read this book, I heard author Susan Vreeland speak at The High Museum.  What a treat.

Girl in Hyacinth Blue was the first of hers that I read, but not before I'd been introduced to Chevalier's Girl with a Pearl Earring.

In comparison, I prefer Vreeland's novels over Chevalier's.

I was sorry to read that Vreeland died about this time last year (August 2017) at age 71.








Adult (60)

Just now finishing up this 14th novel by Jan Karon, I can wholeheartedly recommend all the Mitford novels.

"I feel like I am there" when I read about Mitford.  It's like a mini-vacation.  Relaxing.

Oh! and I recommend Esther's Orange Marmalade cake, which I have personally baked and shared.

Fashion on Fridays

Spring 2018 Pantone Palette

Time to identify the colors already in my closet ~

Little Boy Blue:  Talbots ruffled jacket
Lime Punch:  Long-sleeved T-shirt
Spring Crocus:  Cardigan sweater (perfect w/navy slacks)
Ultra-violet:  Purple Rain nail varnish (on the toes)
Arcadia: puffy vest perfect for cool spring days
Meadowlark:  Short-sleeved floral swing T-shirt (wearing today)
Almost Mauve:
Emperador:
Pink Lavender:
Blooming Dahlia:
Cherry Tomato:
Chili Oil:

Hope to fill in the blanks soon.

Fashion on Fridays

"Making my feet my friend" via Autumn Maple

Quote J M Barrie

Fashion on Fridays

Pantone Palette 2017 Fall/Winter

It's time to start the closet re-organization.

Autumn Maple has caught my attention.

Bourbon Slush

9 cups water, divided
3 black tea bags (or 1 family size)
1/2 cup sugar
12 oz frozen lemonade concentrate
6 oz frozen orange juice concentrate
2 cups bourbon

ginger ale, chilled, for serving

In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil.  Add the tea bags and steep for 10 minutes.  Discard the bags.  Stir in the sugar until it dissolves.

In a large container, combine the sweet tea, lemonade and orange concentrates, 7 cups of water, and 2 cups of bourbon.  Place in freezer for a minimum of 6 hrs, but preferably overnight, until the slush is firm all the way through.

For serving: scoop slush into a tumbler, top with ginger ale, stir and serve with a straw.

Recipe doubles well.

Baptism Luncheon

On March 18, 1990, in honor of DD#4's baptism,  we hosted a celebratory luncheon after church.
16 adults and 12 children enjoyed the menu.

Honey Baked Ham
Peach Salad
Broccoli Salad
Steamed Carrots
Rolls

Frosted Banana Bundt Cake
Lemon Bars
Brownie Bars

Tea
Coffee

"Spending and Being Spent for Christ" was the title of Joe Morecraft's sermon expositing
 II Cor 12:11-19.  It is available online at SermonAudio.

We even have the baptism vows/charge on cassette.

What a blessing to be able to listen again to these.



PS  Still looking for more pictures of this event.

Fashion on Fridays

Pink Yarrow

Working Pantone's 2017 Spring palette into established closet inventory is proving to be easier than I thought.

Last year I purchased this Columbia rain jacket and had already gotten lots of wear out of it, when I spied the color on this season's list.

Dressing daily for work is less of a chore when I pretend like I'm painting a portrait.

What do you think?

Fashion on Fridays

Greenery - Pantone's 2017 Color of the Year found in my closet!

In keeping with the spirit of my fashion blogging, I'm hope to stay current by adopting fashionable colors;

and by utilizing items I already own.

Sometimes the newest styles dont suit my body type.

Hence, accessorizing with the palette becomes not just a way to organize but also a way to prioritize.

This Franklin Covey satchel has served me well over the past several years by keeping office documents organized.

Today I may empty it and use it in place of my everyday handbag.

How are you incorporating *Greenery* into your style?


PS  That's Madame Golovin painted by my mother, who was copying Elizabeth Vigee-LeBrun's work.

Fashion on Fridays

Spring/Summer Palette

Fashion on Fridays

It's time to re-organize the closet ~

Fashion on Fridays

Color(s) of the year are Rose Quartz and Serenity are most fitting for me since we're expecting two grandchildren next month: a boy and a girl, both due on February 15, the birthday of DD#3.

Monkey Bread

Make ahead recipe ~

Grease and flour a large TUBE pan
(not a bundt pan)


In it, arrange 24-30 

  1-oz frozen Parker House rolls.



Mix together the following dry ingredients and sprinkle over the rolls:

1  3-3/4 oz butterscotch pudding mix (NON INSTANT)
1    cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Evenly distribute 1/2 cups chopped pecan over rolls.

Pour 1/2 cup melted butter over everything.

Allow bread to rise overnight (or 8 hrs).  No need to cover pan.

Later ~
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes.

Let pan rest for 5 minutes before turning out onto a large dish with a lip, so the sauce wont run over the edges.

There are never any leftovers of this holiday breakfast item.

Top Ten - Pumpkin

Aside from the proverbial jack-o-lantern use for pumpkins, I have found a host of ways to enjoy this plentiful autumn gourd.

After roasting and pureeing, here are the top ten ways I've enjoyed pumpkin and its flavoring ~ links, if available



1)  soup
     really easy to fix, and I generally leave out the milk/cream
2)  roasted seeds
     freeze well, and a treat to add to salads
3)  pie
     DD#4 prepared a noteworthy version this year
4)  bars
     bought some cookie bars at the grocery store this year
5)  cake
     bought one from my favorite bakery this year
6)  muffins
     received some as a gift this year
7)  cheesecake
     too easy to buy the Cheesecake Factory version at BJs
8)  frappe (pictured)
     low-calorie, nutritious meal replacement
9)  latte
     coffee, vanilla protein powder, and Torani pumpkin syrup
10) ice cream
      Turkey Hill brand tastes delicious alone or a la mode

PS  I use Libby's canned pumpkin mostly, but insist on freshly roasted, pureed for my soup.

PPS  Bonus link to DD#2's recipe for pumpkin bread  ;-)

The Chameleon

hews the hue from pith and peel
to sublimate the color wheel
refracted in sun-speckle drops
like lemon macaroons.  It sops
up the palate's palette cake
and engineers a prism break
above entablatures of trees
to slip into the backdrop frieze
and coalescent with the light
cleave itself from human sight.





Poem by Walter Ancarrow
Photo by Os Nakayama

Walking

From my view above, walking

the hall with the cat, she slightly leading,

her body sways a little with her stepping,

undulates, not like the track of an old river

seen from an airplane, sharply cut through the land,

nor a snake or earthworm---

which must exaggerate, side to side.

She makes a subtle, graceful sway.

I think of how that wide river of ungulates looks,

The elands, zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes,

seen from the airplane above,

in their Great Migration up the Serengeti.

The head does not sway, remains straightforward,

not so much in the hip or shoulder either,

with soft forward shift one leg to another,

but, living where the ribs are, that swing.

When I see that liquefaction

in my cat or in the hordes on TV,

I stare in wonder at how the four-legged ones

are made, how seen from above,

they move in that way by merely walking,

in a grace not only probably, but is.

                       

Mary Ellen Branan

   Bastrop,TX

Poetry Society of Texas A book of the year 2012 awards

p. 118, Derry Tutt Memorial Award

Fashion on Fridays

Fall/Winter Palette ~