Banana Pudding (My Favorite)

Banana Pudding Cup

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 yolks eggs, beaten
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 bananas, peeled and sliced
• 1 (12 ounce) package vanilla wafer cookies

In medium saucepan combine sugar, flour and salt. Add eggs and stir well. Stir in milk, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly. When mixture begins to thicken, remove from heat and continue to stir, cooling slightly. Stir in vanilla and butter until smooth.

In 8x8-inch dish, layer pudding with bananas and vanilla wafers. Chill at least one hour in refrigerator before serving.

Tips

If making for a party crush cookies in the bottom of a few small dishes (martini glass, small dessert cups) add a layer of 2-3 thin sliced bananas and top with pudding mixture. Right before serving top with whip cream and garnish with a cookie. 

To keep your banana's from browning squeeze the juice of a lemon and mix with water. cut your banana's into the mixture and dry them off before adding. 

Double the recipe I hghly encourage it. 

Chicken Salad

Chicken Salad Sandwich with Roasted Potatoes

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked chicken, Diced
• 2 stalks Celery, Chopped
• 1/4 cup Red Onion, Diced
• 3 whole Green Onions, Chopped
• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup Sour Cream
• A Small Handful Of Fresh or Dried Herbs (parsley, dill, or cilantro work great), Minced
• 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
• Juice Of One Lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
• Kosher Salt To Taste
• Fresh Ground Black Pepper To Taste 

Combine mayo and sour cream with lemon juice (vinegar can also be used). Stir in herbs and brown sugar.And heavily add your salt and pepper (especially if you didn't season your chicken). Mix in with chicken and both the green and red onion. Refrigerate one hour before serving.  

Tips

Serve with crackers at a party. If you're cutting crabs try it in a tortilla wrap or a lettuce wrap.

Great way to get rid of that leftover chicken from the holiday so it doesn't waste

Try crumbling some bacon (turkey or pork) in for a added crunch

Don't like sour cream try some plain yogurt or just use a whole cup of mayo

If you want a creamier salad add a little more mayo and sour cream

Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

• 2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 5-ounce package Dried Cranberries
• 2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or chips
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon (Optional)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla (Optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375ºF. 

Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition. Stir in dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks. 

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. 

Makes approximately 2 1/2 dozen cookies

HINTS

If using vanilla add before the eggs.

Mix cinnamon with other dry ingredients (and you can use more than 1TBSP)

Ocean Spray make 4 or 5 different flavors of the Craisin's (I love the pomegranate) and one that is chocolate covered. Please feel free to try them all in this recipe