Someone's In The Kitchen With Momma: Seven Bananas Pudding

Chapter 1: BiLo 



Sometimes her list would require six, but usually, scrawled in blue Bic ink beside 'bananas' was a (7) in parentheses; a week’s supply of potassium until the next shopping day rolled around.



I try to remember now who did her shopping before it became our job. Likely an array of her extended network of family and friends, for though she didn't drive, Aunt Nellie June was well-known, and well-liked.

She needn't go out, we came to her. And truly, it was our pleasure to help; to just be in her orbit. 

So it was, back when we were not just kinfolk but also neighbors, I would take the list she had made after consulting the weekly circular, along with her envelope of carefully counted money, to the Bi-Lo on the corner, and do her weekly shopping. 

Her list was quite specific, calculated for maximum savings and minimal waste.

Seventy years in one primary location had worn a groove in her routine.



Amongst a rotation of seasonal produce and various household products, every week her list included the same fare: 

• Whole milk (PET brand only) 


• One pack of hot dogs (Oscar Myer or Carolina Pride) 


• Cool Whip (the plastic container to be recycled as food storage) 


• Pepsi (an anomaly in Coca-Cola's dixieland domain, but she was a woman confident in her choices)


• Butter pecan or cherry vanilla ice cream (as much for her neighbors as for herself, but she did have a sweet tooth or three ) 


• Bananas (6 or 7) 

I still count bananas in the store, or tell my children how many to get when I ask them to walk back to Produce for things I inevitably remember I've forgotten (but only after crossing at least 2/3 the length of the store)



I always get (6) or (7), not less or more.

Chapter 2: Rodger, that!



Mary Rodgers was the graceful wife of Roger.

That's right, Roger Rodgers.



Mary and Roger served in the church I grew up in for many, many years.



Mr. Rodgers owned an old fashioned barber shop in town, complete with barber pole out front and Mayberry atmosphere inside.



Mrs. Rodgers was gifted in the art of hospitality and often opened her home to our family.



One of my favorite dishes Mrs. Mary served was a thick and creamy banana pudding unlike any found in the Corningware dishes of the other saintly church ladies or served at our myriad local BBQ restaurants.

I was too young to decipher her recipe back then, but the development of my own "kitchen presence" as a young bride coincided with the rise of Google, Food Network and Paula Deen.



I may have never learned the recipe's secret  if not for the ability to cross-reference keywords against a database of tried and true Southern recipes; those iconic Chessmen cookies my Rosetta Stone.  

Chapter 3: Let's Go Krogering 



I am the sum of all my parts, as I believe we all are.

I have been shaped by different environments, exposures and experiences.

I am grateful for them all.



I am thankful for Aunt Nellie June and Mrs. Mary Rodgers as well as a host of other influential souls.

I am thankful for the time they shared with me, the space they created for me in their homes and kitchens and the recipes for life they left for me to follow.



Tonight, as I prepared for the Freewheeling Widows to drop by, I realized banana pudding would be agreeable to all.

In this way, these two precious ladies who've gone-on-to-Glory were welcome in my kitchen as I got ready for two precious ladies who are still going-along-with-me.



I went Krogering to count bananas and gather the following supplies:

• 1 Quart of Heavy Whipping Cream (the secret ingredient, shhh!)  


• One large box of instant vanilla pudding


• One large box of instant banana cream pudding 


• One tub of Cool Whip or can of whipped cream 


• Chessmen Cookies and/or 


• Nilla Wafers (for the purists) 


• Bananas (6 or 7)

Chapter 4: Redeeming The Spotty Ones

I mashed up two leftover bananas that were too far gone for cereal but not yet brown enough for banana bread then added the pudding mix and heavy whipping cream.

I think bananas go spotty like they do to teach us about redemption, if we're inclined to learn.



I included both kinds of cookies because when I am faced with a decision where one person may be disappointed, I become paralyzed with indecision. As a result, I have developed a coping mechanism called 'overcompensation'. When I am in a hurry and can't make up my mind, I jump straight over 'either/or' to 'both and all'



Someday, it will sink in that I really cannot please all the people, all the time and should therefore just pick one already...but, until then, double cookies!

Seems completely healthy and reasonable, no?

I'm sure Cookie Monster approves. 

I layered everything lasagna style and almost alphabetically: "cookies-bananas-pudding-whipped cream-repeat" then chilled the whole thing until the Freewheelers arrived.



We ate tiny glazed Ham on Hawaiian sandwiches and watched Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium before I scooped banana pudding into the Atlanta Braves helmet bowls I'd picked up on Kroger's clearance aisle - for only thirty-five cents each!



Southern Grocery Shopping Rule #1 : The hurry is never too big to bypass clearance. You never know, what you need may be on those shelves. What you don't know you need is probably there, too. 





Chapter 5: Time and Togetherness 



From Bi-Lo to Kroger, there have been many good-byes that came as a surprise.



I'd go back, pay closer attention,  and take more notes if life weren't so insistent about this forward staccato marching we do.



We are allowed only to glance back, not turn back, so we plan for the future ever crossing new horizons.

Tucked in our pockets of memory, or transcribed on a notepad in shaky blue Bic ink, we bring with us instructions from time, left behind.



My freewheelin' gals took leftover sandwiches and pudding home with them, because I'm still learning to cook for just a few.



They also took a little bit of Aunt Nellie June, Mrs. Mary Rodgers and a piece of my heart, too.



We're getting together for Chinese take-out and a Dolly Parton movie soon, because time and togetherness are key ingredients to a life, well-recalled.

"Your life is an occasion, rise to it." 

                                            ~Magorium

Someone's In The Kitchen With Momma: A Hodgepodge of Southern Hospitality

In their homes, and more intimately, their kitchens, I was always warmly welcomed.

Warm, probably because there was always something delicious being cooked.

Even at a young age, I was offered a helping role, a listening ear and the priceless gift of examples to follow.



There are days in those kitchens I wish I could visit again, recipes I wish I had watched more closely, and soft, fleshy old women I wish that I could still glean advice from.



This series of short essays and stories is an overdue payment of homage on the investments they made in me, a bank note of gratitude for those who are still, thankfully, with me.

Ba-na-knees

RyeBanana: "Are those REAL bananas?! They're made for Minions. :: hugging the baby bananas:: I just love these ban-na-knees!"

Der Dutchman

We were recently in Sarasota for a Hurricane Tour event. Sadly there are very few photos. It was a busy weekend with unpredictable weather. Clay caddied for Chandler (too busy choosing and drying off clubs to snap pics) while I bustled the remaining children around the surrounding area (too busy climbing in and out of the car with 3 kids to snap pics) 

As we explored, we discovered something pretty cool: Sarasota has an Amish population. A fact that we hadn't learned when we were in the area for our 14th Anniversary. 

True to Florida style, they're their own kind of Amish. They use electricity and often opt for a bike or scooter instead of horse and buggy. Or, so we read.

We also spotted a size-able  Mennonite population nearby.  

THEREFORE

There are three of four Dutch inspired restaurants in the Sarasota area. 

We chose Der Dutchman because it was still open when Saturday's round was over. 

We intend to try the other places suggested by TripAdvisor on future trips.



It was excellent.

Der Dutchman also houses a large gift shop and bakery. 

We were too busy eating the simple yet delicious buffet offerings to snap many pics, but as I passed the bakery counter on our way out, I remembered a recent text from my brother involving authentic Pennsylvania Dutch donuts and delicacies.

Only then, as we were leaving, did I think to snap some photos, the better to (eventually) lure him to Florida with. Think it'll work? 

Cultural Treat

We like to try new things, especially new and interesting candies from different countries. Anytime we shop at Publix--because they have a good selection-- we choose one (sometimes 2 or 3) new treats from the "Ethnic" aisle to try.



 And if we get within 5 miles of a World Market? Hide the wallet.



While searching for a video to enhance a recent school lesson, we stumbled onto some totally non-related videos of a lady doing YouTube reviews of various things she had purchased at her local Asian market. I didn't know you could make a job of such fun, but judging by the many similar videos we've discovered since that first day, it turns out to be a "thing".



 But the best discovery we made on that day were the Japanese candy kits she had chosen to review. The worst discovery we made is that in a town as small as ours, Asian grocery stores are hard to find. So, despite my oldest son's protests that we were supporting the axis of evil by using Amazon, we chose several kits to have shipped to us.



We've been choosing new kits periodically ever since. They are so much fun, and sometimes, funny tasting, but always fun.



And this is how we learn about the great big world around us. We taste it. We wonder exactly what those directions in a foreignlanguage say (and we give thanks for clear illustrations) We marvel at the Japanese politeness of mere packaging (Please deliver this package to the correct address if it is not inconvenient) ((And-how much happier would our postal workers be if we used the same manners? Instead of Return To Sender! what if we said "Please return this to me if you find it undeliverable.Thank you." ? We find that our way isn't the only way or even always the best way... Matcha flavored KitKat? Simply brilliant. And we have fun. We want to see more, taste more,discover more. We grow curious. And that is sweet.

 

Maple Street Morning

The morning of Clay's "Business Meeting" (Ahem: Golf Tournament) we roamed & roved until time to meet back up. I had long wanted to try Maple Street Biscuit Company, so when we stumbled across their new Beaches location, it was all happy anticipation.

We were not disappointed. The place has atmosphere... really nice atmosphere.

Above the drink station hang Mason jar lights, wire baskets line the dining area and the long sturdy tables provide plenty of sitting room for large parties.



Had the Atlantic Ocean not been lapping the shore just across the road, the warmth and earthy textures coupled with the friendliness of the staff could have convinced me that I was in a mountain breakfast house. Years of family road trips to North Carolina and Tennessee have left me quite fond of such places, though I'm inclined to believe most everyone has at least a  slight breakfast bias.

{Do you?}

One of the benefits of having such a "shoe-full" of children is that we are equipped to divide and conquer. We divided and conquered the menu with an eclectic order. Then we practiced our sharing skills at the table, so that each person got to sample a wide range of flavors from the menu.



We started with an order of "Bob Hash Ups" ~ home fries topped with cheddar, pulled pork & a fried egg.

LoLo opted for a Cinnamon Pecan biscuit:

Both boys opted for biscuits with gravy:

I went with The Farmer~ fried chicken topped with bacon, cheddar and apple butter

Rye had a butter biscuit with the special house made B2 Jam (blueberries, blackberries)

...and chocolate milk, of course.

 Something went a little awry with our order- I can't remember what it was but it was minuscule, like they gave me a soda cup when I needed a coffee mug or something... I really can't remember exactly what it was because I didn't think twice about it. However, to make amends for this 'huge blunder' they sent a plate of Cinnamon Pecan biscuits to our table with much customer service and goodwill.



We had more food than we could finish before it was over. Thankfully, they have take-out boxes.  The photos you see here are of non- morning people, IN THE MORNING! They don't drink coffee yet, so the smiles must have been put there by Maple Street goodness.

Actually, Chandler IS kind of a morning person... still, they are all looking forward to our next trip to biscuit town. 

Duke's Pit Stop

One entry on my "Worth The Drive" list: Dukes BBQ.

Other entries include: Carolina, herself, BBQ, itself and Carolina BBQ, in general- but my list is quite long, so let's just talk about Duke's today.

Here are a few snaps from our recent stop at the Walterboro location: 

I love silhouettes...especially of mossy trees:

It's mostly about the food: 

On the way in, we had encouraged Rye to take a "piggy back ride" but she only cautiously pet the piggy. She must have given it consideration throughout lunch though, because as we were leaving she asked to ride the piggy. Happy to oblige.

Sesame Crunch Candy

Sesame Crunch Candy (I don't know if that is the official name) is one of my favorites. 

In times past, I have had to locate a good health foods store in order to enjoy this treat. Every once in a while, I have been delighted to discover it in a specialty candy shop. 

Then I stumbled on this recipe at Spoonful.com: 

• 1 cup sesame seeds (about 6 ounces)
• 3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons honey
• -----------------
• 
  
• 1. Generously coat two large sheets of waxed paper with cooking spray. In a medium skillet, toast the sesame seeds over medium-low heat, stirring often, until they're fragrant and golden, 5 to 7 minutes.
     
     
  2. 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar and honey. Cook over low heat, stirring often, until the sugar is melted and the mixture is thick, about 5 minutes (because melted sugar can get quite hot, this is a step best left to parents). Add the sesame seeds to the sugar and stir well with a wooden spoon.
  3. Place one sheet of the waxed paper on a work surface, greased-side up. Scrape the mixture onto the paper and top it with the remaining sheet of waxed paper, greased-side down. Using a rolling pin, roll the mixture into a square about 1/4 inch thick (a great job for kids).
  4. Remove the top sheet of paper and cut the candy into 1-inch squares with a sharp knife. Let the candy cool completely. Break apart the pieces and store them in an airtight container at room temperature until you're ready to package them. Makes about twenty-four 1-inch squares.

How easy, right? 

So I tried it. I snuck in one packet of Flax seed, too. 

It was as easy as it seemed it would be and as tasty too. It didn't last very long. 

Lunch & an Alligator

Some days we go on an adventure for lunch...

 St. Mary Alligator Bench~ our oft visited friend: 

Menus? No, we're only here for the sugar packets :o/

 (An end was put to this as soon as all necessary photos had been obtained ;) 

Corn Nugget

The recipe seemed easy enough:

 Mix a can of corn and a can of creamed corn

Scoop into rounds and freeze

Dip frozen rounds in batter

Fry

Enjoy corn nuggets at home instead of in our default restaurant.

I thought it was SO simple, I could imporvise a little. I tossed in some red pepper flakes and shredded cheddar. I think the cheddar would be my recipe's undoing in the end. 

Dipping nuggets in batter. A thicker batter may have made a difference: 

Things started out well: 

Promising looking nuggets: 

A combination of thawing and cheese strands extending past the "batter barrier" led many nuggets to spread... our overall result was something like Scrambled Corn Nugget Fritters... 

*BOUNUS*

Let's talk about deep fried foods and your arteries... 

Picky Princess (*now with Ketchup Cat)

We have a picky princess in our house.

Here are the things she will gladly eat:

Potato Chips

Peanut Butter

Chocolate Spread

Chocolate Chips

Ketchup

Strawberries

Milk (I realize milk is not food, she insists otherwise) 

~*~

Here are the things she will sometimes eat:

Raisins

Yogurt (preferably with rainbow sprinkles) 

Pizza Crust

French Fries

Bananas

Dry Cereal (preferably with rainbow marshmallows) 

 ~Notice the sugar trend? 

We are working on it, and until something catches on, we're getting creative ;)

 Food fun we've recently had: 

FryPop

She only ate the ketchup.

Ketchup Cat

Meant to encourage fry consumption, she asked for a bigger cat. 

MinnieMouse Cream

I realize that the below picture is of ice cream, but it had been a milk only day, despite the Jell-o and bananas we offered from the buffet @ Ichiban. I was aiming at a few more calories by this point. 

She watched the mouse melt as she finished off her milk. 

Fourth of July ReCap~ The Food (Part 2)

Of course there were the fried things I told you about earlier.

 (way, way, way earlier at this point)

Then there were these other, mostly pre-packaged fried things that we haven't yet discussed. 

Jalapeno Poppers and Cheese Filled Pretzel bites. 

Appetizing...no? (NO) 

Some 'DIY' corn pup nuggets: 

Before:

Post Oven:

And also, Chili Cheese Oven Fries:

Not to mention some salsa & chips that accompanied us to the shore:

Current Favorite Salsa:

(CHIPS & DIP-the original moveable feast)

And then there were the mini Cherry YumYum pies.

The food with the story attached. (You knew there had to be one, right?)

You see, I always think about MeeMaw Brewer around Independence Day.

Cherry YumYum was one of her signature dishes and one of our last family gatherings with her was a July 4th.

Now, while Aundree was indeed a beloved family member, by the time I joined the family she was  almost completely bats (no offense, MeeMaw... it's okay, we loved you still... Rest In Peace, now)

 One of my favorite memories from that July 4th gathering is the memory of cake tossing in the kitchen ,as slightly fictionalized in this old short story contest entry.  I re-read over it before linking in- and my bad writing form aside, I still laughed all the way through, because the only thing that didn't really happen in that story was MeeMaw thinking it was Thanksgiving.

 ... and that is why I make Cherry YumYum on the Fourth of July. 

 
Cherry YumYum pies are terribly easy to make.

(One block of cream cheese, one container of cool whip, Cherry pie topping)

((Also tasty: substitute Nutella or Chocolate Peanut Butter or Lemon Curd or Pretty Much Anything for pie filling))