What's Cooking? - Banana Split Cake

In our family, we don't seem to go for traditional Birthday cakes. My favorite is a meringue torte, Poppy's is a pudding cake and my DS always had to have Pizza with candles. He hates sweets.

When Poppy was a girl her grandmother made a Banana Split cake. After every bite she took, she mmmmed with delight. After that it became her special Birthday cake. It's her birthday this week, so I'd better get the ingredients and make it for her.

I thought I'd share the recipe for those of you who might want to try a sinfully delicious (no calorie, wink) recipe. Originally posted in 2010.

2 cups graham crackers
1 stick oleo margarine (melted)
2 cups powdered sugar
2 sticks softened oleo margarine
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
6 bananas
peanuts
maraschino cherries
1 can crushed pineapple (in syrup)
1 pkg Dream Whip

Mix graham crackers and melted margarine together and press in a 9” X 13” pan.
Beat powdered sugar and soft margarine together until well blended.
Add eggs and vanilla and beat 10 to 15 minutes until really fluffy.
Spread mixture over graham crackers in pan. Peel bananas, cut in half lengthwise and place over mixture.
Prepare Dream Whip according to package and fold in the pineapple.
Spread the whip topping pineapple mixture over the top of cake.
Sprinkle nuts on top and place cherries so there will be on on each piece.
Refrigerate.

I cover with foil and refrigerate for 24 hours. I think it tastes better after one day. Not to worry about leftovers, you won't have any. (We have never gotten sick, but always keep extra clean when working with raw eggs)

Life on Mars - Family Dinners and Black Friday Shopping

So we decided we were going to have the Thanksgiving dinner ourselves and not go over to Poppy's in laws because - well their house and cleaning habits are - well - I'm not going to say really. Lets just say I don't like sitting an barely wiped off cat barf, drinking out of greasy glasses, or having their huge dogs nose in my crotch while I'm trying to pretend I'm eating somewhere else.

While our house is not the greatest, our cats will not jump on the table while we are eating and we can manage to keep the room we're eating in clean for at least a day. Although we do have a lot of clutter, it's clean clutter.

Then, on Wednesday, boy child #1 says "Grandma is swearing and having a fit because our house is filthy and she doesn't want to have dinner over at our house." So I immediately take over some extra food we had for them and trip over the junk in the hall and say, "Wow this hall is really a mess" and look in the living room and say "Good thing we're having dinner. Looks like you wouldn't have had time to clean up everything anyway." All in a very pleasant tone with a big smile on my face.

Poppy and I were busy with the baby, cleaning and setting up everything for dinner. Poppy spent a little time next door and came back stating that MIL won't be coming to dinner, because she's had runs for 4 days. Well I happen to know that's not true, because the first day she was helping us with the baby, the second day I took her up to the church, and the third day she was just bitching about our house and never said a word about being sick.

Poppy told her that if she was sick for so long, that maybe she should go to the hospital and maybe if it's that bad Luna better go to the doctor and get checked too. Later that day MIL came over and said she wasn't sick when she was watching Luna and she could probably come to dinner because she hadn't been sick all day, even though she just said she was a few hours earlier.

Even though it was an insane and crazy morning and afternoon, when it came time for dinner, the house was beautiful, the food was fantastic and everyone had a great time. No fights, no fuss. MIL said grace, because we don't know any, FIL said the house seemed bigger that theirs (even though it's half the size, it's just cleaner) and the kids actually sat quietly for a minute and enjoyed their meal. A perfect end to a crazy week.

Poppy and Luna took a nap before they went out shopping with Daddy at 10 PM to 3 AM. They want to several stores to price match the Best Buy ads. She only got a few things and some of the stores didn't give them all the matched prices.

At 9 AM I went online and found almost everything she wanted at Best Buy. She ordered there and now she has to return the other things. lol Next year do your Black Friday shopping from the living room Poppy!

Happy Holidays!

Life on Mars - Kids

For those of you that have kids, you'll know what I'm talking about. It never ends. The worry they cause you and the endless joy they bring. We have a new member to the family line. I'm a little kooky and who would have ever thought that I would have not only had children, but a lineage as long as this one, thanks to my prolific DD. Of course they are all a bunch of kooks too.

This last week we had a little scare with the beautiful new GD Luna.  She had jaundice and lost too much weight.  She had to be on a silly little lighted belt to clear her out and now she's doing better. Still not enough added weight though. The jaundice can cause brain damage and blindness, and we don't want that.

Poppy, my DD, has had a few issues too, although not serious. Her pregnancy was really easy this time, but the after has not been the smoothest. Hopefully things will get better soon. Luna is one beautiful babe.

For those of you who know about my DS I'll give you an update. I swear things will never go well for him. Here is a link to a longer version of his story "Someone Tweeted Dental Floss". His story is that He was born with a very serious heart defect, surgery at birth, open heart at 1 and 19 and at 34 the valves he had replaced are leaking.

DS tried for 2 years to get on SS disability, because he can't work and needs surgery. Fought the government for 2 years and finally won, and even though he applied 2 years ago, they are cheating him out of his back pay. Now on Medicaid, they are giving him a hard time about transferring to another state. His surgery is one that no one in his state will perform. He's running out of time. The longer he waits, the more irreversible damage is done to his heart. He looked OK last year, but his recent pics scare me. He needs this surgery soon.

I also want to thank everyone who donated to his cost to get my DS to Cleveland for his surgery. He is making only enough to live on and has thousands in medical bills that should have been covered, but are not going to be. He will still have expenses when he comes to Cleveland if he ever gets here.

So kids! I know you know what I mean. Even when they are doing good and are healthy you worry. Parents, if you aren't familiar with the Bowie song Kooks, you must listen to this.

What's Cooking - Corn Souffle

Sunrise on the lake this morning was beautiful. Variegated bands of Rose and Aqua, through the bare trees, reflected on the lake. The bare trees reminded me that somehow I missed the fall colors this year. I think it didn't last long, and I was a very busy girl woman.

I've missed a bit here, so I want to make it up to you. Some of my family Thanksgiving recipes. Here's one that we wouldn't love without, or would the kids. We call it Corn Souffle, but it's also called Corn Scallop and our version is not so fluffy, so Scallop might be a better name. Maybe Corn Casserole is best. Call it whatever you want. It's out of this world.

CORN SOUFFLE                                                  

1 can whole kernel corn undrained

1 can cream style corn

2 eggs slightly beaten

1 cup sour cream

1 small package of corn muffin mix (like Jiffy)

dash of salt 

Mix all ingredients by hand until dry mix is moistened and ingredients are distributed well.

Pour into a greased casserole or souffle dish. Bake at 350 deg F for 35 to 40 minutes. It should be moist and firm, but not wet in the middle. Top should be lightly brown. It will puff up in the oven, but flatten back when cooled.

Serve warm. I like to add a pat of butter on top to make mine even more decadent.