Christmas morning 2012

I woke up to some Merry Christmas texts from people I love.

 And our first snow of the season!!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!!

I made my dessert for Christmas dinner and although it's not perfect looking I'm pleased with it.  It's the first time I made it and it will get even prettier with practice.   Thanks Paula Deen.

Not Yo'Mama's 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

Directions

Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer 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 the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

I had already decided to use just one bag of cookies because of :

1. the calories  

2.  the cookies are expensive 

3. the store only had 1 bag.

And my Cool Whip is sugar free.  And I use almond milk regularly.  The bowl and spoons I licked tasted yummy.

The name is actually correct.  My mom was a great cook and the most instinctive natural cook I have ever been around but she made really good, simple things.  Frying, gravy, homemade desserts.  Good southern cooking.  But she never used cream cheese or eagle brand or expensive cookies with Christmas shapes.  Her pudding was good without it.  I'd trade the fancy pudding for her here making the un-fancy pudding.

And here is my Christmas present to myself, using a coupon and Kohl's cash.  I used it for the first time today and what was I waiting for??????   Love it!!

My new Kitchenaid beater with scraper!!!