Sunday, August 1, 2010

Avoiding the Inevitable End to My Summer

As much as I love my home, my job, and my life back on the mainland, I can't help but have a little anxiety about leaving Hawaii.  I've done this every summer, so I should be ready for the inevitable freak out, but it popped up this weekend!  Here's how I solved it:


A lady in our neighborhood had a big bunch of bananas that another neighbor was trying desperately to get rid of, since they had ripened and were just too much for one family. How could I resist?  These were, actually, my first "off the tree" bananas for this summer.


My mom asked me to make a family get-together favorite, Easy Banana Pudding that I picked up when I lived in Mississippi.  Here is the pudding bit, just waiting for the vanilla wafers and banana slices.


Here's the final product.  This isn't rocket science to make, but a real sugar overload, and yummy to boot.  I made this with the mini Vanilla Wafers and will NEVER do that again.  They were too little, and I didn't like the look of them.  As my mom said, "Who cares!  It will still taste good."

Here's the recipe if you're interested:

1-2 bananas, sliced (depending on how many layers you make)
1 large box of instant vanilla pudding
2 C. milk
1 large whipped topping
vanilla wafers (It usually only takes 1/2 a box or less)

Directions:  Mix the pudding mix with the milk, until there is a slight set on the pudding.  It will be fairly stiff.  Fold in the whipped topping until the mix is incorporated.  Slice the bananas & reserve for the layers.  In a bowl, make small layers of pudding, vanilla wafers, pudding again, bananas, and then repeat, leaving the top layer as the pudding.  You can then decorate the edge of the bowl with vanilla wafers if you like.

I actually did a lot of reading this weekend.  I finished:


I'm also just finishing up:


One more week in paradise!  Yes, I'm a bit late posting this for the weekend, but what have you been up to?  Does anyone else cook when they're anxious, or am I a horrible stereotype gone awry?!?

8 comments:

  1. I sometimes cook when I'm anxious and it sounds like your pudding would taste great!

    I ordered Frangipani from bookmooch about 2 months ago? I guess it won't be arriving :(

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  2. I liked Frangipani, and book #2 as well. I have Book 3 bythis author, but still unread.

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  3. When I was in school I used to print when I was anxious (art prints, I mean). There's something about the repetitive method that's very soothing for me, and it helps to do something creative as well. But now I don't have a printing press, so I can't. :(

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  4. Oh, I love banana pudding! Thanks for the recipe! And hope you survive your yearly freak out! :)

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  5. Oh this banana pudding looks SO delicious! My husband's allergic so I never get to indulge unless someone else makes.

    I used to bake A LOT when I was in grad school--maybe because I was procrastinating? I just can't seem to be bothered now. Never thought to bake when I'm anxious!

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  6. Iris & Chelle--Thanks! It turned out great. :) I don't know what my deal is with anxiety and cooking. LOL.

    Bibliophile--Oh good! I can't wait to get book 2 and keep reading.

    Heidenkind--It would be such a better option for me than cooking if I could just draw, sew, whittle, or anything else. :)

    Alexia--Thanks. :) I should survive, but I always feel more than a little freaked out about going back to school!

    Trish--Is he allergic to bananas? That's crazy if so. I love bananas. Although I can't eat pinapple, which KILLS me. I have to agree about the procrastinating thing. Sometimes when I need things to put up for the week so I don't have to cook later, I'm glad for my anxiety cooking. Other times, like this time, I wish I could find another outlet! LOL.

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  7. Yum, looks good! This is definitely one of those times I wish that there was a "test this recipe" right on the screen. Not that I'd just want to *test* it...

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