Candie's Banana Creme

Ooohhh...
What is this?


Could it be?
Yes, yes, yes it is.


Banana pudding.
White trash cooking at its best.
Banana pudding is sort of in the same category as jello molds and rice krispy treats.
You feel guilty because it is so easy but also heroic because everyone loves it.
So here we go.
Perfect for 4th of July or potlucks (the pictures are of individual ones I made).
This feeds a huge crowd.
Huge.
Huge belly's will happen, count on it.
3 - 9" X 13" pans or one roasting pan.
Candy was the meanest woman I have ever known, but a pretty good cook, this came from her.

CANDIE'S BANANA CREME

1 large instant banana pudding
1 pint heavy cream
1 can Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk
3 large instant vanilla pudding
9 cups milk
1 16 ounce cool whip
3 boxes vanilla wafers
5 pounds bananas

First, place the unopened can of sweetened condensed milk in a bowl of hot water.
In a medium mixing bowl, blend the banana pudding and heavy cream together, then place in freezer for 5 minutes.
In a really, really big mixing bowl, blend the vanilla pudding together.
Remove the banana pudding from the freezer and blend in the warm sweetened condensed milk.
Add this mix to the vanilla pudding.
Blend the cool whip into the pudding mixture.
Layer the pan with the vanilla wafers, pudding, bananas, then repeat.


I have also added layers of toffee pieces, marshmallows, and chocolate shavings, not all at once of course but who knows.

Thai Pork Lettuce Wraps

It's just another Mai Tai Monday.
I wish it was Sunday.
An I don't have to run day.
Cause that's my fun day.
Just another Mai Tai Monday.

Mai Tai's were originated by Vic Bergeron in 1944 and the Rum was supposed to stand out instead of fruit juices.

Well poo on them, I like the pretty, fruity Mai Tais.
With great girlfriends.
And flowers.

Mai Tai Monday went quite well.
A nice little girls get together.
Well, big girls actually.
You know, playing truth or dare, pillow fights in our lingerie, that sort of stuff.

Just kidding.

Though I do think that would be a really fun party when I am about 85.
Go out with a bang I say.
Embarrass your kids until the end.
You've earned it.

I made girly Mai Tai's, parasol's, fruit skewers, butterfly lollies, pink and orange straws.

MAI TAI'S GONE WILD
This is for each glass

6-8 oz pineapple & guava punch, (diluted by directions)
1/2 lime
Strawberries
Pineapple
Mint leaves
1 oz Dark rum
1 oz Coconut rum
1/2 oz Grenadine
Ice

This is actually better if you macerate the fruit in the punch for a full day. You can throw it all in the blender after that, or serve it with the chunks of macerated fruit or strain and use fresh fruit on the skewers. And if you want to get snockered then just add more rum. And call me.


Because the Mai Tai here is on the sweet side, the food should be a little spicy. Years ago I had the best Thai lettuce wraps. I love Thai food. The flavors just seem to explode in your mouth like a party. This is the closest I could get to what I remember. It wasn't exactly the same but I have gladly been eating the leftovers every day since.

THAI PORK LETTUCE WRAPS

3 lbs ground pork
2 small onions, minced
1/4 c ginger, minced
1/4 c garlic/ minced
1 t kosher salt
2 T cumin
2 T red pepper flakes
1/2 c sesame oil
1/2 c soy sauce

Limes, quartered
Cilantro, torn leaves
Mint, torn leaves
Green onion, sliced
Peanuts, chopped
Coconut, fresh or toasted
Bibb whole lettuce leaves, 2-4 per person
Spiced plum sauce (recipe below)

Brown the ground pork in a large saute pan.
Add onions, ginger and garlic, and continue cooking for 5 minutes.
You can transfer to a crock pot at this point or continue on the stove.
Add salt, cumin, red pepper flakes, sesame oil and soy sauce.
Stir and leave in crock pot for 4-6 hours on low.
Add 1/3 of the spicy plum sauce to the meat.
Place cooked pork and extra spicy plum sauce in separate bowls.
Also place limes, cilantro, mint, green onion, peanuts, coconut and lettuce leaves in separate bowls.
Everyone makes their own adding the different toppings. Gently roll up and enjoy.

SPICED PLUM SAUCE

1 jar plum jam
6 T Tom Yam sauce

Simple, simple, simple.
Heat and stir.


I also made flower garlands. Hours of work! I absolutely love them. We have 3 different dollar stores here, and one is far better than the others and is corporate owned. This is where I bought most of the flowers. I suggest choosing flowers with layers of petals, some with varied colors, and interesting centers. Take them apart layer by layer but leave one or two layers on the center pieces. By taking the flowers apart you will get far more use and interest. I used 15 lb fishing line and hot glued a piece of the petal for some and sewed the fishing line through others. You will find what works best. I only made 5 of these because they do take a while. I used the rest of the petals randomly on the table. It was really pretty and I just put all the serving dishes on top. I made a garland with the leaves also and used it on the front porch.


To recreate the original Mai Tai if you are interested, have a look at the suggestions of ingredients from Beachbum Berry

Saint James 15-year Hors D'Age Rum
Appleton Estate Extra rum
Marie Brizard orange curacao
Trader Vic orgeat syrup
Trader Vic rock candy syrup
Limes
Mint