Banana Pudding

This was my Daddy's favorite dessert.  This is a very versatile recipe.  If you add cocoa powder, you can make chocolate pudding or chocolate pie.  If you add coconut, you can make cocount cream pie.  It's a basic custard recipe.  For a pie, you would need a little more thickener.  Enjoy!

3 eggs, separated (you will use the whites for the meringue)
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons flour
2 1/3 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
vanilla wafers
bananas

Beat egg whites (sweetened) until very stiff and set aside.

Heat milk in a small pot until starts to bubble around the edges.

In a heavy saucepan, mix sugar and flour into the egg yolks.  Gradually add milk to the sugar mixture, using a whisk and stirring vigorously until smooth.  Cook over medium heat until thick, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

Line a clear glass ...

English Muffins

Yes! You can make delicious English muffins in your own kitchen. They are easy and taste wonderful!

This recipe comes from King Arthur Flour and makes 16 large muffins.

1 3/4 cups (397g) milk, lukewarm
3 tablespoons (43g) butter, softened
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, to taste
2 tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
4 1/2 cups (540g) bread flour
2 teaspoons instant yeast
semolina or farina, for sprinkling the griddle or pan

Weigh your flour; or measure it by gently spooning it into a cup, then sweeping off any excess. Combine all of the ingredients (except the semolina or farina) in a mixing bowl, or the bucket of your bread machine.
This is a very soft dough, so you'll need to treat it a bit differently than most yeast doughs. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the dough using the flat beater paddle until it starts coming away from the sides of the bowl, and is satin-smoo...

Pretzels

Pretzels are easy and a fun thing to make with your children.

HOMEMADE PRETZELS
Makes 12

1 1/2 cups lukewarm water 
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast – 1 packet
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar or granulated sugar
1 tablespoon butter, melted, slightly cool
3 ¾ to 4 cups all-purpose flour
coarse sea salt for sprinkling
1/2 cup baking soda

Preheat oven to 400° degrees.
Get a big pot of water boiling and add the baking soda.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Silicone baking mats are highly recommended over parchment paper. If using parchment paper, lightly spray with nonstick spray or grease with butter. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attached, whisk the yeast into warm water. Allow to sit for 1 minute.
Whisk in salt, brown sugar, and melted ...

Cherry Mashers

This recipe is from Joanna Gaines and it says it makes about 4 dozen.

I made these for the first time in 2021 and we loved them so much they were added to our list of Christmas candy that we make every year.

One 7.2-ounce package Betty Crocker Home Style Fluffy White Frosting Mix - If you can’t find or don’t want to use the powdered frosting mix, omit the mix and decrease the amount of sweetened condensed milk to 3 tablespoons.
1 pound powdered sugar
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter, at room temperature
One 10-ounce jar maraschino cherries, drained and chopped
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
One 20-ounce package chocolate almond bark, broken into smaller pieces
One 11.5-ounce bag milk chocolate chips
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (I used avocado oil)

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the f...