Mississippi Mud!

I hadn't had Mississippi Mud Pie since like...4th of July 1989. It's just as good as I remember it. While eating a cupcake last weekend...outside...in 107 degree heat...it just wasn't hitting the spot. Nothin' but love for the cupcake, but sometimes it's just not the sweet treat you want on a hot day. Sometimes you want a cool treat...a cool, creamy, chocolaty, crumbly treat.

Mississippi Mud Pie, ladies and gentlemen. ***This is i no way "lite", "skinny", lo-anything".

Recipe by my Momma

What you need:

1/2 cup butter

1 cup flour

1 cup chopped pecans

8 oz. softened cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

3 cup Cool Whip

2 each 3 & 5/8 oz. Jello© instant chocolate pudding

3 cups cold milk

Directions:

First layer: Mix butter, flour and pecans. Press to bottom of 9x9 dish. Bake at 375º for 20 minutes, then let cool. (Oops no photo of this step. Sorry!!)

Second layer: Cream together powdered sugar, 1 cup Cool Whip and cream cheese. Spread on top of crust. Chill until set.

Third Layer: Mix together pudding mix and milk (pudding will be thick). Pour on top of second layer and chill until set.

Fourth Layer: Spread remaining 2 cups of Cool Whip onto pudding. You can decorate the top with shaved chocolate if you like.  Chill entire dish for several hours. Cut through all layers and serve in squares.

   Ta-Da!



New addition!

Last time Dad went to visit PawPaw in Covington (just north of New Orleans) he spotted this gem sitting on a shelf! He brought it back to Houston with him and it's now easily my favorite, the second being Dad's old Pentax. It's a Kodak but I keep forgetting to bring it to work to look up the serial numbers so I can date it properly. I like to imagine all the fun things PawPaw and Gammaw would do when they used this camera...all the snapshots they'd take on vacations and road trips...maybe out on the boat.

 

What a great addition. Thanks, Dad and PawPaw!

Scwinnnnnnnnng!

I'm super excited about my new wheels! After enjoying the cruiser for ~2 years , I decided to change it up a bit and try something new. It's alot to learn and I'm vurry scared of cars...but I'm gonna go slow and steady (Not lookin' to win any races...) We're working on getting the boy a bike too so we can explore! Hurray Summer!

Walnut Banana Bread Adventure!

Starbucks' recipe! They just....gave it away...on a recipe card. What's wrong with these people?



Mashin' bananaz.

Addin' walnutz!

...more walnuts on top!

Fresh outta the oven!

With butter... juuuust before going in my belly with a glass o' milk.

This was super easy and so good for breakfast!

Spring Roll Adventure!

This was my first attempt so I went all veggie just to be safe. Use whatever you fancy! I saw a recipe for BLT spring rolls the other day...but bacon? Just seems weird...but it could also be fabulous.

I bought:

shredded carrots ($1.50)

a cucumber (~.50)

fresh mint ($1.70)

fresh cilantro ($1.70)

a jalepeno (~.25)

daikon sprouts (~$2)

House of Tsang Bangkok Peanut Sauce (~$4)

rice vermicelli noodles (less than $2)

rice paper/ spring roll wrappers (less than $2)

Chopped up my veggies/herbs, boiled the noodles for 3 minutes then rinsed them in cold water.

Filled a large skilled with warm water (didn't have a big enough bowl) and dunked the rice paper for 2 seconds. Don't keep submerged for longer, 2 seconds is all it takes. It may seem like it's still a little too crunchy, but I promise they soften up fast.

 Placed the rice paper on a plate, put a little pile of veggies and noodles in the center and wrapped it up like a burrito!

That's it! The peanut sauce already has a bit of a kick to it, but we threw some sriracha in there for good measure. We made 7 and gobbled them all up. So much flavor! We'll definitely be making these often- next time with shrimp!

Enjoy your Gỏi cuốn!

2011 Houston Art Car Parade! * PHOTO HEAVY*

This past Sunday was a beautiful day to sit outside and watch ridiculously adorned cars drive by!

 MY FAVORITE ARTCAR!