PIES AND THOUGHTS

Just got 10 pies made and dinner eaten! I think the people that come to eat tomorrow night should be very happy they came! Pies are two Banana Nut, two Strawberry, two Lemon Ice Box Pie, two Cookies and Cream, and two Chocolate Ice Box from Luby's recipe!

Something that really struck me today after speaking with our preacher's wife last night and then being with her tonight. She is a precious, precious lady -- so unusual for a preacher's wife. I don't mean to be mean - but in a lifetime of attending church there have been some real doosies - one was loved by everyone but suffered many debilitating illnesses so that she was ineffectual as a preacher's helpmate, some were just down right mean, some more than lazy - just sorry - some just uninterested. I guess counting Judy - I've known three that are all that you imagine a great preacher's wife should be! Judy is sweet, tenderhearted,educated, Bible teacher, and helpful. Always teaching, helping Mark entertain, and raising 4 children. No more should be expected of "the preacher's wife" than of any of the ladies at a church - but she should be all she can be -- and Judy is that and more. I respect her and love her very much!

One of the pies we made tonight was a Banana Nut Pie. I was going to check the method today and did not have the cookbook with me so I tried looking up the recipe on the Internet - and I've never seen so many Banana Blueberry pies and never did find one without the blueberries. Found it tonight -- it was one I had put in the old church cookbook back in 1998.

BANANA NUT PIE

1 3 oz. pkg. Instant Vanilla pudding mix (not prepared)
1 (12 oz.) pkg. Cool Whip
1 (8 oz.) ctn. Sour Cream
1 large Graham cracker crust
3 bananas
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Combine the first three ingredients and mix well. Pour half the mixture into crust. Slice 3 bananas on top of mixture. Top with remaining mixture and then sprinkle the pecans on top. Chill before eating.

As I said I could not find the recipe this morning so tonight when I made the pies, I had all of the bananas sliced onto the crust and then topped with the filling. I think it will work either way -- lots of the recipes I looked at today had all of the bananas put directly on the crust!!! Try it and enjoy it!!!

The other night I told you about my favorite 6 ingredients that I use regularly on the food I cook - good black pepper (my favorite is Penzey's Fresh Ground), fresh garlic, cayenne pepper, great cinnamon (non of these little cans or plastic bottles) such as the bulk you can buy at Central Market or at Whole Foods. (I haven't tried the bulk at Fresh), Mexican Vanilla, and a sense of adventure. Mexican Vanilla is very important to me. I recently ran out and bought a small bottle of Adam's best for a little over $5.00. It was ok if I always tripled the amount. The other day while at the Mexican Food Store on the loop - Super Mercado had a stack of boxes with the pure Mexican Vanilla. It was $8.95 - but you got 1 quart and won't have to loose near as much to get a great vanilla flavor. Great buy for great vanilla - right here in Tyler!!

Tonight our Preacher and HIS WIFE were entertaining the friends of their oldest daughter who is graduating from High School in only a few days. She had made Queso and you know how sticky the bowl gets. Pam, who was helping me asked Judy if she wanted hot water in the bowl - but before Judy could answer - I said, "wait, use cold water." Reason: Hot water just causes cheese, flour, corn meal, and such to just become stickier. Cold water just causes it to come right off and then you can wash your bowl in hot soapy water. Pam remarked that she loved working with me because of what I had taught her. I don't know where I learned that little trick - I think I just discovered it -- but remember this the next time you have a cheesy bowl or one where you've used flour!!! You do use flour, don't you?

Well - you have a recipe, a reminder about good Mexican Vanilla, and my cudos to our preacher's wife - so it is time to sign off and try to get in bed by 11:30!!
Have a blessed Wednesday, come eat with us tomorrow night - and bless someone with a kindness that only you can pass along! God Bless.