Banana Pudding

What's a girl to do when she has some bananas getting very ripe and some milk about to expire... make her family some banana pudding!

Banana Pudding

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 tsp salt

2 1/2 cups milk\

4 large egg yolks

2 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1 tsp vanilla

3 bananas

some shortbread cookie crumbles - I used Trader Joe's Vanilla Wafers

whipped cream

In a med. saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt.  Very gradually add milk, whisking constantly to dissolve cornstarch.  Next whisk in the eggs.  Cook mixture over medium heat until the first large bubble forms.  Reduce heat to low and continue whisking for about another minute.  Remove from heat and quickly pour through a fine-mesh sieve and into a bowl.  Add the butter and vanilla into the hot pudding. You're going to let the pudding cool, which gives you time to slice up the bananas.  I used 8 glasses and layered pudding, bananas, cookies, pudding, rest of bananas and cookies, and then topped it all of with some whipped cream.  Truly a great way to use up food before it goes bad!

Mexican Rice as a Meal

Time for a yummy Mexican inspired dinner tonight!  I made some steak for Ken and Kelsie to go with this, but the rice is easily a meal in itself.

Mexican Rice
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1 can diced green chilies - 4 oz
1 cup corn - I used frozen
1 can kidney beans - 15 oz
1 - 1 1/2  cups of salsa - I used my homemade version (recipe will follow)
1 1/2 cup cooked rice
1 cup of Colby-Jack cheese, shredded

First, make sure your rice is cooked.  Heat the oil in a large pan.  Add the onion and pepper, and cook until tender.  Next add the seasonings - to get them nice and toasty.  Stir in the chilies, corn, beans, and salsa.  Finally add the rice and cheese.

We filled flour tortillas with the rice mixture, along with some more cheese, avocado, and diced tomatoes.  Serve with tortilla chips and more salsa.  It's fiesta time!

Quick Blender Salsa
1 can Rotel
1 can chopped tomatoes - sometime I use fire roasted
3 green onions
cilantro

Put everything in a blender, and TaDa! - you've got a delicious treat with chips!