Going BANANAS....Banana Split Dessert, Bananas Foster Upside Down Cake and...Easter Fun!

Hey Y'all......thought I better stop by and send a shout-out to my PEEPS:)

I hope everyone is doing well and getting ready for SPRING!!

I didn't mean to be gone so long but with a few health problems,
birthdays and busyness in general............life happens.
I promised myself that I would try to do more frequent, 
short posts but I find myself
 with a ton of stuff to share and I figure I better
 cram it all in, once again:)
So here we go..........

First up, one of my ALL-TIME FAVORITE desserts,
and perfect for Easter!
Banana Split Dessert 
We've made this in our family for years and I cam across it recently in 
one of our old cookbooks.
Everything about this is pure YUM. 
 TRUST ME:)

Seriously, this is so good I think you just need to try it:)
Banana Split Dessert

2 cups graham crackers 

1/2 cup butter melted 

1/2 cup butter 

2 cups sifted powdered sugar 

2 eggs 

5 bananas 

1 15 1/2 ounce can crushed pineapple, well drained 

1 8 ounce container frozen whipped dessert topping, thawed 

semisweet chocolate, shredded 

1/3 cup chopped nuts optional 

maraschino cherries 

In a mixing bowl toss together the graham crackers and the melted 1/2 cup 

butter.  Press crumb mixture onto the bottome of a 13X9X2 inch baking 

pan.  In a small mixing bowl beat the remaining 1/2 cup butter about 

30 seconds til softened.  Add powdered sugar; beat till fluffy.  Beat in eggs. 

Spread egg mixture over crumb mixture. 

 Slice bananas lengthwise into halves 

and arrange over egg mixture.  Spoon pineapple over bananas.  Spread with 

dessert topping.  Sprinkle with chocolate and the nuts, if desired.  Cover 

refrigerate at least four hours before serving.,  Cut inot squares to serve. 

Top each square with a cherry.  Cover and chill to store.  Serves 15. 

From the Avon International Cookbook 1983 

Ready for more banana goodness?

How does Bananas Foster Upside Down Cake sound?

Pretty good if you ask me:)

So here you go........

Bananas Foster Upside Down Cake

1 cup brown sugar, packed

3/4 cup butter, softened and cut into pieces, (divide 1/4 cup for sauce and 1/2 cup for cake)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

3 large bananas, yellow but firm, sliced diagonally into 1/4-inch pieces

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sour cream

Place brown sugar, 1/4 cup of the butter and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Heat over medium low heat until butter is melted and mixture is smooth, stirring occasionally.

Pour into a 9-inch round cake pan or a 9" square pan.

Arrange banana slices over brown sugar mixture.

Place remaining 1/2 cup butter and sugar in a large bowl; 

beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.

In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

At low speed, beat in flour mixture in 3 parts alternating with sour cream,

 beginning and ending with flour mixture.

Spread batter over bananas.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 min or until cake is golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in pan on wire rack 15 minute.

Run small knife around edge of cake; carefully invert cake onto serving plate. Serve warm.

Before we get to the fun stuff,
here's another cute idea for Easter.......Deviled Egg Chicks!

Simply make your usual recipe for deviled eggs but instead of slicing the egg
lengthwise, slice it horizontally and scoop out the filling that way.  

(Does that make sense?))

Add peppercorn eyes and a tiny carrot nose and you have the perfect brunch dish:)

Okay.......moving on to some fun stuff!
I think I am desperate for little kids again.
I know this for sure.......
if i did have a little one, I would grab some cotton balls, 

cut out bunny shapes and make a bunny photo frame of my kiddos!
Like it?

Using those plastic eggs and some pipe cleaners, make some egg bunnies to hold
a little treat.  This would be a great way to share treats with the rest of the class:)

Next is one of my favorites.......
Now you can "egg" your neighbors (without getting in trouble:)
I made this one because to me, it's the perfect combo of Easter Bunny fun
with a lesson/reminder on the TRUE meaning of Easter.
The reason we celebrate...........our risen Savior.

The obvious thing to do would be to share this with families with children.
However, I think the opposite would be a wonderful treat.
Do you have an elderly couple or someone living alone, who may like to wake up to some eggs in their lawn on Easter?
Now that would be a special treat:)

If you do a search online for "you've been egged", you'll find many variations on this.

Easter treats.........

these are so adorable!

I tried looking around for the exact instructions but came up empty.

However, it looks like these cute faces were made with pumpkin cookie cutters!

CLEVER!!

 Oh gosh, I have to share these EVERY year..........
Bunny Butt Cookies!
 
Here is the link with instructions: Bunny Butt Cookies

Kids would LOVE these straws.........
PEEPS Straws!

How about some bunny pancakes?

This is sooooo cute:)

Need a last minute favor?

These are super cute and easy...Cotton Tail donut Holes.

Follow the link for the free printable:

Bunny Tails

And who couldn't use advice on life once in awhile?

Especially if that advice is from the EASTER BUNNY?

Here's something just for fun........

What's your Easter Bunny Name?

My name is Bubbles MacDoodle!

Okay, told you I had some fun stuff:)

But now I leave you with this.

It's great to have fun............

but it's more important to remember this:

Happy Spring and may God Bless You!

XOXO Suzanne

A.K.A Bubbles MacDoodle

Bunny Butt Cookies for Easter...

Okay, are these the most adorable, stinkin cute cookies ever???????

Bunny Butt Cookies!

Seriously, even the name makes me smile:)

Pillsbury does it again...super cute and super easy sugar cookies. 

And I personally promise your kids will think you're the coolest mom for making these!;)

here's how you do it...

Bunny Butt Cookies

*Note:  This is the Pillsbury recipe but we like to make our own 

sugar cookie and frosting recipe.  

We also don't slice the cookies, we roll out our dough and use round cookie cutters. 

 For those who want exact instructions, read on...

Ingredients:

1  roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury™ refrigerated sugar cookies

1/3  cup all-purpose flour

1  container (12 oz) fluffy white whipped frosting

Pink gel food color

22  miniature marshmallows

Candy sprinkles

Directions:

1  Heat oven to 350°F.

 In large bowl, knead cookie dough and flour with hands until well mixed.

2  Reshape dough into 9x1 1/2-inch log.

3  Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate 30 minutes.Remove plastic wrap. Cut cookie dough into 33 slices. Cut 11 slices into 4 equal wedges; shape each wedge into ovals for bunny feet. Place cookie dough slices and bunny feet on ungreased cookie sheet.

4  Bake 8 to 12 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.

5  In medium microwavable bowl, stir frosting and 1 to 3 drops pink food color until well blended. Microwave uncovered on High 10 to 15 seconds or until soft but not translucent.

6  To make bunny butt, frost 1 whole cookie slice and 2 bunny feet with frosting. Place bunny feet on bottom of cookie as shown in photo. Place 1 marshmallow in center of each cookie for tail. Decorate bunny paws with candy sprinkles. Repeat with remaining cookie slices and bunny feet. To add ears to your bunny, place pink jelly beans at the top of each cookie.

I'm pretty sure this cutie pie will be honored if you make Bunny Butt Cookies! :) 

XOXOXO

Suzanne

Maybe This World Needs Prayer, a Group Hug, and a Milk and Cookies Party!

photo:www.adoreevents.biz

and you think i'm kidding, right?

nope!

really, after this week. . .

year. . .

decade. . .

there's a whole lot of sense to this.

to me anyways:)

prayer is a given.

number one on the list.

because nothings really gonna change without it.

prayer and love. . . . .and Faith in God.

and a moral wake up call.

and some good ol' simple, Christian values.

but at least, let's start with prayer.

a group hug. . . .

you know what i mean by this, right?

there's so much hate floating around out there,

and while we can't "hug" everyone,

we can care.

and love.

and pray for them.

which is kind of like a group hug:)

and when all else fails,

we can throw an awesome party for those we care about.

a comforting, reassuring, 

remind you of innocent days kind of party.

like maybe a 

milk and cookies party!

i told you i wasn't kidding:)

actually, Robert Fulghum said it best in his book

All I Really Need to Know

 I Learned in Kindergarten

(one of my favorite books EVER)

“Think what a better world it would be if we all. . . .the whole world. . . .had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you are. . . .when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.” Robert Fulghum

LOVE THAT QUOTE!

some of the pictures i'm gonna show you are

from a child's birthday,

which, in my opinion, is genius!

i mean, what else does a 1 or 2 year old even need for their party?

it's brilliant and adorable...what more is there?

other pictures are from weddings.

oh yes, some people know how to do it.

a rustic wedding, with great decorations and themed dessert tables,

like a milk and cookies table, a cupcake and ice cream cone table. . . .

and instead of confetti or rice, they throw sprinkles.

(are you listening girls?  because i know one of you

will let me plan a wedding reception like this someday:)

anyway, i hope you like these ideas.

and what am i trying to say here. . . .

oh heck, how could you not like them:)

alrighty then, let's get started!

photo: www.occasionsonline.com

i mean, these babies in their rustic chic setting should convince you,

but if not. . . .

this bride and groom have milk and cookies for the ride home.

cute:)

and some awesome party favors. . . . .

photos: www.swankypear.com, 

am i convincing you yet that this is a great idea?

photo:www.greenweddingplannerblog.com

photos: www.libbyjamesblog.com, party-wagon.com
 no one says you can't have other stuff at your party,
personally i think whoopie pies would be a fabulous idea too:)
photo below:shop.andersruff.com

 photo: glitterweddings.com

and because i'm kinda nice,

most of the time(;)

i'll share a few recipes with you.

one is mine, and it is a repost from a few years back,

but it's been pinned a lot of times so i'll make it simple and share with you.

These are so good, so white and sugary and look pretty wrapped in a

clear cellophane bag and tied with a ribbon.

Oh my gosh, I'm making myself hungry for sugar cookies at 9:30 in the morning!

*note. . . .these are not cut-out sugar cookies to decorate, but more like a classic

sugar cookie you would buy in a bakery.

you know, back in the day:)

AMISH SUGAR COOKIES:

Beat Well:

1 C Sugar

1 C Powder Sugar

1 C Butter

1 C Corn Oil (We used Canola Oil)

~~~ Beat the above ingredients, then add in:

2 Eggs

1 tsp Vanilla

1 tsp Cream of Tarter

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

4 1/2 C Flour

mix thoroughly

Baking Directions:

Drop a heaping tsp on greased or parchment lined cookie sheet.

Flatten with a glass bottom dipped in sugar.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 min. or till edges are golden.

(we add a sprinkle of sugar when they come out too. . . what can i say:)

not in the mood for sugar cookies?

how about some big, soft, ginger cookies!

 go to allrecipes for the yummy recipe:)

 that's it for today.

i hope you have a milk and cookies kind of day:)

xoxo

Suzanne

Easter Parade...

don't you love this time year?
spring, EASTER...
it's such a beautiful time.

I remember when i was a little girl,
it also meant something else.
it was a time to go shopping with my mom for
a new PRETTY Easter dress...
there was just something about it that i'll never forget.
every little girl at church paraded in on Easter Sunday with their
Easter Dress...and sometimes a new hat/bonnet,
new little purse or matching shoes.
for some reason, i remember we could actually wear white...
before labor day...
as in white patent leather mary janes and
white sandals.

the colors were all so pretty!
i remember my favorite dress EVER.
it was a pretty robin's egg blue and white...
kind of like a "Heidi" dress.
it looked a little like this...

awwww...it brings back such memories:)

and when my own girls were little, i dressed them up...

and they were always matching:)

but i also remember it seemed to end at an earlier age than when i was a kid..

now, i'm wondering...and HOPING...

that girls still dress up for church.

in particular, Easter Sunday.

cause if they don't, they're missing out on something special.

look at these sisters from way back...

makes me wish i had a photo like this:)

truly the good ol' days!

down here in casual Florida, 

pastels and sundresses seem to ALWAYS be in.

but up north, where i grew up,

it's just one more sign of spring.

nothing like an EASTER parade to get you in the springtime mood:)

Easter Parade by shabbychicks 

 i also remember how we went to Florida when i was young...

and they had an Easter Bonnet parade.

it was soooo much fun making up cute, quirky hats.

i could be wrong but i vaguely remember dressing up one of my nieces.

memories:)

look at some of the clever Easter Bonnets and dresses in these parades...

Sweet Southern Belles...

 ADORABLE little girls in their bonnets...

WOW...these are amazing:)

they're wearing a whole Easter basket on their head!

i hope this family won...

 

and maybe after the parade, or for Easter brunch,

how about some PRETTY 

Easter Bonnet cookies!

isn't this so much fun?

tell me, did you get a new Easter dress or 

make a bonnet when you were younger?

if so, what did your favorite look like?

Happy Sunday!

xoxoxo

Suzanne

hearts and hugs...keepin it simple

so Tuesday is Valentine's Day.

are you ready?

or is that what this weekend is for?

now don't get mad at what i say next...

you COULD go out and BUY a box of valentine's.

your kids will LOVE it.

mine always wanted the little Barbie valentine's...

or Blue's Clue...or Scooby Doo!

but NOOOOOOOOOOOO...

their mama didn't get the nickname "Martha" or "Suzanne Stewart" for nothing.

oh...and by the way, us OLD moms didn't have pinterest or
"tutorials" to help us.

you young mamas have it SO easy:)

 heeheehee!

OKAY...

there are so many amazing ideas out there, right?

and with Pinterest, you get to see TONS of ideas.

i know i'm hooked on it!

but...it's kind of overwhelming sometimes.

and i've learned, sometimes easy and SIMPLE is best.

YES...that is coming from me:)

so today, here are a few ideas that are all about EASY!

we've done a few, pinterest helped alot...

 the main ingredient is simple...and sweet!

later this weekend, we'll turn it up a notch...maybe:)

our traditions in a nutshell...

plenty of decorating, homemade valentines...

 breakfast: heart shaped pancakes (pink), 

strawberries, heart shaped toast...

pink milk...stuff like that.

lunch:  heart shaped sandwiches, 

fruit punch, heart cookies, strawberries...again.

dinner:  PINK, red or heart shaped foods only...

pink mashed potatoes and gravy, red jello, heart shaped chicken tenders...

thank GOODNESS for cookie cutters!

 here are a few pics and ideas...hope you find something new:)

DECORATING:

this one is so cool...kind of like those ornaments you make at christmas.

no instructions needed, really.

just cut strips of paper in three lengths of choice (5", 6", 7"...or so)

and staple:)  EASY!

valentine meals...

Bubbly Love Potion

 (mix pink lemonade, sprite, raspberry sherbet)

 cute lunch tray.

 heart shaped pepperoni...wish i'd thought of that!

twinkie strawberry shortcake...GENIUS!

class party...

 peanut butter or sugar cookies with hershey hugs (and tinted red)

or DOVE heart chocolates.

easy, right?

okay, are you still with me?

now for the fun part...Valentines!

maybe for a teacher?

 bear hugs...cute:)

 "OWL" be your valentine if you'll be mine.

awwww...

 a bit more traditional...

 okay...this is our choice for 2012...

pretzels, white chocolate and sprinkles.

easy, cheap and YUMMY...

and I should know, i've eaten enough:)

 fortune cookies dipped in chocolate...SWEET.

 i think i'd leave the lollipop wrapped...

but this is just heart shapes folded, then opened and layered...

with a lollipop poked through the center.

print out a little saying...i don't know, maybe 

"valentine, you make my heart blossom" or something like that...

 tie it on the stick.

VOILA!

 my personal favorite, most likely for a teacher...

buy a candy box, place one candy/truffle/cake ball in it,

and a little gift of earrings in the other side.

pretty AND sweet:)

that's it for today.  

if you have no ideas...and don't have time to search online or through magazines,

than this is for you:)

sending you hugs and piggies on this beautiful Friday...

piggies, get it? :)

XOXOXOX

Suzanne