Happy Happy Friday! Boy – these Friday’s are coming up so fast. It’s crazy. The weather was so nice yesterday. My doggie girls could not wait to go for a ride in the car. Talk about pure joy!
Can you imagine having this kind of bliss? No worries – just the wind in your hair and the sun on your face. *Big Sigh*
This weeks FFF’s all just happen to start with the letter B. I figured that with Spring showing itself over most of the country right now, it would be appropriate to have some favorites that remind me of Spring.
1. BUTTERFLIES:
Source: goo.gl via Alfreda on Pinterest
Source: goo.gl via Roxane on Pinterest
Source: ritzybee.typepad.com via Dennisse on Pinterest
Source: marthastewart.com via Ashley on Pinterest
Source: theidearoom.net via Katie on Pinterest
Source: sweetpaul.typepad.com via Allison on Pinterest
I am pretty picky about my butterflies. I don’t like all things with butterflies – just certain butterflies have a calming, almost spiritual effect on me. It’s that metamorphosis thing that really gets me. Going from the ugly, hairy caterpillar to the regal, beautiful butterfly. I think Miley Cyrus says it best in her song “Party in the USA”. “Put your hands up, their playing our song, butterflies fly away.” I am KIDDING. (I am sadly laughing at my own joke right now.)
It is really Hawthorne that says it best for me:
“Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”
Nathaniel Hawthorne
2. BEACH BICYCLES WITH BASKETS:
Source: google.com via Marie of Sally Lee by the Sea, LLC on Pinterest
Source: louboosandshoes.blogspot.com via Cathleen on Pinterest
Source: greenlikebathwater.tumblr.com via Caitlyn on Pinterest
Source: coral-r-e-e-f.tumblr.com via Tracey on Pinterest
Source: daydreamer0207.tumblr.com via Stephany on Pinterest
Source: Uploaded by user via Teresa on Pinterest
Source: google.com via Katia on Pinterest
Source: greenwellies.tumblr.com via Linda on Pinterest
I love a bike with a basket. I picture myself riding on Cape Cod with a loaf of french bread, a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of wine on my way to meet the love of my life for a romantic picnic. That is the picture in my head. First, I have never been to Cape Cod and second, I don’t drink wine so that fantasy is blown. However, I do love bread and married the love of my life, so I will take that!
Here is the reality of what happened the last time I rode a beach bike:
I was riding down on 30A in the Florida panhandle. I’m all happy – sun on my face – kids and hubby riding along side me and a basket full of fun goodies from Rosemary Beach. Suddenly, out of nowhere, I get a cramp in my thigh. I am not talking a regular charlie horse here. This is a “I’m paralyzed and will never walk again” kind of cramp. The “Mack-Daddy” of all cramps – the kind where your leg feels bruised for days afterwards. I jump off my bike, hopping around like a crazy woman, screaming “owwww oooooooh aaaawwwww”. I was so subtle and graceful. I had to limp my way back to the house. Seriously PITIFUL!!! By the way … my family ditched me the minute I started the hopping.
3. BANANA PUDDING:
Source: myrecipes.com via Julie on Pinterest
I love banana pudding. “Why don’t you marry it?” Really – I would if I could. I have such passion for a luscious banana pudding with homemade whipped cream on top, surrounded by vanilla wafers. I love it with vanilla wafers, but I will eat it with chocolate chip cookies, Chessman cookies and anything in between. But there is no other banana pudding, that even holds a candle to my Tanny’s Banana Pudding. We called my Grandmother Tanny because none of the kids could say Granny. My Tanny lived in Alabama and I grew up in Minnesota. We used to spend 3 weeks down in Alabama every summer. This was THE SOUTH – a huge difference from Minnesota. There were many differences, but one of the biggest was the food. My Tanny cooked Southern food and we loved it! Tanny’s banana pudding was the first banana pudding I had ever tasted and the love affair started. Today is your lucky day.
Here is my Tanny’s Banana Pudding Recipe:
3/4 cup sugar, divided
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Dash salt
3 eggs, separated
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
45 NILLA Wafers, divided
5 ripe bananas, sliced (about 3 1/2 cups), divided
Additional NILLA Wafers and banana slices, for garnish
1. Mix 1/2 cup sugar, flour and salt in top of double boiler. Blend in 3 egg yolks and milk. Cook, uncovered, over boiling water, stirring constantly for 10 to 12 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
2. Reserve 10 wafers for garnish. Spread small amount of custard on bottom of 1 1/2-quart casserole; cover with a layer of wafers and a layer of sliced bananas. Pour about 1/3 of custard over bananas. Continue to layer wafers, bananas and custard to make a total of 3 layers of each, ending with custard.
3. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form; gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff but not dry. Spoon on top of pudding, spreading evenly to cover entire surface and sealing well to edges.
4. Bake at 350°F in top half of oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until browned. Cool slightly or refrigerate. Garnish with additional wafers and banana slices just before serving.
Do you recognize this recipe? It is from the back of the NILLA Wafer box. Yep … that was my Tanny’s secret recipe. I think the real secret was that Tanny put so much love in the pudding it made it taste like heaven!
Hope your life is more heaven than havoc!
Missi
havoc to heaven 
