My Banana Cream Pie

August 16, 1985


1 prepared pie crust, any type
1 small box instant vanilla pudding mix
1 envelope whipped topping mix
1 1/2 c. milk
1/2 t. vanilla
3 medium bananas

In a small mixing bowl, blend pudding mix, whipped topping mix, milk and vanilla on low speed of an electric mixer. Increase speed to hig and beat 3 minutes or until mixture is very thickened. Pour half the mixture onto crust.  Layer banana slices on top and pour remaing filling over bananas. Chill 1 hour or until set. Garnish with bananas.

To keep bananas from blackening, dip slices in lemon juice.

The pie disappeared, then my kids did, and now it's my turn.

Trust your instincts. You really do know what's best for you. And you have what it takkes to make your dreams happen...Unknown

Peach Pie Pudding

July 5. 1995


1 16oz. can peach slices
1/4 c. sugar
2 T. tapioca pearls
1/2 c. water


 Reserve 8 peach slices
Mash peaches and the juice they cane into a medium saucepan. Stir in sugar, tapioca and water. Let stand 5 minutes Cook, stirring constantly, on medium heat until it comes to a full boil. Pour into 4 desert dishes.
Cover surfaces and chill 3 hours before serving. Garnish with peach slices.


A nice treat since we have been eating fresh fruits and vegetables daily. A whole row  of radishes eaten in one day!...I'm still watching the OJ trial and grateful not to be prejudiced.


An excerpt from my diary, July 5, 1992

Major birthday month.The 4th was so hot and we got a few sprinkles. There is a spot near Joyland that we go to to watch fireworks for beautiful displays.

 Devin, there are times you get a certain look on your face meaning ornery, just like mine:)

Apple Bake

June

1 tube of 10 count biscuits

2 apples ,peeled and cored and chopped

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. canned milk

1/2 c. dark corn syrup

1/4 c. oleo

Place biscuits in an ungreased 8" square pan. Arrange apples on top of dough. In saucepan, combine remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring. Pour hot liquid over apples. Bake 30 minutes at 375* .

Serves 4

Two thirds of our nation now lives in or near big cities. The other third is on the expressway looking for an exit.

My parents John Brown Sr. and Jo grew several apple trees and in the fall time my family loved this dessert.

Apple Dumplings

May 3, 1992


Dough:
2.c. all-purpose flour
dash salt
1 1/2 t. baking powder
2/3 c. milk

Filling:
6 apples, peeled, cored, halved
cinnamon sugar
1 stick oleo

Syrup

2 c. sugar
2 c. boiling water
1/2 c. oleo---combine in saucepan

Combine dry ingredients for dough. Cut in shortening. add milk to moisten. Roll out to a  9"x13" rectangle, then cut out 3" squares. Put one apple half on a square, sprinkle on cinnamon sugar and pinches of the oleo.
Seal and pinch around apple. Arrange in a baking pan 1" apart, Pour syrup over dumplings. Bake 1 hour at 350*. 12 Servings



An excerpt from my diary, May 3, 1992

Dear Devin,
You are one year old and one day now. "Of all the babies in all the world.".. You are so perfect, chubby, soft with little brown ringlets and small feet like your natural mother's.


"Good Things Baby"
Paul Revere and the Raiders

Chocolate Syrup Dumplings

May


1 c. all-purpose flour
8 T. baking cocoa
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1/2 c. pecans, chopped
1 c. sugar
2 T. oleo, melted
1 t. vanilla
1/2 c. milk
1 2/3 c. boiling water
dash cinnamon


Sift together, 3 T. of the cocoa with baking powder and salt, set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine 1/2 c. of the sugar, oleo and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture and cinnamon, alternately with milk. Stir in nuts. In an 8" cake pan, combine remaining sugar, cocoa and boiling water. Drop batter by T's. onto hot mixture. Bake 40 minutes at 350*...Serves 6


Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing...
Phyllis Diller

Remember the Byrds?
I love you Turn, Turn, Turn
This recipe is for you.

The Real Meringue Pie

May 10, 1983


4 eggs, room temperature, separated
1/2 c. sugar, divided
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
2 T. cornstarch
dash salt
1 c. water
grated peel of 1 used car (lemon)
1/3 c. lemon juice
1 1/2 c. heavy cream

Line a 9" pie tin with oiled foil. Beat egg whites on high with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1 cup of the sugar a little at a time. Continue beating until stiff and glossy peaks form. Bake in a preheated oven at 275*, after spreading the meringue over bottom and sides of foil 1 " thick. Bake 1 hour, reduce heat to 200* and bake another hur until dry and firm. Turn oven off,leaving shellin oven to cool.
 Meanwhile, combine gelatin, cornstarch, salt, and remaining sugar in a small saucepan. Stir in water until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring,until boiling. Remove from heat. Beat egg yolks and pour 1/2 of the gelatin mixture back into the yolks while stirring. Stir yolk mixture into gelatin pan. Cook over lo until thickened and almost boiling. Remove from heat and stir in half of peel and all of the lemon juice. Beat cream on medium until soft peaks form. Remove half for garnish. Fold remaining lemon mixture into remaining whiped cream. Carefully peel foil from egg shelll. Fill with lemon mixture, top with whipped cream and sprinkle on remaining peel. Chill 2 hours. Garnish...TAKES ALL DAY

An excerpt from my diary Friday May 1978
 I'll wake you for school in 20 minutes. Yeah! Friday! You get to stay up later and eat junk food, call your friends, ah, the simple life of childhood.
 You do need disciplin on housework tho. There are crickets and shoes everywhere. The sun is coming up and the beauty is awesome. The sky is pink with a few puffy white clouds.

This recipe goes out to Lost Springs, Ks. My daughters attended school there a short time when we lived in Antelope, Ks.

Paul Revere and the Raiders are playing on the radio, 103 fm.

Fruity Picnic Salad

                            

Fruit Lovers' Pie

May 11, 1988                             



                    1 graham cracker pie crust
                              1 6oz. jar maraschino cherries
                              2T. lemon juice
                              3 T. brown sugar
                              1/2 t pumpkin pie spice
                              2 small boxes peach gelatin
                              1 c. boiling water
                              1 c. peaches, fresh or frozen, cubed

 Drain cherries, reserving liquid. Add enough water to measure 1/2 c. liquid. Cut cherries in half. In a large saucepan, mix cherry syrup. lemon juice, sugar and p.pie spice. Over lo heat, stir until smooth,set aside.
 Dissolve gelatin in the boiling water. Pour into syrup mixture. Mix well. Chill until almost thickened. Fold in cherries and peaches. Spoon into crust. Chill overnight.    Serves 6

                   Today is hump day and already swimming weather. We are watching a show called Aaron's Way.

                    Always tell your children as much as truth as they can understand, if only to establish the most valuable attribute you have as a parent- your credibility. If you con your three year old into believing that the booster shot won't hurt, why should he or she believe your later claims that marijuana, booze and skipping school will....Crown