So, I’m moving out of the sticks this Summer.
To a town that isn’t super huge, but does have a Starbucks, a shopping mall, and several places that will deliver pizza to your house.
I feel all futuristic just thinking about it.
Did you ever see that Jetsons Meet the Flintstones movie? Where they traded and the Jetsons lived in Bedrock and the Flintstones went to future land?
Well, I feel like the Flintstones in that movie. Minus the bad hair because seriously Wilma, there are other hairstyles besides a BUN.
The problem is, we have to sell our house.
That part is so hard. No one has even TRIED to buy it yet.
I’m thinking about lining my driveway with pink cupcakes. And maybe when someone looks at my house, I can give them a Goonies-style treasure map and a vague tale of buried treasure in our yard.
Cupcakes + treasure? Surely this is all anyone really needs.
Plus, we have to buy a new house and Oh Em Gee that is so hard too.
I think I need to just make a list to give to my realtor and not look at any more until he finds one that meets my qualifications. A person can only take so much, you know? And it’s not like I’m super picky, there are only a few things I am really set on:
1. A wet bar.
This is very necessary for several reasons. Mainly, I want to buy fancy glass bottles for stuff like bourbon or gin and keep them on a tray on the wet bar. Wait–are you allowed to drink bourbon or gin before you’re like 57? Okay. Anyways, also when I get upset about something, I will stand up, walk to the wet bar, pour myself a glass and sip from it while I stare off into the distance. That’s what they do on the soaps and it is SO COOL.
2. A secret passageway.
Preferably behind a spinning bookcase, but I will gladly take a tiny hidden door or a panel behind a giant piece of art. Whatevs.
3. A pool. With a waterfall.
You know, sort of like the ones you see in the backyard of the Kardashians and other famous people. Maybe even a rock slide? Yes. Definitely a rock slide.
4. A library.
But if it doesn’t come with that library smell, it totally won’t work for me.
5. A huge chef’s kitchen with a double oven. No wait–TRIPLE oven.
Hellooooo, I am a FOOD BLOGGER. Pioneer Woman has a whole huge other HOUSE she can go to to cook. So obviously, I am being quite reasonable in this request.
I could go on all day, but I’m going to leave it at that for now. I really need to keep my expectations pretty realistic if I’m ever going to find anything.
Also, if any of YOU have a house like this in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, please email me as soon as you can. I don’t have a ton of money, but I DO have $400 in my Pay Pal, a jar full of change, seven wadded up $1 bills in my purse, a like-new Kindle that I don’t use anymore, and two unopened bags of cotton candy.
Which if you add up their combined value, it’s probably about equal to a house I think.
Oh, and also, I have these jars of banana pudding.
With chocolate dipped banana slices. The chocolate keeps them from getting gross. Because who wants slimy brown banana slices in their dessert? Not. Me.
I had been wanting to do a banana fudge pudding for awhile, and when I saw Taste of South magazine with banana pudding in jar on the cover, I knew my pudding NEEDED to go in a jar.
Banana Pudding In a Jar = Way better tasting than Banana Pudding NOT In a Jar
(click here for printable recipe)
You’ll need:
8 oz straight sided jars (you can buy HERE)
Vanilla wafers 9 or 10 per serving
Bananas (one banana per 4 jars or so)
3.4 oz box of instant banana cream pudding (one box will make about 8 of the 8 oz jars)
1 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream
Hot fudge sauce
Chocolate almond bark or candy melts
5 large egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
Melt candy coating according to package directions and slice your bananas. Dip banana slices in the chocolate and place on a wax paper lined baking sheet. Once all banana slices are coated, place in the refrigerator to set.
Make your pudding according to box directions, substituting one cup of cream for one cup of the milk (yes I went there). Heat the hot fudge until spoonable, but not super hot.
Layer the jars as following: Small dab of pudding, one vanilla wafer on bottom and 4 around the sides (rounded side facing out), a few spoonfuls of pudding, a few chocolate covered banana slices, and a couple spoonfuls of hot fudge. Repeat cookies, pudding, banana slices, and hot fudge.
Make your meringue: Place egg whites and sugar in a metal mixing bowl. Set bowl over a pot of simmering water and whisk until sugar dissolves COMPLETELY. Transfer bowl over to mixer and beat with whisk attachment for 5 minutes on Low. Increase speed to High and beat for 5 more minutes.
Pipe or spoon meringue on pudding. Brown with a kitchen torch.
**You can buy a reasonable kitchen torch HERE on Amazon.com.
This pudding is so fun. Perfect for a Summer cook-out. Or for eating while you watch the Bachelorette.
Hope you had a fabulous 4th of July!!
Hi, I am a new follower, but boy am I glad I clicked "follow"! What you do is wonderful, although I'm sure you hear that all the time.
Good luck with the house stuff- I think the cupcakes in the driveway idea is worth a try! ;-)
btw: your lemon coconut mini-donuts looked so delicious that I definitely clicked the amazon link you put in and bought the mini-donut pan :-)
I love you for dipping the banana slices in chocolate. Win!!
Thanks for this recipe…something different and fun and delicious..I LOVE it!
How fun is this?! Love!
Too cute… love it!
Yummy! :)
Good luck with house hunting and selling. Never buy before you sell, unless you put in a condition. Been there done that! Paying two mortgages for 2 months while on mat leave and at Christmas time is a wee bit stressful!
Mmm.. The hubs would love this!!
Psh, if you don't use your Kindle anymore I will MORE than gladly take it off your hands! Isn't that what friends are for? :D
So this Flintstone-Jetson storyline, was this a classic or a re-do, because I'm like fifty seven and was there for the first run of both and don't remember what sounds like a brilliant plot! Oh, and I don't have a wet bar with all those accoutrements you described,lol. First visit here and your writing is hilarious, will be back for more entertainment (and recipes).
I bet you'd get a ton of buyers if your desserts came with the house:-) Oh and the Jetsons Meet the Flinstones used to be one of my favorite movies:-) Why don't we have little scooters to fly around on?
Kristan, those are soo gorgeous with that big swirl of meringue on top!
Congrats on moving out of the sticks! I did that once, and was so happy to finally have a sushi place in close proximity. :) And a Starbucks!
If you gave these to your realtor I think he'd find someone to build you that house you are looking for with all the *must have* features and he'd probably take desserts for the down payment!
Great looking pudding Kristan and seriously, best wishes with the sale of your current home and I hope you find exactly what you need waiting for you to purchase *out of the sticks*
Wow! These look GREAT! I can't wait to try them.
New follower…just gotta say “LOVE ITâ€
I would say we are almost twins….
Well, except that you’re creative in the kitchen, American, funny AND I’m kinda used to being an only child. BUT!!! I do have a blog where I ATTEMPT to be funny! See…Twins!
You’re food all looks amazing! I’m all willing to take risks in the kitchen, but I just need someone to concoct the plans.
Hey forget twins….SOUL MATES!!
Happy Cooking!
http://amybickmore.blogspot.com/
Are you looking in Fianna Hills or Riley Farm? hahaha I'm sure they have some wet bars and secret passageways. It'll only cost about an arm, leg and your firstborn. :)
Looks amazing! I love the chocolate dipped banana slices! Good luck selling your home (keep the Kindles – they rock!)
I want a secret passageway too! And pocket doors. I told my husband that pocket doors are REQUIRED in the next house we buy. My grandma has pocket doors in her house, and they are so.. soo.. grown up! And seriously? Chocolate covered banana slices? I die.
Hey, you don’t use your Kindle? Are you kidding me? I use mine so much the battery usually lasts me a little over a WEEK! But, I do want everything you put on your wishlist for a house. And this banana fudge pudding. Mmmm…
Come to Fianna Hills….please??? Oh, and I love the new site design!
I love, love, love your work. I’m a new to baking and had a question. How long does the meringue last? Can you freeze it? I’m having trouble finding the perfect frosting to pipe on my cupcakes. I want something think and not so sweet. Every time I try a frosting it always melts in the heat. Any thoughts?
I love your new website design! Eek!!
Banana and chocolate are my weaknesses. This looks AMAZING!
Love, love, love the new site! And I want a pool with a waterfall too, no wait with waves like the one in Vegas.
Gosh, I wish that $400 in paypal could go further. LOVE the new blog look. Fantastic! The banana fudge pudding not too shabby either. Congrats for all this cool stuff you got going on. xxoo
You had me giggling all the way through this post. Your requests sounds completely reasonable to me – hear, hear to the triple oven! Good luck with your house-hunting. I’m certain that if you bribe someone with these gorgeous puddings in a jar, they will practically hand over their house to you. I would.
When you find the house, let me know. Maybe they’ll have two, but the other needs to be in the San Francisco Bay Area.. same price :-)
I do chocolate dipped bananas a lot, but never really thought about slice, although I do that with fountains.. much better this way, and so much more personal. And, anything in a jar is good with me!
Love your post!
Love the dipped banana slices!! I had some of the same specs for my dream home, except a lazy river instead of rock slide. OH, and in the library, I really want one of those ladders that go to the ceiling that I can slide back and forth along my fabulous bookshelves!!
Will you design my new house?
Hello,
I am a newbie to your blog and you are just too darned cute!
I live in Texas but, if you promised me a banana pudding I’d come and help you with the cupcakes AND the house hunting!
Can’t wait to check out the rest of your goodies!
Thanks for sharing…ttfn
Okay, I am promising you a banana pudding. So…I’ll just wait now until you show up. Okay, thanks.
I know I am only 1 follower of 2652 followers – BUT, I am the newest follower. Unless someone hit follow in the last 3 seconds… he he
I’m so glad I hit that follow button and found you :)
Definitely trying some of your ahhh-mazing recipes.
I’m having a giveaway at my blog right now and would jump for joy (literally) if you followed me and entered.
Thanks so much for following!!
love your new site design !! i love bananas ….so this is going to be a must try for me :D
Thanks!! I love the design too. :)
Oh, I finally was able to visit your blog once again. Last few days been having troubles getting onto your blog. Do like the new look here tho.
I so enjoy your recipes and this banana fudge pudding really looks yummy.
ColleenB.
THIS is SO smart! And the chocolate-dipped bananas? GENIUS!!!
Love your new site….it’s so pink and pretty and YOU!
Psst…you get that wet bar? I’ll come over to march over, pour myself a drink and stare off into the distance with you. ;)
You totally don’t have to be older to drink Bourbon…in KY we have our first taste around 6 months old! I’m kidding by the way…but I have heard of older generations dabbing bourbon on the gums of teething babies. We do like our Bourbon here though.
This looks amazing by the way :)
Thank you!! :)
This looks delicious!!
And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your new look! It faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabulous dahling!!
Love the pink shade and the refreshing feel of your site. And those bananas dipped in chocolate is making me crazy :)
Thank you Sanjeeta!! :) I love it too.
You crack me up…that’s all I’m saying.
This looks wonderful as always but I must say congrats on the move! I would love to move out of my bon temps. And I’m so glad I am not the only person who has seen The Jetsons/Flintstones movie. When people come to look at the house, just bake something so it smells like home. It would trick them into buying it. And say a personal chef is included in the price. Little white lies hurt no one.
This looks AMAZING! Good luck with the house situation.
OMG, Flintstones Meet the Jetsons is seriously one of my favorite movies of all time (well, maybe not reaaaaaally, but I do love it). I can’t believe you mentioned it! Most people have never even heard of it.
I think I may love you.
Love that dipped the banana slices in chocolate. You’re so smart. Pretty, too.
Love that *you* dipped the bananas…
love, love this! and would love to make it except bananas are super expensive in Aust at the moment..stupid floods, gonna have to wait until the end of the year to even consider it :( devo, it looks so amazing.
Oh. My. Gosh. Chocolate dipped banana slices just made my jaw drop. I’m not a huge fan of banana pudding, because I hate the slime pieces, but wow. I clicked here, just to tell you how cute your picture was, but now… now, I’m dreaming of this dessert. YUM!
Loving the new look of your blog! I haven’t been by in awhile, love it! And I love choc covered bananas. This recipe looks amazing! I wanted to let you know about my cookbook giveaway that is going on right now until July 16th. Stop on by to enter! Hope you are having a great week :)
http://steaknpotatoeskindagurl.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-first-giveaway.html
It’s true, stuff in a jar is much cuter! This looks divine!!
This is not only adorable but sounds delicious to boot! I wish you all the luck selling your house and I totally think your list of requirements is reasonable.. everyone needs a secret passage way!
Can I just tell you that you would be a gal that fit in great w/ my girls? ha! LOVE the little boy wit the mohawk and tatoo story. :) I’m also stoked to try this dessert recipe on my deck deck night! Stoked that I found your blog!
First look at youre blog and im in love already!!….youre my hero for this recipe its pure genius lol