Wise people learn when they can; fools learn when they must. ~ Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington

Happy Friday ! !  I'm looking forward to the weekend and seeing my new great nephew.  Of course I am taking my camera and will take pictures.  Speaking of pictures, I'm gong to try this weekend to get a better picture of that rabbit that lives out behind our church.  We also found a tiny little cottontail the other night but I haven't had a chance to process those photos yet.  When I do, I will post it for you to see.  It was so cute sitting there eating till some teenagers came and ran it off.  : (   At another park, we found some baby chickens.  They were only a day or two old - not scratching yet.  They were so cute.  Here's one of them:

Please still keep Japan and all the areas involved in the earthquake and tsunami in your thoughts and prayers.  We still have lots of friends there as well as all the people there suffering. 

What are your plans for the weekend?  Do you have company coming?  A picnic with your family? Or just nothing?  Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy it.  I will be seeing my family on Saturday, church on Sunday and then photographing some more on Sunday afternoon.  Do you like banana pudding?  Here is a recipe for a banana pudding pie made from scratch.  If you've never made pudding from scratch and always depended on those packets from the store, you don't know what you are missing. 

Have a great weekend - please keep the requests for recipes coming.  I will post them as soon as I can.

Enjoy !

Charlene



Homemade Banana Pudding Pie 
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
3 bananas, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk 3 egg yolks
2 teaspoons butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 egg whites
1/4 cup white sugar
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Line the bottom and sides of a 9 inch pie plate with a layer of alternating vanilla wafers and banana slices.
3. To Make Pudding: In a medium saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cups sugar with flour. Mix well, then stir in half the milk. Beat egg yolks and whisk into sugar mixture. Add remaining milk and butter or margarine.
4. Place mixture over low heat and cook until thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Pour half of pudding over vanilla wafer and banana layer while still hot.
5. Make another layer of alternating vanilla wafers and banana slices on top of pudding layer. Pour remaining pudding over second wafer and banana layer.
6. To Make Meringue: In a large glass or metal bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, continuing to beat until whites are stiff. Spread meringue into pie pan, making sure to completely cover pudding layer.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, just until meringue is browned. Chill before serving.