Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding

This is TO DIE FOR!!!!!

2 Bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen Cookies
6 to 8 fresh bananas, sliced
2 C. Milk
1 (5 oz.) box instant French vanilla pudding
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 oz.) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream

Directions
Line the bottom of a 9x13 glass dish with one bag of cookies and layer bananas on top. In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a hand-held electric mixer. using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and sir unitl well belended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate unitl ready to serve.

Taco Soup

Ingredients:
1 medium onion; diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups water
1 lb. chicken; shredded
8 oz. tomato sauce
4 oz. chopped green chilis
1 can corn
1 can small red beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can black beans
1/2 to 1 package taco seasoning
1/2 or less bunch of cilantro; chopped

For topping:
fritos
shredded cheese
sour cream

Directions:
In a skillet, saute the onion and garlic until translucent.

In a large pot, combine the chicken broth, water, shredded chicken, tomato sauce, green chilies, corn, red beans, pinto beans, black beans, taco seasoning, and cilantro. Add the onions and garlic once sauted. Heat thoroughly.

Once soup is heated, serve topped with chips, sour cream, and cheese.

Number of Servings:
Serves 6-8

Teddy Bear Bread

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Milk
3 Tbsp. Sugar
2 tsp. Salt
3 Tbsp. Butter
1 Pkg. dry active yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)
1 1/2 cup warm water
6-7 Cup Flour
1 egg beaten

Directions:
In a small cup, scald the milk. Stir into the milk: sugar, salt and butter. Stir well then allow to cool to lukewarm.

In a large bowl, dissolve 1 package of yeast (2 1/4 tsp) in the warm water. Add milk mixture and 2 cups of flour. Stir in more flour, enough to make stiff dough, about 3-4 cups more. Dough should be stiff, but workable. Knead dough for 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, grease top of dough also, and cover with a light cloth. Let rise until double, about 1 hour. Punch down.

Divide dough into 4 equal parts – form balls. Take two balls and shape into two bear bodies. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Take another ball and cut half to make two bear heads. Place on bodies and pinch seams together. With remaining ball, cut into 12 pieces for paws, ears and two littler pieces for noses. Cover, let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

Make indentations in ears. Place raisins on head for eyes and bellybutton. Beat 1 egg with a fork in a bowl. Brush on bears right before baking. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Remove immediately with 2 flat spatulas and cool on racks.

Number of Servings:
2 bears ( if using Bosch, double makes 4 bears)

Bubba's Enchiladas

2lbs boneless skinless chicken breast
4 Tbls unsalted butter
1 large white onion
1 lb fresh spinach (i've used the frozen kind-rinsed-and it turns out fine)
3 Cups sour cream
2 4oz cans of chopped green chiles
1 tsp cumin
1/4 cup milk
6 oz monterey jack cheese

1. poach chicken 15-20 min until done- cool- then shred
2. melt butter and saute onions until tender
3. Steam spinach- reserve 1/2 cup of the liquid- let cool-chop coarsely
4. combine milk, sour cream, onion, spinach, chiles, cumin, spinach liquid, salt to taste
5. save 1/2 of the mixture/sauce. mix the other half with chicken
6. fill tortillas, place in pan seam side down in buttered 9x13 pan
7. Cover all tortillas with 1/2 of cheese, remaining 1/2 of mix and then with remaining cheese

Bake 350 for 35-45 min

Cookie Perfection

makes: 3 dozen
Bake: 375 for 8 min or 350 for 9-10 min
don't grease pans

Cream together:
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3/4 cups brown sugar
1 1/4 cups Crisco
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Add:

3 Beaten Eggs

Add:
3 Cups + 3 Tbsp flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt

Add:
12 oz pkg chocolate chips

Requests

Hey friends! We made it to Texas alive! Although, I've already got 4 mosquito bites & counting... Hope you all are doing well.

Here's what I want from you guys:

- Faith's bread recipe
- Freezer Jam (not sure whose recipe this is)
- Lacey's crock pot pulled pork
- Faith's chilli (Can't remember if that is what it was, but it was good)
- Carol's cookie perfection
- Bubba's Enchiladas

You don't all have to post everything at once (cuz I'm sure Lacey's going to race on here and post right away ... hehe).

Lacey & Faith - take good care of Carol and be sure to bring her lots of food after she has the baby. Food is a life saver!!! Love you all!

My First Entry

The only other name I would use would be "mystery hand" to describe our photo...really, who's arm is that in the middle?

I can't believe you're taking your baby and running but am very glad you're leaving us with a way to keep in contact. And to get the goods. I think this is better than passing smelly jeans back and forth, although pending me losing my baby weight, we would could make a killer movie. I guess there was one fat girl in the sisterhood series....

Anyhow, this will be a great place for me to post pictures such as THIS:

and THIS:

Can't wait!!

Blog DL

Ok, this blog is mostly for me, since I am moving away in a few days and will miss the 3 of you terribly. So, I ask that you all humor me and participate in this blog. Yes, that means you too Lacey (rumor has it you don't keep in contact with people when they, or you, are away...).

You can post whatever you'd like - craft ideas, every day happenings, fun websites, great deals, future baby news :), future baby pictures and any other pictures you want, and most of all - those amazing Lynch family recipes (and any other good recipes you come across)!

I made a temporary blog name, but I am counting on Carol's creativity to come up with something better...