Prepping for Emergencies - Spicy Black Bean Soup From Can Goods

Where ever you are there is always a natural disaster lurking somewhere. In Florida, where I live, hurricane season begins in June and goes through November. Although we can't predict or protect ourselves from everything there are things we can do to be prepared.

No matter what's going on people have to eat and food can offer comfort in a stressful time.

Many years ago there was a hurricane off the coast of Florida and we were told to stock up on food and water. I headed to my local grocery store to buy a few things but I found the store shelves empty.

That's a scary sight. Not even one can of beanie weenies left on the shelf!

We made it through that hurricane with no problems but I decided that I'd never be in the predicament again!

I began to gather recipes that I could make with canned foods that would keep on my pantry shelf.

When stocking my emergency pantry shelves I have three requirements:

Recipes must be made completely from shelf stable ingredients.
The dish has to taste good.
I have to be able to prepare it with a limited heat source.

For this dish I took a family favorite recipe and modified it to meet my requirements. I'll admit the original is better because I make it with fresh veggies and a ham bone but this version is good in a pinch.

Sweet and Spicy Black Bean Soup 

Sweet and Spicy Black Bean Soup

Makes 4 servings

2 cans black beans
1 can peaches in light syrup or juice
1 can Rotel (Original or Mild depending on your taste)
Chicken or vegetable broth (canned is better but you could use bouillon cubes)
1/4 cup dried onion

Drain the beans.
Drain the peaches and reserve 4 Tablespoons and *save the rest to use later.
Dice the peaches.
Soak the dried onion in 1/2 cup water

Add the onions with the water they soaked in, beans, peaches, syrup/juice and Rotel to a pot set over medium heat. Add enough broth to cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 - 30 minutes**. Taste and adjust as needed. You can add more chicken or veggie broth to make the soup as 'soupy' as you like.

To make this a complete shelf stable meal serve the soup with crackers or corn chips.


*If the peaches are canned in 100% juice I save it to drink. If it's canned in light syrup I add it to my iced tea as part of the sweetener or freeze the syrup in an ice cube tray to add to drinks or as a cold treat.

**If you're in an emergency situation and a heat source is limited you don't have to simmer the soup. It's better heated but you could eat this at room temp if necessary.

I've made this dish several times. Not because we had an emergency situation but because I forgot to take something out of the freezer or I was just in a hurry. I guess that can be considered an emergency:)

A Surprise Birthday Party and Hummingbird Cupcakes

Each month I get together with a group of ladies to work on our scrapbooks. If anyone in the group has a birthday that month we celebrate with a special dessert. This month one of the ladies had a milestone birthday so we decided to throw her a surprise birthday party.

The day started early as usual with everyone working away on their scrapbooks but when we broke for lunch my friend was surprised when her husband, her son and a few extra friends showed up. It took her a few minutes to comprehend that we were having something a little special just for her.

Surprise!

We kept the menu simple...

Grilled pork loin and turkey breast

Ultimate Baked Beans

Coleslaw

Fruit salad

Everything was prepared the day before so party day was a breeze. 

That’s the way I like to party!

Instead of a birthday cake I decided to make a variety of cupcakes.

A variety of cupcakes to choose from. Hummingbird, Lemon, Chocolate Peanut Butter and Chocolate Orange.

I’ll be sharing all the cupcake recipes but for today I’ll tell you how I made these yummy Hummingbird cupcakes. The cake portion was delicious but the coconut butter cream icing was to die for. I could eat it by the spoonful and I usually doJ

I’m always looking for ways to make things a little easier so that’s why I started these cupcakes with a box mix.

Like my brownie dessert these are my box mix cupcakes all dressed up and ready to party!

Hummingbird Cupcakes with Coconut Butter Cream Icing

Makes 24 cupcakes

Cake:

1 boxed white cake mix with pudding in the mix

1-teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ cup crushed pineapple, well drained and squeezed dry (save the juice for making the cake)

2  ripe bananas, mashed 

1 cup sweetened coconut (plus a little extra to sprinkle on top of the icing)

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Mix the cake as directed on the back of the package except add the cinnamon to the dry mix and use pineapple juice in place of the water. (If you don’t have enough juice for what is called for add water to bring it up to the amount needed)

Once the cake is mixed stir in the mashed banana, pineapple and coconut. Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake as directed on the package. (Usually 14 – 19 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.)

Cool the cupcakes in the pan for 5 minutes then remove and continue cooling for 30 minutes. Once the cupcakes are completely cooled icing them with Coconut Butter Cream.

Coconut Butter Cream Icing

(This makes about 7 cups of icing - I usually have icing left over but I'd rather have too much than not enough. Leftover icing can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for 7 -10 days. To use the leftovers bring the icing to room temp and beat till fluffy.)

3 cups unsalted butter (6 sticks)

6 cups confectioners (XXX) sugar, sifted to remove any lumps

1 – 3 teaspoons coconut extract

The butter must be at room temperature. I leave mine on the counter for 6 – 8 hours or even overnight.

Whip the butter in a mixer on high speed until fluffy. Add the sugar 1 cup at a time beating well after each addition. Add the coconut extract 1 teaspoon at a time. Taste after each addition and add more if needed.

Use a pastry bag and a large tip to pipe the icing on each cupcake. Sprinkle with a little coconut. 

My friend is the perfect sport - she loved her surprise party. 

How about you? 

Do you like to be surprised?

Linking up with:


A Stroll Through Life - Inspire Me Tuesday

Summer Salad - Quinoa and Black Beans

If you're looking for something a little different to serve at your next cook out or pot luck try this summer salad. Quinoa and beans team up to make a deliciously different and versatile dish. It can be eaten as a meal in itself, served as a side dish or even as a filling in your favorite wrap. 

A few facts about quinoa:

• pronounced keen - wa
• often called a whole grain it is actually a seed
• a complete protein - contains all 9 essential amino acids
• contains iron, lysine and magnesium
• high in fiber

Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

1 cup quinoa

2 cups chicken stock or veggie stock 

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped

1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped

1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely minced

1 - 15 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained

Juice and zest from 1 lime (about 2 Tablespoons juice)

2 Tablespoons olive oil 

1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes - more or less depending on how hot you like it.  

Important!  Quinoa is coated with toxic chemical called saponin. You must rinse the quinoa before cooking or it will be very bitter. Place the quinoa in a sieve and rinse under running water. The water will look soapy so be sure to rinse until the water runs clear. 

After the quinoa is rinsed place it in a pot with the liquid and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook about 15 minutes until the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is tender. 
While the quinoa is cooking chop the veggies and place in a large bowl and sprinkle with the salt. Add the beans, garlic, lime juice and zest. Toss to coat. 

Once the water is absorbed and the quinoa is tender allow it to cool slightly. 

Add the quinoa to the veggies and beans and toss. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to develop. 

Serve and enjoy!

The Ultimate Baked Beans for Your Next Cookout

When I'm in a hurry or there's lots of dishes to prepare for a cookout I have no problem opening a can of baked beans to heat and serve. But there are times when I want to go an extra mile and make something a little more special.

That's when I pull out all the stops and make the ultimate baked beans. My friend refers to these as "Those Beans" because when I make this dish for a potluck she says everyone want to know who made those beans.

Full of bacon, ground beef and three different types of beans it could be a meal in itself.

All it takes is a few cans of beans and a little of this and a little of that...

Ultimate Baked Beans

3 (1 pound) cans pork and beans
1 (1 pound) can lima beans (do not drain)
1 (1 pound) can of kidney beans (drained)
1/2 pound bacon
1 pound ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup ketchup
1 cup water
1/4 cup yellow mustard
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Brown the ground beef, drain the fat and set aside.
Cook the bacon until crisp. Drain all but 3 Tablespoons of the bacon fat.
Cook the onion in the reserved bacon fat until tender.
Add the ketchup, water, mustard, brown sugar, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce to the onions and heat through.

Crumble the bacon and mix all the ingredients together in a large baking dish. (I used a cast iron chicken fryer.)

You can add additional ketchup and water if the dish seems too dry.

Bake in the oven at 300 degrees F for 1 1/2 hours until thick and bubbly.
OR
In a crock pot on low 4 hours
OR
for a cookout this can be cooked on the grill. I used a cast iron skillet and set it over the hot coals for 1 1/2 hours.

For your next cookout those beans would be great served with Sweet and Slightly Tangy Coleslaw and your favorite grilled meat. 

What's on your grill this weekend?

Practice Hospitality - Talking to People in the Store

When I go shopping I'm usually on a mission to get in and get out! 

When I stopped at Sam's Club to buy 8 pounds of unsalted butter I was on that mission. Get the butter and get out. I had a lot on my mind as I was getting ready for a party I'm hosting and I had a long list of things to do. Making 4 dozen cupcakes was one of the items on my list.

I got the butter and was heading for the checkout when I remembered I was out of milk so I took a side step to picked up a gallon. That's when an elderly gentleman stopped me and asked me about the milk. Whole, fat-free, 1%, 2%??? He was completely lost. So for 10 minutes we talked about milk. I didn't know that a simple product like milk could be a topic of conversation! 

When we parted company he said to me "thank you for talking to me". 

It was a brief encounter but his words stuck with me all day. 

"Thank you for talking to me." 

I don't know the facts and figures but I read somewhere that loneliness is rampant in our society. Especially in the elderly who are often time widowed and have lost many of their friends. 

Whether this gentleman was lonely or not I'm glad I took a few minutes out of my busy schedule to have a simple conversation about milk.

Do you talk to strangers when you're out and about?

Check out this post for a few ideas for talking and listening to people when you're out and about.

Summer Grilling - Chicken Kabobs with Pineapple Ginger Marinade

It's summer and we're really putting our grill to good use. Last night we grilled chicken that had been marinated with a combination of pineapple, ginger, garlic and few other ingredients. To go with the chicken I stir fried fresh veggies and used the same marinade ingredients to make a sauce that I served over kelp noodles.

Have you ever eaten kelp noodles?



This was a first for us and I was a little leery. I'm not fond of seafood and I wasn't sure if it would taste fishy. But the package promised it was a neutral flavor and since kelp is very high in calcium I decided to give it a try.

I purchased the kelp noodles from Whole Foods. Be forewarned. If you've never used kelp noodles before it looks a little bizarre when you open the package. Like clear plastic strings. The noodles can be eaten right out of the package in salad or you can cook them in liquid. They're still clear as you can see in the picture of the finished dish.


I used a mini chopper to make the marinade.

Bright, crisp veggies and clear noodles are so pretty in the pan!

Grilled Pineapple Ginger Chicken Kabobs With Veggies and Kelp Noodles 

This recipe will make four generous servings.

8 wooden skewers soaked in water for about 15 minutes. 

2 pounds of boneless chicken breast (About 4 large breasts)

Cut the chicken in to chunks roughly 1 1/2  inch square pieces

Place the chicken in a gallon sized zip type plastic food storage bag.

Marinade:

2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice

2 Tablespoon Ume Plum Vinegar OR Apple Cider Vinegar

1/4 cup oil (I used olive oil)

4 Tablespoons soy sauce

1 Tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger 

1 Tablespoon minced garlic

1 Tablespoon sugar 

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (more or less to your liking)

Whisk all the ingredients together and reserve 1 cup to use later. Pour the remaining marinade into the bag. Seal the bag and place in the fridge to marinate for at least 1 hour but not more than 4 hours. Turn the bag occasionally while the chicken marinates. 

Grilling:
When you're ready to grill equally divide the chicken and thread it on to the skewers. Discard the excess marinade.

Grill over hot coals for 5 minutes. Flip and grill another 5 minutes. Check for doneness. Make sure the chicken is no longer pink inside. 

Cook the veggies and noodles while the chicken grills. 

Vegetables:

4 cups of broccoli florets

1 medium red or white onion cut in chunks

1 medium red or green pepper cut in chunks

1 clove of garlic, minced 

2 - 3 Tablespoons of oil for stir frying

Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok add the garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add the veggies in the following order. 

Broccoli - cook for 2 minutes

Onions - cook for 1 minute

Peppers - cook for 2 minute

The veggies should be crisp tender. Don't over cook.

Continue on to the sauce and noodles

Noodles and Sauce:

To the reserved marinade add:

2 cups of veggie or chicken stock

1/2  cup of pineapple juice

1 finely grated carrot
Packaged Kelp Noodles

Once the veggie have been stir fried pour the sauce over the veggies and add the package of kelp noodles. The noodles only need 5 minutes to soften up. 

Adjust the flavorings and add more soy sauce if needed. 

I hope you'll give Kelp Noodles a try! I did and I like it for a change of pace.


So what's on your grill this summer?

Saturday Night Fever #38

Dare to Share Saturday - Pam's Party and Practical Tips

Sweet and Slightly Tangy Coleslaw For Your 4th of July Celebration

In my last post I shared a favorite book Table Experiment: Loving Your Neighbor One Meal at a Time by Ryan J. Pelton.  A partial quote from the author really caught my attention.

"implement the art of hospitality back into the daily rhythms of life"

This makes me think about how we can complicate the act of hospitality. The house has to be perfectly decorated and clean. The table must be beautifully set with a special centerpiece, matching napkins and of course a cute little name place card for each guest. The food must be right off the pages of the latest magazine or blog...you get the idea.

This is why I named my blog A Plate at My Table. I hope to convey that hospitality can be as simple as setting an extra place at the family dinner table. Inviting people to sit down to share your meal.

Share your table - Share your life

Almost every night I make dinner for six so adding one or two more people around the table isn't really that difficult. The other night we included a young couple and their baby at our impromptu cookout. 

We ate outside on the porch so it didn't matter that the house was a little messy.

The menu was simple.

A plate of sliced tomatoes, onions and lettuce to top our grilled burgers, baked beans (yep, right out of the can) and coleslaw. 

Now that's a burger!

Holidays Make it Easy to Invite Someone Over

If you aren't comfortable inviting someone over on short notice or when nothing special is going on take advantage of the upcoming 4th of July holiday. Holidays are the perfect time to entertain guest.
Remember that even for a holiday the menu can be simple.

Throw some burgers on the grill, open a can or two of baked beans and make a big bowl of coleslaw. You're good to go!

The Coleslaw

I'm not sure about other parts of the country but in the South everyone has their own version of coleslaw. Some people swear by coleslaw made with sweet relish other's use only dill relish. Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar, add carrots, don't add carrots. A few radicals even add an apple or grapes! I've had icebox coleslaw and hot coleslaw. After years of trying I finally perfected what my family says is their favorite version.

A combination of crunchy cabbage and carrots that's sweet and a little tangy with just a hint of dill. 

Sweet and Slightly Tangy Coleslaw

Recipe will serve 6 and can easily be doubled to meet your needs. 

Ingredients:

About 7 cups of shredded cabbage 

1 or 2 carrots - shredded

OR

14-ounce bag of shredded cabbage with carrots 

Dressing:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar

2 Tablespoons water

2 Tablespoons granulated sugar

2 Tablespoons finely minced red onion

1/2 teaspoon dried dill 

Combine all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together until smooth. 

Place cabbage and carrots in a large bowl. Pour on the dressing and stir. 

For best results refrigerate at least 2 hours. 

Will you be serving a special coleslaw at your 4th of July get together?

Grace at Home #108

Hope in Every Season - Homemaking Party

Book Share - The Table Experiment - Loving Your Neighbor One Meal at a Time

Table Experiment by Ryan J Pelton is the first book I downloaded to read on my Kindle. To be honest I bought it because it was only 99 cents and I wanted to see how my new reader worked.

I have to say it was the best 99 cents I've ever spent and I feel this book is worth so much more. It's only 4 chapters and around 20 pages in total but straight forward and to the point. I read it in less than 20 minutes and it inspired me to take up the challenge and do my own table experiment.

The chapters include:

The Forgotten Art of Hospitality
Eating Like Jesus
The Table Experiment
5 Simple Way to Love Your Neighbors


The author writes about the act of simply opening our home and inviting someone in to share a meal. Just a simple meal. Nothing elaborate or fancy and I like that.

A short quote from the book:

"My hope and prayer for this book is to explore how we can implement the art of hospitality back into the daily rhythms of life. Where our tables can be places of love, grace, community, mission, and forgiveness. The common meal and the common table can become places where friendships are formed and cultivated. Where the gospel of Jesus Christ is shared in word and deed over food and drink." Ryan J Pelton 2013

I encourage you to spend less than a dollar and check out this little book. There's a lot of lonely people out there that would love to have a plate at your table.

BTW: I reviewed this book because I bought it and I really like it. I'm not being compensated in any way. 

Hope in Every Season - The Homemaking Party

Box Mix Brownies All Dressed Up With Strawberries and Syrup

Last week my girlfriend called to say she'd be on my side of town and would it be OK to drop by for a visit. We hadn't seen each other in a few weeks so of course I said yes!

I had time to whip up a treat for us but the pantry was a little bare. I did have a brownie mix in a box so I baked it up but it seemed a little plain. I decided to do a little brownie dress up. 

Hershey's Strawberry syrup and Chocolate syrup to the rescue!

I used the strawberry syrup to drizzle a few lines on a white plate, topped it with a brownie square and poured on some chocolate syrup. A sliced fresh strawberry fan was just the right garnish. 

I have to admit a little whipped cream and chopped pecans would have been perfect but sometimes you have to go with what you have. 

A plain brownie is certainly tasty but it only takes a minute to dress it up. Going to a little extra effort lets our friends and family know how important they are.

Do you have a favorite way to dress up a plain dessert?

Dare to Share Saturday - Pam's Party and Practical Tips

Five Simple Things To Do So You Don't Panic When Unexpected Company Knocks

We've all been there. Unexpected company...

You're lounging around on your day off and the door bell rings.  What do you do? Hide in the back room or begrudgingly answer the door hoping it’s the UPS guy with a package. Would you visit with your guests on the front porch or grab your purse like you're just running out the door?

I could never bring myself to hide from unexpected company but I have been guilty of entertaining them on the front porch a time or two. If I did invite them I’d spend most of the visit apologizing for the messy room or the fact I had nothing to offer in the way of refreshments.

I was convicted that I couldn't leave guests outside on the porch no matter how comfy it was nor spend the time pointing out the reasons I didn't appreciate the unannounced visit. Hey, it wasn't their fault I was still in my pajama or last night pizza box was on the coffee table but apologizing for these things let's your guest know that they came at the wrong time. 

I wanted to graciously welcome people in to my home but I needed a plan. So I came up with five simple things to make it easier to open the door and invite people in. These might help you too!

• Don't get caught with your panties down. In other words I always try to be at least semi presentable when I'm at home. A nice bathrobe comes in handy;)
• Always have at least one clear spot in the house to bring guests. In a perfect world we'd all have formal living rooms that sit idle just waiting for company. We don't live in a perfect world so set aside an area, even just a corner of the couch, and try to keep it picked up. If the house is messy I usually bring my guests to the kitchen table. There may be dirty dishes in the sink (evidence we eat well) but the table is usually cleared and there's a nice view of the backyard

• Keep a few treats tucked away in the freezer. Well wrapped (and hidden from husband and kids) cookies, pound cake and quick bread will keep for several weeks in the freezer. If the freezer's bare a little fruit or even microwave popcorn will do the trick.

A simple plate of apples, golden raisins and almond butter served with a cup of tea
makes a nice snack for your guests.

• Offer coffee, tea or a cool drink. It takes less than five minutes to make coffee or boil water for tea. Homemade lemonade is great but don't discount the value of a cold glass of water. 
• Keep thy mouth shut about the condition of thy house! At times my house is messy. Toys on the floor, magazines and books stacked by the couch, dirty dishes in the sink. These things are all proof that people live here! Real people who can be really messy at times. Believe it or not your unexpected company probably left a messy house to come visit you. Stop apologizing and pay attention and enjoy your guests. 

So next time unexpected guests show up at your door put on a smile, invite them in, offer a little refreshments and a listening ear. That's what they'll remember. Not that they had to step over the laundry basket on the way in the door. 

For a few more ideas on getting and keeping your home clean see this post.

I'm setting another plate at my table and making a place in my heart!

If you stopped by I'd love to hear from you. Leave me a little comment:-)

A Gift of Food and Time

Do you know anyone who is confined to their home due to age or illness?

These people are sometimes referred to as shut-ins and most neighborhoods probably have one or two at least. There may even be one on your street maybe right next door. 

I can't imagine not being able to jump in my car to go shopping or to visit friends. I can't imagine what it would be like to live the life of a shut in. To rely on others to bring me the daily necessities of life or the need to turn on the TV to hear a friendly voice. 

Do you know anyone like this? 

This is the perfect opportunity to practice a little hospitality...

Practice hospitality by sharing your time.

There's a elderly widow who lives near me and I try and drop by once a week for a little visit. She gets her meals from a program called "Meals on Wheels" and although they bring nutritious meals they aren't very inspiring.  I usually bring her a few pieces of fruit and a treat to give her a little something extra. 

Today I gathered bananas and apples, a few of the Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Scones that I made yesterday and a jar of honey. The honey is a special treat. The last time I visited her she talked about how her dad was a beekeeper and he'd let her eat a piece of the honeycomb if she got all her chores done. She said she'd chew it like gum. I knew when I came across this jar of honey with the comb that I had to pick it up for her. 

It doesn't take much to brighten someone's day. Less than $10 in treats and 30 minutes of my time.


Go here to see another time I visited with this same lady.

What can you do to brighten someone's day this week?

Celebrating National Chocolate Chip Day with Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Scones

Did you know that May 15th is National Chocolate Chip day?

I didn't until I saw it online but it sounds like a good excuse to do a little baking! (and eating:-) 

I love to make scones because they're just so easy to mix up and bake and not too terribly sweet. Like a glorified biscuit...

The Easiest Ever Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Scones

I submitted this recipe to my church cook book a few years ago. We serve it every year at the Mother's Tea our Women's group hosts. 

2 cups all purpose flour

¼ cup sugar

2 tsp. Baking powder

1/8 tsp salt (omit if using salted butter)

1/3-cup cold unsalted butter 

1 large egg, slightly beaten

½ cup Hazelnut liquid coffee creamer* (or you can use half and half)

1 and 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven 375 degrees F

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend in to the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs.

In a small bowl combine the creamer and beaten egg. Add this mixture to the dry mixture. Stir to just combine. Add the chocolate chips. 

Knead the dough gently on a floured surface. Roll or pat the dough into a circle that is about 7 inch round and about 1½ inches thick. Cut this circle into 8 triangles or use a round cookie cutter and cut out like biscuits.

Bake for 15 – 18 minutes or until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center of a scone comes out clean.

*Variations: I used Nestles Hazelnut flavored Coffee Mate. You can use any flavor of  liquid creamer. It's especially fun to try the seasonal flavors. Pumpkin Pie Spice in the Fall or how about Eggnog or Peppermint Mocha for a Christmas treat? If you'd rather not use the flavored creamer plain half and half would work.

Will you make something special for National Chocolate 

Chip Day?

Blast From the Past - Banana Split Dessert For a Girls Get Together

Once a month I get together with seven other women for what is suppose to be a scrapbook crop. To be honest we do scrapbook a little, eat a lot and talk even more...It's a glorious day of girl time!

So that no one person is burdened with the responsibility for all the food we rotate turns. This month it's my turn to bring dessert. I knew I wanted something cool since we're already experiencing summer time temperatures. So I Googled 'summer desserts' and I was pleasantly surprised when Banana Split Dessert was among the many choices. This dessert was very popular when I was a newly wed and it seems everyone had their own variation. It's been years since I've had it but I remembered it was yummy! It is cool and refreshing. I knew I this would be the perfect dessert to share with the girls.

Everyone seems to have their own variation of this dish but it's so simple you might not even need a recipe. Take a graham cracker crust, add a creamy filling, top with pineapple, banana and strawberries and finished it off with whipped cream, a few drizzles of chocolate and chopped nuts. 

Simple and so good!

Recipe

Recipe will make a 13 x 9 inch pan

Crust

2 cups crushed grahams crackers

1/4 cup melted butter

2 Tablespoons sugar

Mix all the ingredients and press in to the bottom of pan. Refrigerate while you prepare the filling.

Filling

(The Triple Sec adds a little something extra to the filling but you can easily omit it if you're serving children or you just don't want to use alcohol.)

12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar 

2 - 3 Tablespoons Triple Sec (Orange Liqueur) optional

2 teaspoons vanilla

8 ounce container whipped topping (Cool Whip)

With a mixer cream together the cream cheese, sugar, Triple Sec (if using) and vanilla until fluffy. Gently fold in the whipped topping. 

Spoon the filling over the graham cracker crust and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Topping

5 - 6 bananas, sliced

20 ounce can crushed pineapple (in juice) drained

2 cups sliced strawberries

8 ounce container whipped topping (Cool Whip)
1 cup chopped pecans (or whatever is your favorite nut)
Chocolate syrup or Hershey's Shell Topping

Drain the pineapple. Slice the bananas into the pineapple juice. This will help them to not turn brown.

With a slotted spoon remove the bananas from the juice and place them in an even layer of the cream cheese filling.
 Cover the bananas with the pineapple and a layer of strawberries. Cover the fruit with the whipped topping, cover with chopped nuts and drizzle on the chocolate.

To serve add a little whipped topping and a cherry on top. Enjoy!



Something I always do when I make a dessert to take somewhere is to make a little extra for my family. So I increased the recipe a little bit and made a loaf pan to leave at home. They must have enjoyed it because this is what I found when I got back after my girls day out.

If you're looking for a no bake summery dessert you might want to give this a try.

Best of the Weekend

Grace at Home No. 105

Saturday Night Fever