Teachers Just Wanna Have Fun

Wednesday was our last day with students and it was such a bittersweet day as I said "good bye" to my very first Kindergarten class. I truly had a wonderful year although it was very tough at times as I learned so much and also became a mom. I was stretched to the limits but God carried me through. And my sweet husband was there every second of the way. I am already looking forward to next year but I am oh so glad to have the summer with my baby girl!

So us teachers ended the year in good fashion with a fabulous party. I know our students think we live at school but little do they know that we can have some fun. Seriously, they seem shocked when they see you outside of school and you can actually read their minds that say, "You mean, you shop at Target too??????" Anyway, Wednesday night we gathered at the home of one of our teachers and all sat poolside with our toes in the water. It looked innocent as we told stories about the year....



But then it got a bit crazy. Every single teacher, including myself, ended up in the pool in our clothes. Every. Single. Teacher. It was absolutely hilarious and the laughs were no doubt heard for miles. And even me, who hates to be wet in my clothes, could care less. We were officially off for the summer and we had zero cares in the world. I love the staff I work with and I am crazy blessed to be a part of Pattison Elementary.

So to the recipe...I had to make something easy because there is just absolutely zero time to play Julia Child on your last week of school. So I pulled out a tried and true recipe called Deviled Crackers. They are so easy to prepare that it is almost sinful. But the addiction to them is even more sinful. Many people have probably had these before so here is the way to make them:



Deviled Crackers

2 sleeves of Saltines

3/4 cup of Vegetable oil

1 packet of dry ranch mix

Set oven to 250. Spread your crackers on a baking sheet. Whisk the oil and ranch mix and then pour over your crackers and coat carefully. I use a rubber spatula to do the job. Bake at low temp for 20-30 mins. You will be able to smell when they are done. You will start to smell a yummy aroma in your house. The fun part is that you can use ANY dry packet mix....fajita mix, italian seasoning mix...anything! I actually used the Fiesta Ranch dry packet and loved it. These are always a hit and loved by all.

Enjoy and happy summer to all my fellow teachers out there!

3 years later, but better late than never!

Well, it has been a LONG time since I posted on this blog. I never forgot about it and I am a person who actually feels guilty about not finishing something I start. This was one of those quilty things. But life has been busy in the umm...almost past 3 years since I last posted. Seriously, has it been that long? But to justify and make myself feel better, I will say that life has changed drastically in the last three years. Back to school...AGAIN and this time to be a teacher, moved from Nashville to Texas (oh so bittersweet), got my dream job as a Kindergarten teacher at an amazing school (God is good and faithful...AMEN!) and we had our first baby...our little baby bug,Collins Catherine! So that sums up our three years in a few sentences...or at least the main parts.

We were able to visit our sweet Momou over Easter this past March and my little blog came back on my heart. But who has time to blog when you add a first year Kinder teacher AND a first time mom to the mix??? Not this girl. I barely have time to brush my teeth (but I do). So I added "get back to my blog" on my summer bucket list and here I am on my first day of summer. Go me! I am so productive:) Now if only I can keep up with it. But here is the thing, when you are a busy, new, working mom, there is barely any time to be fancy and try new recipes. So I certainly haven't been able to try any of Momou's recipes but I think that she of all people would understand. But what I DO have is a collection of "Fast and Fabulous" recipes that I have been adding to and keeping for years as I tried new recipes. I have been pulling from that list all year to make sure we can eat some sort of dinner.

So Momou, for this season of life, I may just have to blog about those recipes and whatever else life throws me but I promise to cook some of your recipes as much as I can, especially now with summer here. I plan/hope/pray to add to my "Fast and Fabulous" list so I will be ready for the fall when school starts again. As far our sweet Momou? She is still as lovely as ever with the same easy, beautiful heart. She recently moved to a nursing home which is different and hard to see, but she is still queen! Her family is ever growing and she is still a prayer warrior with grace poured all over her. So for this season of life, this blog may have to take on a new meaning where I can TRY to make it all like Mamou...family, love, grace, motherhood and of course, food. I am really not a writer at all but there is something fun and that makes my heart happy about this tribute to Momou so I am going to try to keep going. Key word here:Try.

3 generations of Catherines...well, I am Katherine with a "K".



Only a few of the grandchildren and a few great grandchildren. Notice the other baby, that would be my sister's (Jonah), born only 20 days after Collins.

The Infamous Momou Dirtcake

This is a dessert that make memories. That is when you know that you have a good recipe in your hands. Presenting Momou's infamous Dirt Cake....

This recipe goes back to the 2nd grade for me. I remember Momou and our Aunt Gay picking me and my sisters up from school telling us they had a special surprise waiting for us at home. We arrived home to find a terra cotta flower pot sitting on our kitchen counter with bright silk flowers planted in what LOOKED like dirt. Well Momou and Aunt Gay really spiced things up when they started eating this dirt. My sisters and I thought they had gone mad! Who eats dirt? Or at least eats it and makes yummy noises over it? Well I am not sure how they convinced us but we had a bite too. And from that day on we were hooked on Dirt Cake!

If you have never had Dirt Cake get ready to be a lover of this stuff. It is a cool and creamy chocolate/vanilla dessert that always hits the spot! Half of the fun is how you present this concoction. Get wild...crazy colored flower pots, Gerber Daises, gummy worms and even a garden trowel. Whatever your pretty heart desires. This is always a favorite at any event or party!

I have not yet gone the "flower pot" route but I do add gummy worms for good looks. I haven't yet made this for any kids (only us adults so far:) but when I do I am going all out. Just like Momou and Aunt Gay did.

Dirt Cake

Ingredients:
1 bag crushed Oreos
1 (8oz.) block of softened cream cheese
1/2 stick butter
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2 1/2 cups milk
2 boxes (3 oz. or closest to 3 oz.)instant vanilla pudding
1 (12 oz.) tub of Cool Whip

Steps:
1. Crush Oreos, set aside.
2. Cream butter, cream cheese and powdered sugar, set aside.
3. Mix pudding and milk until smooth.
4. Stir together step 2 and 3. Fold in Cool Whip.
5. Layer Oreos, then pudding. Add another layer and end with crushed Oreos on top.
6. Chill for at least 2 hours.
7. Serve with flair and you've got yourself a party!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as me and my family have. I love making this for special occasions and seeing every one's face when I serve it. Did I mention that you can even make this a lower fat version. All you have to do is buy "light" or "fat free" ingredients and it still tastes delicious! I hope your children, your grandchilden or even children in your classroom love this dessert and keep the memory that goes with it. I know I will never forget!

No-Bake Nuggets

These past few months have been so busy for us. Literally something planned almost every night. But no complaints at all...it has been all fun. During these busy days I have found myself in a pickle with the need of a QUICK recipe with barely anytime to search for that perfect "one". I should have known that Momou would have the perfect "quick" recipe in her collection.

A few months ago my girlfriends and I decided to start a bunco group. And we have had a ball with our little group let me tell you! The first official bunco night was hosted by moi and of course I planned it on a busy little day. And guess what...I needed a dessert to make and quick! Sure I could have run by Publix and grabbed something for the bakery but honestly I perfer to make something myself. That's just me.

So No-Bake Nuggets? Sounds more like an appetizer to me. But oh it is not. It is ooey gooey deliciousness! The best part...you never even turn on that oven! Second best part...there is a very good chance you will have the ingredients right in your little pantry. So do I have you intersted in how to make these little gems? Well see below!

No-Bake Nuggets
1/4 cup butter of margarine, melted
2 cups quick or old fashioned oats, uncooked
One 15 oz. can condensed milk
3/4 cup Chunky peanut butter
Dash of Salt

Combine butter and oats in a skillet; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly; about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Add condensed milk, peanut butter and salt; mix until well blended. Spread in greased foil lined 8-inch square pan; chill. Cut into squares.

Voila! How is easy this little dessert? And it is so yummy too! Enjoy.

Food for thought: If you don't belong to a bunco group....start one with your girlfriends ASAP! SO MUCH FUN!

Heavenly Hash Cake

Today is Momou's birthday! She turns 88 years old. She has been blessed with many wonderful years and has become so much to so many people. I wish I could be with her today to celebrate her. Since I can't then I will blog about another one of her amazing recipes. What to blog about...a cake of course! Not just any cake but a Heavenly Hash Cake. Have you ever heard of the candy? Well this is just like it...but all wrapped up in a cake.

Heavenly Hash Cake
2 sticks margarine
3-4 T. cocoa
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 tsp. vanilla
1 package marshmallows
Pinch salt

Melt Margarine and add cocoa. Cream sugar and eggs until smooth and add flour, salt and vanilla. Fold in cocoa mixture and mix well. Add nuts. Grease and flour a baking pan (9x13) and bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes. Pour and spread out marshmallows on top of warm cake. Let cool. Top with chocolate layer.

Chocolate Topping
Pinch salt
1 oz. cocoa
4 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
3 T. margarine
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 box of 1 lb. box of powdered sugar

Mix the cocoa, brown sugar and water in a saucepan for four minutes. Remove from heat and add margarine. Stir in vanilla, salt, and powdered sugar. Spread or pour over cake. Leave iced cake in pan until cook.

Thank you Mrs. Marie Bordelon from Morauville, La for submitting your recipe to the newspaper. Your cake is absolutely amaxing. Momou and I thank you!

This cake makes many servings and will feed lots of hungry people:) It is beautiful 3layer cake. Cakey part on the bottom, a marshmallow layer in the middle and a delicious hard chocolate topping. This will be a crowd pleaser!

Happy Birthday Momou! I love you and miss you so much. I wish I were in Marksville, La today celebrating with you....

Heavenly Hash Cake