Momma's Green Beans

One Sunday night for Sunday Night Dinners at my parent's house, my Mom started messing with the green beans. As I was really hoping my 4 yr olds were going to devour the green beans, I got a bit worried. She was making them pretty fancy. Preschoolers tend to shun the fancy-fare. (hi, chicken nuggets)

Much to my amazement, the fancified green beans were the first things off the plate. Of course, I had to get the recipe:

Green Beans (steamed to slightly crisp)

Saute minced garlic in olive oil, add celtic sea salt, (I may try with just regular salt- I'm not that fancy yet)  fresh ground pepper, dried parsley.

Add green beans immediately after steaming into fry pan with hot olive oil (guessing about 1/4 cup - depending on how many green beans).  Add 1/4 stick of butter or margarine.  Toss until butter is melted.  Serve.

Banana Chocolate Pie

From Kraft

4 squares baker's semi sweet chocolate

2 tbl. cold milk

1 tbl. butter

1 graham cracker pies crust

1 medium banana- sliced

2 pkg. (4 serving each) Jello Vanilla instant pudding

2 c. cold milk

2 c. thawed cool whip- divided

Microwave chocolate, 2 tbl. milk, and butter in large bowl for 1 - 1 1/2 mins. or until butter is melted, stirring every 30 sec. Spread onto bottom of crust. Refrigerate 30 mins. Cover w/ bananas.

Beat pudding mixes and 2 c. milk in large bowl with whisk 2 mins. Let stand 1 min. Stir in 1 1/2 c. cool whip. Spoon over bananas. 

Refrigerate 4 hours until firm. Top with remaining cool whip just before serving. Store leftover in refrigerator.

Creamy Peach Squares

From Kraft

2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1/2 c. sugar- divided
1/2 c. butter- melted
1 1/2 pkg. (8 oz. each) Cream Cheese- softened
1 tub cool whip- thawed and divided
3 large peaches (1 1/4 lb. peeled & sliced)
1 1/2 c. boiling water
1 pkg. (6 oz.) Raspberry Jell-O
2 c. ice cubes

Mix crumbs, 1/4 c. sugar and butter in 13 x 9 pan. Press into bottom of pan.

Beat cream cheese and remaining sugar in bowl. Whisk in 1 1/2 c. cool whip, spread over crust. Top with peaches. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Add boiling water to gelatin mix in large bowl. Stir 2 mins. until dissolved. Stir in ice cubes until melted. Refrigerate 5 mins. until thick. Whisk in remaining cool whip, spread over peach layer. Refrigerate for 4 hrs until firm.

Garnish with fresh raspberries and peach slices.

Aquarium Cups

I am going on a blitzkrieg of dessert cooking this weekend. Mostly from a random Jell-O recipe book my Mom picked up at the checkout line. Either way! Good stuff!

From Kraft

How fun would these be for the twins?! So much fun I tell you.

Here's whats what:

3/4 c. boiling water
1 pkg. (3 oz) Berry Blue flavor gelatin
Ice cubes
1/2 c. cold water
1/2 c. chopped strawberries (I'm using mandarin oranges instead)
4 bite size fish shaped chewy fruit snacks

Add boiling water to gelatin in a medium bowl. Stir 2 mins. or until completely dissolved. Add enough ice cubes to cold water to measure 1 1/4 c. Add to gelatin, stir until slightly thickened. Remove any unmelted ice. If gelatin is too thin, refrigerate more.

Place berries in 4 clear plastic cups; cover w/ gelatin. Press fruit snacks into gelatin until completely submerged.

Refigerate 1 hr. or until firm.