Yummm

I haven't posted a recipe on my blog for a while, but I had to share this one!! Last weekend my husband smoked ribs and brisket and what better to go with BBQ than banana pudding? I found this recipe from Paula Deen and it was the best banana pudding I have ever had!



Instead of using vanilla wafers, the recipe calls for these Pepperidge Farms Chessmen cookies.

It was so easy, and my husband and I kept going back every single night for more until the bananas were too rotten to eat (the recipe makes a TON).

Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding

Ingredients

* 2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
* 6 to 8 bananas, sliced
* 2 cups milk
* 1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding
* 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
* 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
* 1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream

Directions

Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.

In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld 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 stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Currently loving....

A couple things that have caught my eye lately!

While in the depths of hell summer, I've been eying this beautiful patio chair from IKEA:


I first saw it at IKEA and sat in it.. it's very comfortable. I would buy 6 of them asap if I didn't have other priorities.

Bling bling! Love this pull from Anthro:



It'd be really sexy on a white piece of furniture.

Apparently I'm currently loving white (well that's nothing new).. here is another white something:


Don't kill me... they are another contender for the kitchen.

I had totally forgotten about these great pendants from CB2 and they are only $50 each. But here is the best part - they take 100 watt bulbs.. which would give us enough light. (I was surprised to see most of you guys said you prefer the West Elm pendants. I love them too.... BUT they only allow 60 watt bulbs and that's just not going to work lighting wise. Damn practicality..) Anyway... this drum pendant is nice and classic AND has a diffuser. One problem we have now is when standing at the island, light glares in our eyes and it's pretty annoying. The diffuser would solve this! Still undecided if you can't tell..

The pendant comes with a plug, but this conversion kit would fix that:



I'm also loving this blog I stumbled upon yesterday.. it's called "Only Things I Love" - how fitting! She has some really great spaces:

Moutain Home Design Board & A Fave

I recently did a design board for an e-decorating client who lives in a gorgeous home in the North Carolina mountains. The home has such great "bones":



The client wanted to get rid of the red rugs and I agreed. I added some cool colors to go with the warm space:



I told her a worn, vintage leather wing back would fabulous in her space.. just like the leather chair in this House Beautiful living room:



The image was scanned via Paula.. see the entire spread here. This spread is one of my all time favorites.. in fact the entire July/Aug 2011 issue of House Beautiful has become one of my all time favorites. It's perfect (including a spread from Nick Olsen.. love him!)

The client has taken the elements of my board and already made changes to her living room and it's looking great so far. She added this beautiful navy blue settee:



And the new entry!!



I can't wait to see the rest unfold...