Picnic in the Park: Banana Pudding Jars

Yum

I hope everyone is enjoying the May weather.  We sure are!

Spring has sprung and it's been hot one day and cool the next.  We've also got some Grey May going on here in the mornings.  Not to worry, it burns off by afternoon and then the sun is shining and everyone is outdoors enjoying the cool weather until our scorching summer comes along.

Today we are continuing with our Picnic in the Park theme.  I love picnics don't you?  It's such a great way to enjoy nature, family, and friends....oh and let's not forget the food.  The other day I showed you how to make a great Mediterranean Chicken wrap with some delicious grilled chicken.

Today we are talking desserts.  Oh yea!

Now I always find it hard to take along a good dessert to a picnic or concert in the park.  Since I gravitate toward ice cream, that would end up in a melted mess, so that's out.  So I develop my desserts around the container...mason jars! MASON JARS are the perfect solution for so many toteable things.  Things like salads both green and pasta salads are perfect in jars.  How about drinks? Another winner, and there's no spillage with the lid on!  So of course desserts are also perfect in jars.

Mason jars are hearty, and roomy.  I've even baked the dessert in them, like with my Peach Raspberry Crisps.  I've also used them for my Take Along Smore's.

Today I'm thinking "southern" dessert, and Banana Pudding in mason jars is calling me.  Listen carefully...hear that?  It's calling you too. Seriously, you need to make these sweet little desserts and take them somewhere!  now!  Kids love that wonderful flavor and the vanilla wafers that turn into cakey goodness...HEAVEN!  

This is something that the whole family will enjoy!




Banana Pudding Jars


Servings: 6


For the Pudding:
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Heaping 1/4 teaspoon salt
6 egg yolks
3-1/2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

For Assembling:
3 medium bananas, ripe, and sliced
1 box Vanilla Wafers
6 Pint size Mason Jars

In a medium saucepan, stir together the sugar, cornstarch, salt and yolks. Whisk in the milk and bring to simmer, stirring frequently, over medium heat 5-8 minutes. When the mixture starts to bubble, turn the heat down to low and continue cooking, whisking constantly, for 1-2 minutes until the mixture thickens. Remove the pan from the heat and immediately whisk in the butter and vanilla.

Transfer the mixture to a bowl and place a piece of plastic wrap or waxed paper directly on the pudding to prevent a film from forming. Chill in the refrigerator until cool about 2 hours.

To assemble, place one vanilla wafer in the bottom of each mason jar.  This will create a cake layer on the bottom. Spoon a large dollop of pudding on top. Add a layer of vanilla wafers standing up against the sides of the glasses around the circumference of the jar. Layer on some sliced bananas on top of the pudding. Add another layer of pudding and bananas.  Top with crushed vanilla wafers if desired.  Top jars with the lid to securely close.  Place in the refrigerator for another hour.  You may top them with whipped topping or whipped cream before eating if desired.  

Dessert To Go: S'mores in a Jar

Hi there, I'm back!

I've been having computer problems and have decided it time to retire my laptop and upgrade to something new.  I've been looking at Chromebooks lately.  Anyone have one and want to share their likes or dislikes? As such with my current laptop it takes me about 2 hours to complete one post!  So, I'm sorry that the posts slowed down, but I'm working around that with an interim fix.

Last time I brought you Dinner To Go.  This was a wonderful Asian Pasta Salad dish that we took to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl.  It was the perfect dish in every way; taste, and ease of transport.  I hope you enjoyed this and if you haven't made it...do so right away!

Today I wanted to bring you the perfect Dessert To Go. Again, this was born out the need to create a comforting yet delicious dessert that was easy to transport.  I could have made a cake and cut it into pieces, but I wanted something a little more special.  This is my take on S'mores in a Jar!

I love putting desserts in a jar so that each person have their own individual serving.  I use these jars which you can get here.  I love the design but any regular jar or container will do.  These Peach Raspberry Crisps were baked straight in the jar and we took these to a concert several years ago. 

Peach Raspberry Crisps

As chocolate was on my mind I wanted to get on the S'mores train and create a portable dish.  I wouldn't have a fire to roast marshmallows so I improvised and used the flavor of S'mores and built a wonderful layered dessert.  Using chocolate fudge pudding, graham cracker crumbs and small marshmallows worked perfectly.

Layering these ingredients in a jar, makes it cute!  It also allows you to get all the flavors in one bite.  The desserts were easy to pack and totally hit the spot during the concert intermission.  We even got comments from our neighbors on how pretty the dessert was, and what a great idea to use the jars.

Enjoy!



S'mores in a Jar

serves 4

1 3.9 oz box of Jello instant pudding, chocolate fudge flavored
2 cups 2% milk
2 sheets of graham crackers, crushed
1/2 cup of miniature marshmallows
4 mason or other canning jars - 8 oz.

Make the pudding according to the directions on the box and refrigerate until set and ready for use.

To assemble jars:  Evenly distribute half of the graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of 4 mason jars.  Divide half of the pudding among the four jars layering on top of the crumbs. Divide all of the marshmallows on top of the pudding.  Follow with the remaining pudding divided equally and topping with the remaining crumbs.

Secure lid and keep cold until ready to serve.  NOTE:  if packing these for travel make sure that they are packed with ice packs and that they stay upright.

Take Along S'mores

A wonderful way to start off the weekend is by taking in a concert at the Hollywood Bowl.

MGG and I love the Bowl.  We try and go two, three, sometime four times each season.  Last night was our first adventure this season, and what a beginning to what we hope is a great summer filled with great music.  

Last night's program was call Frozen Planet.   It's a co-production of the BBC and Discovery Channel.  A wonderful film of the two polar regions, the film's debut and and a live orchestra playing the accompanying music.  The composer, George Fenton, conducted the orchestra.  The film was stunning.  Beautiful scenery, and wonderful antics mixed with harsh reality of the animals that live in the regions.  

See the tiny Hollywood sign way up in the right?  Very cool.  So a major part of the fun in going to the Bowl, is in taking a picnic and some wine to have before the concert.  Since it was Friday night and we had to go right after work MGG ordered us two hot meals from Zach's Italian Cafe to take along with us.  Another of my favorite places to eat!  Wonderful Italian food and a restaurant that is set up in an old bungalow house.  

Since I didn't have time to cook, I decided I'd love to at least make us dessert.  So I came up with this wonderful dessert in a jar called Take Along S'mores!  It's so easy to transport since the dessert is in two 8oz mason jars.  I just love that!  And, who doesn't love s'mores?  A favorite of mine since childhood, this dessert has all the flavors but using slightly modified ingredients from the original.  Perfect for the Bowl, a picnic, or even to take a treat for work!

My s'mores consist of crumbled Soft Paws (Teddy Grahams) for the graham cracker flavor, Chocolate Fudge pudding (instead of a chocolate bar), and marshmallow fluff (for the roasted marshmallows).  All layered in a cute little mason jar!

I hope you will try these soon.  What is your favorite dessert in a mason jar?

Take Along S'mores
serves 2

2 (8 oz) canning jars with lids
1 (.4 oz) package of sugar-free Chocolate Fudge instant pudding, prepared according to package directions and chilled
2 Teddy Graham soft paws, crumbled
4 T Marshmallow Fluff
2 T mini marshmallows

Prepare the pudding according to package directions ahead of time, chill in medium bowl until set.

To assemble your jars begin with placing 1/4 of the crumbled graham crackers soft paws in the bottom.  Follow with a layer of pudding, followed by 2 Tbsp of Marshmallow Fluff. Repeat with another layer of Soft Paws and pudding.  The jar should be almost full.

Top with mini marshmallows, place on lid and seal.  Keep in the refrigerator until ready to take with you!  

Peach Raspberry Crisp

Dessert is a good thing.

A sweet ending to a wonderful meal. 

When trying to come up with a dessert to take to our picnic at the Hollywood Bowl, I looked to my fellow bloggers for ideas.  When I came across the Peach Raspberry Crisp recipe on Jo-Ann's blog, A Pretty Life in the Suburbs, I knew I had found the perfect dessert.  Jo-Ann has a wonderful blog full of fantastic recipes.  Stop by and say to hello to her sometime!

What makes this dessert perfect?  Natural fruit (good for you) in warm spices topped with a crunch crisp topping! YUM! But the best part?  They are baked in MASON JARS! 

How awesome it that?  I can bake them in the jars, and then pop the lids on them and take them along!!!

The result?  A wonderful warm dessert to end our meal....Tasty too! 

Here's a great tip I tried.  I made the crisps the day before and let them cool and stored them in the frig.  On the day of the picnic I put them in the oven on low for about 30 min to bring the temperature up.  I took the warm jars, topped them with the lids, and wrapped them in a little foil.  I even had a hot/cold bag from the grocery store and carried them in this insulated bag.  At the intermission of the show about 2 hours after we arrived, the dessert was still warm. Yeah!  We each had individual servings and used spoons to scoop up the delicious fruit right out of the jar.  All that was missing was the vanilla ice cream.  I need to work on how to avoid melted ice cream in transport for next time!

So here's how I made them.  I adapted the recipe just a little to suit my taste for cinnamon.  You can adjust it to fit your tastes as well!

Peel and slice your peaches.  Place the peaches, Splenda, and cinnamon in a medium bowl.  Stir to combine.

Add the raspberries and stir gently to mix.

Next make the crumb topping.  In a medium bowl combine AP flour, wheat flour, brown sugar, oats, and melted butter.  Stir until well combined and crumbly.

Divide the peaches evenly in each of the jars.  They should be about 3/4 full.  Top each evenly with the crumb topping.

In a preheated oven at 350 degrees, bake for 30 min. until bubbly.  I put the jars in a baking dish to make them easier to handle. 

Look at these colors...

Treat yourself to something very cute....so delicious!

Peach Raspberry Crisp

makes 6 servings - 250ML jars used

4 cups of peaches, sliced (I used 4 large peaches)
1 pint of fresh raspberries
1/3 c Splenda
1 1/2 t cinnamon
1/3 c all purpose flour
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup melted butter

Peel and slice your peaches.  Place peaches, Splenda, and cinnamon in a medium bowl.  Mix to combine.  Add raspberries and toss gently. 

In another medium bowl combine AP flour, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, rolled oats, melted butter.  Stir until all ingredients are coated and your have a crumbly mixture.

In 6 clean 250 ML jars divide your peach mixture evenly.  You will fill about 3/4 of the way up.  Top each peach mixture with the crumb topping, dividing evenly. 

Place jars (no lids please!) in a baking pan and place in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Mixture should be soft and bubbly.  Serve warm.  Store any leftovers in the frig by placing the lid on the top!

adapted from:  A Pretty Life in the Suburbs