A few recipes

I wanted to take a few minutes to give a very public shout out to my bestie Angel, who turned 30 this past weekend. Happy Birthday! I'm so thankful to have her in my life. We met while we were both working for the College of Charleston. Little did I know then that I was meeting someone who would change my life for the better.

Before I met her, I had never really had any measure of self-confidence, and in meeting such a strong, independent, self-assured young lady, I learned a lot about loving myself. Angel taught me that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and I could be attractive and not be a size 2. She taught me a lot of other things, like poise, grace, responsibility, determination, and how to stick up for myself.

This is the girl I called when Jason and I were first dating and he called to tell me he was coming by unexpectedly. She dropped everything she was doing to come to my apartment and clean up the mess so that I could take a shower. She was my constant dinner companion. She was the first person I told when Jason and I got engaged, and she was a bridesmaid in my wedding.

In the words of Meredith from Grey's Anatomy: "she's my person!" She's person I call when things are very bad. She's the person who probably knows the most about the real, authentic me - the me that is both good and bad. I've told her more of my so-called deep and dark secrets that I have any other person in my life. And you know what? She's the person I count on to tell me that the things I think are so big and bad aren't so much, and that I need to get over myself. She is truly my sounding board. She doesn't just take my side, but she gives me honest advice - advice I listen to 99% of the time.

Girl, I know I haven't always been the best friend to you that I could or should have been, but you have always, always been there for me. I'm so thankful to have you in my life. I love you bunches!

Here are a few recipes from last night's dinner. The menu was eclectic, like me, and included chicken ritz casserole, corn casserole, and chocolate chip banana bread.

For the sake of your waistline, I'm omitting the pictures of and recipe for the chicken ritz casserole. I'm actually embarrassed to admit I actually cook this, as it is as unhealthy as it gets. It's basically a heart attack in a bowl. It involves two different types of condensed soups, cheese nips, butter, cheese, sour cream, and chicken. Really, there is nothing redeeming about it at all - but it is yummy delicious in my belly.


Moving on! Behold my Aunt Beth's corn casserole. This looks like I slaved all day and made creamed corn, but it really just frozen corn, cream cheese, and a tiny amount of butter. Simply combine one box of frozen corn niblets with butter, one box of regular corn, and one box of cream corn with one box of cream cheese and a tiny pat of butter. Microwave for 15 minutes, stirring at 5 minute intervals. It is amazingly good! Oh, and it is ok to omit the butter. I made this for two years before I discovered that you were supposed to add it in the first place.


Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
1 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter

2 eggs

1.5 cups mashed banana (about 4 medium bananas)

1/3 cup water

1 2/3 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

1.5 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together sugar and softened butter.

Add the eggs.

Add the bananas and water and mix for 30 seconds.

**It should be noted that I read this as 30 minutes and I mixed for 5 minutes before I decided that it must have been a typo. Duh!**

Add flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder.

Add the chocolate chips.

Pour into greased loaf pan.

Bake 55 minutes

This is very, very good! If you decide to try these, I hope your family enjoys them as much as we do.