I've had a cookie idea brewing for a few years now. And I'm not quite sure why it took me so long to work out my idea. It only took me about 15 minutes to figure out exactly what needed to happen. And it worked out the first time I tried. The joy and frustration was comical to say the least. It took me 3 or 4 years to "create" a cookie that was destined to be successful. Lesson learned: The next time I get a good idea about a new recipe, act on it.
This "Banana Pudding Cookie" recipe was inspired by a faint memory of a cookie I had only one time when I was a little girl: maybe 5th grade. I didn't really know much about cooking back then, so I didn't really think about what I was eating or what was in them... But I have ever since. I don't remember who made the cookie, where I had it, or if it's just a figment of my imagination all together. It's real now, though! Don't let the name fool you. It's nothing like the banana pudding we've all inevitably had at some point in our lives (You know, the mushy mess of banana slices, fake banana flavored pudding and vanilla wafers?). You will not be knocked over the head with the flavor of banana, it is not like banana nut bread, and it contains a package of vanilla pudding mix which gives it a really pleasant creaminess. They're moist and chewy... come on, who doesn't love that in a cookie?! I love them, so does my husband, and my 4 year old probably loves them more than both of us combined! I hope you'll try them and let me know how you like them!
Banana Pudding Cookies
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter (softened)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 ripe banana (smashed well)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
1 small package instant vanilla pudding mix (3.8 oz)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup oatmeal (quick-cooking)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla until very smooth. Add smashed banana goo and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine flour, pudding mix, baking soda, salt, and oatmeal. Stir until combined. Add to wet mixture. Stir until well incorporated. Refrigerate dough for about 30 minutes. Drop onto cookie sheets. Bake for 10-14 minutes until golden.
*Refrigerating the dough helps the dough keep its shape a little better while baking. You may omit the refrigeration part, your cookies will just be a little flatter.
**Baking time will obviously vary depending on how big you make your cookies. I tend to make big cookies, so mine take longer!
I'll admit it... I used to be a "brand snob." Yep... a "brand snob." I'm ashamed of that time in my life. For those of you who don't know what a brand snob is, I'm not surprised. I kind of made that up! I believe a brand snob is someone who will only buy brand name grocery, toiletry, and household-ish products because he/she is getting a higher quality product.
In the past few years, I have learned to really value our precious dollars. I have become a "compulsive saver." And I'm proud to admit that! Did you know that the "store brand" or other generic labels are very often your favorite brand with a different label? I mean it! They want their products sold, so stores and packaging companies bid for their products so they can put a different label on it. It's crazy. I don't really get it. But you know what I understand? I'M SAVING $
I've done quite a bit of experimenting in the grocery store. I had bought name brand products for years. Now I try to save by buying a lot of things in generic or store brands. Now, don't get me wrong; there is a time to save and there is a time where quality is majorly compromised when you buy generic. I'll tell you about some things I just will not by name brand anymore! I'll call it my "skimp list."
Skimp List
- Beans: beans are beans are beans as far as I'm concerned. If you are using canned beans, just compare ingredients and 9 times out of 10, there will be no difference in the generic brand. Dry beans are an even better deal! 2/3 cup of dry beans is about equal to a can of beans.
- Foil: OK, I was majorly skeptical on this one. Foil is crazy expensive and we constantly throw it away. So I decided to try generic foil. Not bad! If you don't really know what to expect, try the generic heavy duty foil. It's thick and durable.
- Canned Veggies: I'm not really into canned vegetables. I usually buy them frozen. But I very often used canned tomatoes. On average, I can save more than 20 cents on one can. No brainer!
- Bleach: Come one! What on earth seems logical about spending a few dollars more on Clorox when you can get the generic? Doesn't all bleach kill germs and ruin your favorite garments?!
Vinegar: Again, why do we insist on spending more than we should on vinegar?
Condiments
Oatmeal: My only disclaimer is that I have yet to see a box of generic instant oatmeal packets that claim to be "lower sugar." But I but generic plain oatmeal.
Butter: (in stick form)
Baking Essentials: I do PLENTY of baking, and I can tell you that generic flour and sugar are THE SAME!!!
Frozen Veggies: Something to think about: Vegetables are frozen at their peak freshness. You have no idea how long that bunch of broccoli has been sitting in that store... and it took a few days to get shipped to the store, right? So when you can (especially when you make soups), buy frozen. It's cheaper and probably fresher!
Here are things I've tried to skimp on and came out on the other side disappointed:
Splurge List
- Toilet Paper: Please Please Please don't skimp on toilet paper. You're dealing with a very sensitive area, folks!
- Tissues: I blow my nose a lot. My allergies are terrible. And I'll tell you this: NOTHING compares to "Puffs with lotion."
- Bread: I often find that the cheaper the bread, the more preservatives it contains. But a high quality bread.
- Yogurt: This is debatable (mainly between me and my husband). I get a little creeped out buying generic milk products. But that may just be my OCD talking.
- Laundry Essentials: I just experimented with buying a store brand laundry detergent. In fact, I'm on the last leg of the container. I'll admit that our clothes are clean. But I miss the smell of my old detergent. The smell of the store brand detergent is wonderful out of the container. But it doesn't last AT ALL for me. So when I finish this bottle, I'll gladly pay a little extra for "Gain."
- Paper towels: Who doesn't know that "Bounty" makes the world's best paper towels?
- Cereal: Again, this is debatable. Some generic cereals are comparable; some are not. I tried buying generic "Apple Cinnamon Cheerios" and my son took one bite and stopped eating. But generic crispy rice cereal makes great Rice Crispy Treats!
- Meat: NEVER NEVER NEVER skimp on good quality meat. That's just scary. If your ground beef is in a tube (like breakfast sausage is packaged), you can't see the meat. What is logical or safe about that? You could be purchasing a tube of dog poo for all you know!
I can't stand watching people waste money on name brands. I'm not at all saying that I don't buy name brand products. I've clearly shown you what I will and will not buy. But I just want you to think and compare ingredients and nutrition facts before you buy. You could save 30% or more on your next grocery bill! Now that's smart!
Every few months or so, I get pure joy from a motherly epiphany. Here's what happened today:
Everyday, my 3 year old son (Zachary) may choose to have a cup of chocolate milk or juice. That's it. One cup of something other than water per day. It's our rule, sorry if you don't like it! Anyway, today at lunch, as Zachary spit and sputtered at me about his day's happenings (he had peanut butter and jelly - thus the spitting and sputtering), I asked if he'd like something to drink:"Zachary, Mommy can't understand what you're saying with all that peanut butter in your mouth. Do you need a drink?"
His response: "No, Mom. Chwokit milk."I smiled knowing that "drink" to him means "water" and "chocolate milk" means "chwokit milk."
I went and poured him a cup of milk and got out the syrup to mix him his favorite beverage. As I'm mid-pour, Zachary yells, "WATCH, MOM!!!" Again, I smile knowing he loves to watch my husband or I mix up the chocolate milk. I grab a spoon and make my way back to the table where he is still struggling to swallow his beloved sandwich. I pour in the chocolate syrup, insert the spoon, and Zachary says anxiously: "Milk.... (and as the milk changes from white to brown)... CHWOKIT MILK!!!" All the while, his precious face is lit up like a Christmas tree. I lick the spoon (which is a monumental faux pas). Zachary has a minor fit and I must dip the spoon back into the newly created chocolate milk and let him re-lick the spoon.
My point? What a precious little moment in my day. In an exchange that lasted maybe a minute and a half, my son showed joy and wonder as to how his mommy could create "chwokit milk" from plain old milk. To Zachary, Mommy possesses a kind of magic. And I'm left with an overwhelming sense of knowing it will not always be like this. One day, Zachary will be able to make his own chocolate milk. He will possess the "magic." One day, he'll know that Mommy and Daddy cannot fix everything he needs us to fix when he cries "Six it Daddy!" (Yes, he says "six" instead of "fix.") One day, my precious Zachary will not be in awe of the mystical powers of "Santa"... he will have his own children and will himself become "Santa." One day, Zachary will realize that Mommy's kiss on a boo-boo doesn't really have healing powers; only an immeasurable amount of love.
My hope, my prayer is that one day, when Zachary is grown, married, and has our beautiful grandchildren, he will smile as he makes them "chwokit milk." Knowing that once upon a time, Mommy and Daddy made him the same magic beverage... And loved doing it for him.
And so, the rest of my day will be filled with smiling about the joy of chocolate milk.
