Tonight we went to our friends Nate and Kate’s house for a casual dinner in. Guests included Kath and her hubby Matt, Diana and Dan, Justin, Valerie and John, and the star of the night was Nate and Kate’s dog Gilbert Of course much of the conversation included blogging and food, all of our favorite things! I decided on a casual outfit, my favorite skinny jeans (Express) and a black drapey knit top (Forever21) with my favorite camel boots (Piperlime):

Night In With Friends

Dinner included a variety of pizzas, salads, and homebrewed beers! I tasted a few that were quite yummy. I also made a classic banana pudding that is my go to dessert for social gatherings. It is quite easy and is always a hit. Being a southern ‘gal, I grew up eating banana (or neener, as I like to call it) pudding at all family gatherings, parties, etc. so to me it is a staple! My favorite recipe that I always use is “Not Yo Mama’s” banana pudding by Paula Deen, which I then morph a bit to be healthier:

Not Yo Mama’s Banana Pudding by Paula Deen

Ingredients:

2 bags of Pepperidge Farms Chessman Cookies (Nilla Wafers, or any cookies of your liking)

3-5 Bananas, sliced

2 cups cold milk (I use Non-Fat)

1 box of French Vanilla pudding (I use fat free/sugar free)

1 Eight Oz. Package of Cream Cheese (I use lowfat…nonfat is disgusting in this recipe)

1 Fourteen Oz. Can of Condensed Milk (again I use Fat Free/Sugar Free)

1 Twelve Oz. Container of Frozen Whipped Topping (Fat Free/Sugar Free Cool Whip)

Line bottom of 12x9x2 glass dish with cookies, then bananas.

Combine milk and pudding and let sit for five minutes or so.

In a seperate bowl (or your Kitchenaid) whip together cream cheese and condensed milk until smooth. Fold in whipped cream with pudding, then mix all together with cream cheese mixture until smooth and creamy. Pour into dish over cookies/bananas, then layer top with additional cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

And there you have it, easy, delicious, and always a crowd pleaser!

Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding

Look at all the Creamy Delicious-ness

Thanks again to Nate and Kate for having us over, I think a great time was had by all!