Pearl's Banana Pudding

Cultural region: USA - Southern Black

Artist: Bunny Gregory
IG: @ugbattleofthearts

My mom's banana pudding was always special to me because she added lemon pudding to the vanilla pudding so you got a bit of tanginess!

This was the only thing we actually cooked together and she would always let me do all the layering and make it look pretty in the bowl! - Bunny

Ingredients:

  *1 box of Nilla Wafers

  *1 sm box of instant vanilla pudding

  *1sm box instant lemon pudding

  *Milk

  *3-4 medium bananas

  *1tub Cool Whip Topping

  *Clear bowl, trifle bowl or casserole

    dish

***I find that name brand items make

      a huge difference here!!!

Make It(no bake)!

1) Mix vanilla and lemon pudding according to directions on box and one bowl and set aside.

2) Start with a layer of cookies covering the bottom of the bowl (if you have a very pretty bowl it's always nice to also put a layer of cookie standing around the side of the bowl that is optional).

A layer of sliced bananas (I peel and slice bananas as I go along so that they won't turn brown by the end of the process).

    Pour a layer of pudding

    Spread a layer of Cool whip

3) Repeat layers till you get to the top of your bowl spread with Cool whip

**Also very pretty to garnish and some creative way with crushed cookies so save a few for the end.

4) chill for 4 hours

The "Dirty" Laundry Day/Sunday Morning Buttermilk Biscuits

Cultural region: USA
Artist: Andrea Renee Downs
IG: @womenslaundry

I begged my mother-in-law Joan to teach me how to make these biscuits after waking up one morning to their buttery goodness in the winter of 2002 during a visit to Ithaca, NY and when Jesse and I were dating. I clearly remember the toasty smell and the warm feeling of family togetherness, love, and belonging that came with each bite. I started baking them in my kitchen and as our Sunday morning family ritual before my kids were born and it's become one of our most important and shared family traditions. When I began inviting women to participate and share stories through Airing Out the "Dirty" Laundry in 2018, I naturally made these biscuits a part of our Laundry Day gatherings whether they took place in my family room or a community space. My hope is that Laundry Days feel warm, safe, and brave for all women and I have always felt deeply that we could hold space for each other while also breaking bread together. Like my good friend and food journalist Amy Rogers always says, "Everything is a food story." - Andrea

Ingredients:
4 c unbleached all purpose white flour
4 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 sticks of very cold unsalted butter
approx. 2 c full fat buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees 
(use a heavy duty non-stick baking sheet)

Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Cut tablespoons of the butter and combine with the dry ingredients. Use a pastry knife to cut the butter to pea-sized pieces that are also evenly distributed throughout the dough. Do this quickly so that the butter doesn't get too soft or start to melt. Gently stir in 2 cups of buttermilk. The dough only needs to be wet enough to barely stay together. Lightly flour the surface of your counter and use a rolling pin or your hands to gently make your dough about 1" thick. Use a 2" biscuit cutter or the top of a floured glass tumbler to cut your biscuits and then place them onto the baking tray.

Bake with lots of love for 13 minutes and top with salted butter, honey, or any jam or preserves that your heart desires.