It had been weeks since we had been to my momma and stepdad’s for dinner. We were used to all being together on Thursdays at the farm, but life gets in the way. My brother and his family were going away on vacation, but my momma asked if we would like to come over for dinner. She missed us. I told her I would ask my hubby what we had planned and get back to her. Chris, my husband, without hesitation, said, “We haven’t been to your mom’s in forever; let’s do it.” Our weeks had been so crazy trying to get our river lot up and running for the season. Getting a camper out and ready is already enough work. Then you add putting docks in, a new water slide for the season, building a little porch off our camper this year, and getting the boat ready; we had our time cut out for us to be ready for a big long fourth of July weekend. Time was ticking.
That evening we looked forward to a night off. As we walked through the door, Momma greeted and hugged, and kissed each one of us. She got to Chris, and he said, “Momma, it feels so good to be here. I missed this.” She rubbed his cheek with her hand and said, “Me to Christopher. I am so glad you guys are here!”
She had made homemade BBQ, mac n cheese, and a plate of fruit. I told her not to go crazy on food. She was busy that week too, and it’s not about what you eat; it’s about getting the family together. BBQ is her grandson’s favorite, and we all love it, so it is still a win-win. There’s not much, not to love about Momma’s cooking.
We were having such a nice conversation at the table after dinner while the kids were outside playing on the swing. Momma asked if we were ready for dessert. She had made homemade whoopie pies. I poured myself a glass of milk and grabbed a whoopie. I couldn’t wait to take a bite out of this bad boy. As my last bite came to an end, I couldn’t help but feel like it wasn’t complete. I needed more, but not a whole one, even though they honestly weren’t that big at all, just like a normal-sized cookie.
I asked, “Would anyone like to share a whoopie pie with me if I cut it in half?”
My hubby jumped in right away and said he would. But then momma replied, “Well, I would have too.”
I guess everyone felt as incomplete as I did and needed just a few more bites!
Momma said, “Christopher, honey, don’t you want a whole one?”
Chris didn’t. He just wanted a few extra nibbles too.
“Why don’t I cut mine in half and give you the other half, and then Andrea can give you her half?”
I started cracking up. “Mother. Why on earth would we cut ours both in half? That would just give Chris a whole, and then you and I would each have a half? Chris could just have the whole cookie without cutting it.” (This was turning into a whole thing.)
Mom, as serious as can be, “Well, then the calories don’t float out of it. Don’t you remember that? If you cut it in half, it’s fewer calories than eating a whole cookie. Two halves are less than one whole.”
Now, those of you who know my mother are probably busting a gut right now because it’s so her. She cracks you up and comes up with some crazy stuff every now and then. I can’t help but love her. This is just one of her famous sayings and something she has done for years.
In a container full of cookies would be one lonely half. You knew who it belonged to. But ten minutes later, it would be gone. She won’t eat a whole cookie — too many calories. But two halves, ten minutes apart!? Now that she can do!
It’s like my momma’s trademark. You know whose cookie half is in the container.
So next time you eat that cookie, slice of cake, or piece of pie. Cut the puppy in half and wait at least ten minutes for the other half. You can thank my momma later for saving you some calories. *enter my cheesy smile here*
Strawberry Raz Banana Jell-O Salad
Ingredients:
• 1 large package of Cook and Serve vanilla pudding (4.6 ounces)
• 1 small package of strawberry Jell-O (3 ounces)
• 1 small package of raspberry Jell-O (3 ounces)
• 4 cups water
• 1 ~16 oz. container of Cool-Whip
• 3/4 bag mini marshmallows
• 2 cups of strawberries, chopped
• 3-4 bananas, sliced (Splash with some lemon juice to save from browning)
Directions:
Mix together pudding, Jell-o, and water over medium heat until it boils.
Remove from heat and pour into a large mixing bowl. Cover with plastic wrap.
Refrigerate until mixture has thickened (overnight or for about 6 hours). Beat until creamy with a hand mixer.
Fold in Cool Whip, marshmallows, and fruit. Chill about an hour before serving.
