I have always loved children.
As a young person, I did a lot of babysitting for families in my hometown of Lexington.
In high school, I spent an hour a day helping in the kindergarten at Central Holmes Academy. It must have been my calling to become a teacher.
Different people enjoy different age groups. Junior high and upper elementary were my favorite age groups to teach.
Even though I have never taught "the little ones," I admire those who have the love and patience to do so. I enjoy visiting, observing and talking with the younger set but never thought that was my cup of tea for teaching.
My husband, Steve, has had a difficult time keeping a straight face many times when a little one has been sent to his office for disciplinary reasons.
Not too long ago we were in Greenwood, and I heard a little voice screaming, "Hey, Coach Flemming." The little boy looked up at his mom and said, "He knows me real good, I go see him in his office all the time."
When my son was in kindergarten, he came home one day and told me that he was his teacher's favorite student in class.
I told him that she loved everyone just the same. He adamantly stood by his statement.
When I asked him why he had come to that conclusion, he replied, "Because she pulled my desk right up to the front of the room to sit by her, and she picks me to be the one to stay in at recess every day!"
Today I have some "funnies" from some 3 to 5 year olds.
You can't make this stuff up. Nothing is funnier than real life, particularly real life with children.
•A young girl asked her grandmother how old she was. Granny replied that she was so old she couldn't even remember her age. The girl told her to look in the back of her panties because hers say five to six.
•A young boy kissed his mom good night and told her that he loved her so much that when she died, he was going to bury her right outside his bedroom window.
•A young girl had an earache and went to the medicine cabinet to get some Tylenol. She tried in vain to open the bottle, and her mother explained that it was a child-proof bottle and she would have to open it for her. Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked, "How does it know it is me?"
•A young girl was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. "Please don't give me this juice again," she said, "It makes my teeth cough."
•A young boy was in his bedroom looking worried when his mom asked what was troubling him, he replied, "I don't know what will happen with this bed when I get married. How on earth will my wife fit in it?"
•A young boy was engrossed in a young couple who were hugging and kissing in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off of them, he asked his Dad: "Why is he whispering in her mouth?"
•A young girl was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather wrinkled woman her mom knew. The young girl looked at the woman for a while and then asked, "Why doesn't your skin fit your face?"
•A young boy was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: "The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city, but his wife looked back and was turned to salt." Concerned, the young boy asked: "What happened to the flea?"
•On a particular Sunday sermon, the preacher began to pray: "Dear Lord, without you, we are but dust..." He would have continued but at that moment a very obedient young boy who was listening leaned over and asked quite audibly, "Mom, what is butt dust?"
Hope you enjoy this week's recipes for desserts.
I have been looking for a particular recipe for Easter Sunday lunch and ran across a few favorites that I haven't thought about lately.
Thanks for reading.
FIVE FLAVOR POUND CAKE
2 sticks butter
3 cups sugar
1 cup milk
5 eggs, beaten
3 cups plain flour
½ cup vegetable shortening
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1 teaspoon rum extract
1 teaspoon coconut extract
1 teaspoon butter extract
Cream butter, shortening and sugar in the mixer.
Add eggs, one at a time.
Add flour and milk, alternating between the two (add baking powder to flour.).
Add all flavorings and mix well.
Bake in a greased and floured tube or Bundt cake pan at 300 degrees for 1½ hours.
Glaze:
1 cup sugar
½ cup water
1 teaspoon of each of the flavorings used in the cake
Combine all ingredients in a heavy saucepan.
Bring to a boil and stir until sugar is melted.
Pour over hot cake while still in pan.
Let set until cake is cool.
COCONUT GLOP CAKE
Cake: 1 Duncan Hine butter cake mix
Make as directed on package, using two 8-inch round cake pans.
When cake is cool, cut each layer horizontally - you will have four layers.
Glop:
2 cups sugar
8 ounces sour cream
12 ounces shredded coconut
Mix all ingredients and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Stir and take out 1 cup to reserve for icing.
Place the glop between the layers of the cake.
Icing: Mix together the 1 cup of reserved glop and 2 cups of Cool Whip.
Cover the cake with icing and store in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours.
Can be held in the refrigerator for up to two days.
EASY BANANA PUDDING
2 (3 ounces) packages vanilla instant pudding
2 cups milk
8 ounces sour cream
1 (14 ounces) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 ounces) Cool Whip
4 bananas, peeled and sliced
1 (12 ounces) box Vanilla wafers
Mix the pudding mix, milk, sour cream, condensed milk and Cool Whip well.
Alternate layers of pudding mixture, bananas and wafers, ending with vanilla wafers on top.
Chill for at least 3 hours before serving.
Sometimes I top the pudding with another layer of Cool Whip and top with vanilla wafer crumbs.
•Contact Lee Ann Flemming at lafkitchen@hughes.net.
