Tonight is the first of our Netflix Watch Parties as fundraisers to benefit the Henrico Educational Foundation (henricogives.org). The Henrico Education Foundation (HEF) is a non-profit foundation that provides grants and resources to Henrico County Public School students and teachers to fill the gap between taxpayer funding and what is required to produce innovation and achievement in our schools and communities. This Foundation is specifically targeting aid to families affected by Covid-19 (Coronavirus).

THE MAIN COURSE

To raise funds and to have a little fun in the process we are hosting a Netflix Watch Party for the next three Saturdays. We are so excited to watch “School Daze”.

School Daze is a 1988 American musical comedy-drama film, written and directed by Spike Lee, and starring Larry Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, and Tisha Campbell-Martin. Based in part on Spike Lee’s experiences as a Morehouse student in the Atlanta University Center during the 1970s, it is a story about members of a fraternity and sorority clashing with some of their classmates at a historically black college during homecoming weekend.

DESSERT AND A COCKTAIL

We also have a wonderful suggestion for food and an adult beverage to accompany the movie. Why not make this delicious BANANA PUDDING (we won’t spoil the banana reference for those who haven’t seen the movie) and wash down your popcorn with a glass of JUNGLE JUICE! Both recipes are below.

We can’t wait to watch the movie tonight and hope you will join in. If you haven’t paid for your ticket, you can still donate by following these instructions:
1. Participants donate $5/per watch party they want to attend using CashApp ($blackmenread) or Paypal (paypal.me/blackmenread).
2. Please put your email and the movie you want to attend in the note.
3. Prior to the party we will send you the URL to join the party!!

Note: Participants must have access to a Netflix account. The Netflix Party app works through the Google Chrome browser on a desktop or laptop only.

BANANA PUDDING RECIPE

Ingredients:
5-6 bananas (slight green, not fully ripe), sliced not too thick/not too thin
Jello instant banana pudding – small box
Jello instant french vanilla pudding – small box
Creamy Cool whip (2) – thawed
Philadelphia cream cheese block – 8 oz (soften – best to leave it out on the counter for at least 4-6 hours)
1-14 oz can of condensed milk
1-3 Cups of milk*
1 box of Nilla Wafer cookies (if you are using a bigger dish or just like extra cookies you might need another box)

Directions:

1. Line the bottom of your dish with Nilla Wafers
2. On top of the Nilla Wafers place a slice of banana
3. With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth and fluffy**. Add the condensed milk and beat until it incorporated. Add the pudding and at least 1 cup of milk. Continue to add additional milk until it gets to soft set consistency (not to liquidity and not to firm). (I used about 3 cups when I made it)
4. Use a rubber spatula to fold in on container of cool whip into the pudding mixture.
5. Pour some of pudding mixture over the banana layer.
6. Continue to repeat the vanilla wafer, banana slice, and pudding layering until you run out. I like to end with pudding on top. (Depending on dish size, width, and length, you should get 2-3 layers)
7. Garnish the top with a few crushed Nilla Wafers
8. Refrigerate for about 2 hours before serving, so the pudding can set up.
9. Before serving, top the pudding with the other container of cool whip.

*The pudding box directions said do not use soy milk b/c it will not set up. I used 2% milk.
**If the cream cheese is not soft enough, you will not get it to the creaminess that it needs to be. You will end up with little chunks of cream cheese throughout.

JUNGLE JUICE RECIPE

Ingredients:

• 3 oz vodka
• 6 oz rum
• 12oz orange juice
• 6 oz lemonade
• 9 oz fruit punch

Shake. Serve over ice.