proof in the pudding

Travis and I grilled burgers Friday night and the domestic vein inside me wanted a banana pudding. Not the cafeteria add water kind, either- the real stuff. So I called my mom for my great grandmother's recipe and after a quick trip to the grocery store I was set to go, making the dish for the very first time.

My family isn't quite as stingy as KFC so I thought I'd share the recipe. My only advice is that you eat it all within 3 days of making it or it will get mushy... not that you'll have a problem doing that.

Disclaimer: all pictures are from Travis's kitchen and have a horrible shadow. Please forgive the apartment lighting.

Ingredients:

*note: this is not an exact science. eyeball it.

2 1/2 to 3 cups milk

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 Tbs flour

2 eggs

1 Tbs butter

sprinkle of vanilla (1 tsp or less)

vanilla wafers

bananas

In a medium-large pot, combine sugar, flour, and 1 cup milk with eggs beaten in. Then turn the heat to medium.

Add remaining milk, butter & vanilla.

Here comes the fun part: STIR. You will need to stir constantly so the mixture does not stick. And when I say constantly I no not mean check on it every couple of minutes, I mean stand there and let your arm get tired.

It will not start to thicken until it starts to boil. Of course this takes a while when you are constantly stirring, but it will happen, I assure you.

Do not expect a pudding thickness. Half of the thickening is done on the stove and the other half is done in the fridge, so you're looking for a thick, creamy liquid. 20 minutes of stirring should do it.

Remove from heat, continue to stir for a couple of minute while the pot starts to cool.

Now you can start creating your dessert!!

I start layering with bananas.

Then pudding.

Then cookies.

 I like lots of cookies so I did three of these layers.

I used 4 small/medium bananas and about half a box of cookies. You can proportion these ingredients however you like.

When you're done, put a top on the dish and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before serving. I prefer leaving it in there overnight to let the flavors blend.

So there you have it. My weekend homemaking attempt. It turned out pretty tasty, too. 

And I'm getting my  braces tightened today so that may be what I eat for dinner!

Enjoy your Monday!