Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding is a dessert made with creamy vanilla pudding (or custard), slices of sweet banana, and crunchy vanilla wafers (or ladyfingers). Some like to layer this dessert, like an English Trifle, so you can see the separate layers of pudding, banana slices, and vanilla wafers. Others like to just mix everything together in one big bowl, so each delicious spoonful has a little pudding, some banana, and some vanilla wafers. Your choice. History seems to suggest that Banana Pudding originated in the Southern States and Southerners often like to top their Banana Pudding with a meringue. However, I am partial to whipped cream and that is the topping I have used in this recipe. I also like to dress the top of each pudding with more sliced bananas and whole vanilla wafers. I am also not against some shavings of chocolate.

The vanilla pudding we are making here is really a 'cooked' custard. There is only one real difference between a pudding and a custard and that is cornstarch (corn flour). Cornstarch is added to a cooked pudding so it becomes thick enough to eat with a spoon. The important thing is that they have to be cooked carefully as we do not want lumps or even worse, scorching. So keep the heat fairly low and use a heavy bottomed saucepan, making sure that you stir constantly with a large heatproof rubber spatula. When stirring it is important to reach the bottom, sides and corners of the saucepan to prevent the pudding from sticking and scorching. Once the pudding has become thick, like mayonnaise, remove it from the heat and add the butter and vanilla extract. Then strain the pudding to get rid of any lumps that may have formed.

If you are using Ladyfingers, instead of vanilla wafers, I like to use a commercial brand because they are thicker and their texture, crisp yet very absorbent, keeps its shape. Ladyfingers are finger-shaped cookies that are about 3 1/2 inches long and 1 inch wide (8 x 3.5 cm) that are made with a sponge cake batter. They are called Savoiardi in Italy and are so named because they come from Savoy Italy.