Laurels Kitchen Vanilla Pudding Food

VANILLA PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat 4 cups of the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until steaming.
• Whisk the sugar, cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the egg yolks and the remaining 1/2 cup milk.
• Whisk half of the hot milk into the egg mixture until smooth, then gradually whisk the egg-milk mixture into the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture boils. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until it has thickened to a puddinglike consistency, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Cool slightly, stirring a few times to prevent a skin from forming. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the pudding and refrigerate until completely cooled and thickened, about 4 hours.
• Before serving, whisk the pudding vigorously until smooth and creamy.
• Stir-ins:
• Cookies and Cream: Crush 20 chocolate wafer cookies, stir some into the pudding and top with the rest.
• Fresh Berries and Gingersnaps: Fold in 2 cups of fresh, mixed berries and top with about 12 finely crushed gingersnaps.
• Vanilla-Banana: Fold in 3 sliced bananas. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Fold in 24 crushed vanilla wafer cookies and top with more sliced bananas.
• Rocky Road: Fold in 1 cup each mini marshmallows and toasted chopped walnuts and 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips. Sprinkle with more chocolate chips.
• Peanut Butter* and Jelly (See Cook's Note): Fold in 1 cup quartered red grapes and 1/3 cup each chopped roasted peanuts and peanut butter chips. Top with whole grapes.

LAUREL'S KITCHEN VANILLA PUDDING

Steps:

• Gently heat 1 1/2 cup of the milk in a saucepan or double boiler on medium heat.
• Once the milk is very hot but NOT BOILING, stir in the brown sugar and salt.
• Whisk together the arrowroot (or cornstarch) and the remaining milk. Add to the saucepan, cooking and stirring constantly over low to medium-low heat until the mixture starts to thickens. Be careful not to burn or scorch the pudding!
• In a small heatproof bowl, whisk the egg then gently pour in about 1 cup of the pudding mixture. Whisk quickly to incorporate and to avoid curdling the egg. Add this mixture back to the saucepan and continue stirring constantly until mixture is thickened.
• Once thickened, turn off heat and set the pan aside to cool about 15 minutes.
• Stir in the vanilla extract.
• If desired, top the pudding with toasted nuts for garnish.
• Serve warm or cold.

OLD-FASHIONED VANILLA PUDDING

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk, sugar, and cornstarch.
• Stir and cook until bubbly; then stir and cook 2 more minutes; remove pan from heat.
• Gradually stir in 1 cup of the hot milk mixture into the beaten eggs; then pour back into the saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat until nearly bubbly, but do not boil.
• Lower heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, for another 3 minutes; remove from heat.
• Stir in the butter and vanilla; mix until well blended.
• Spoon into 6 individual dessert dishes; cover tightly with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 4-5 hours or overnight.