Real Down Home Southern Banana Pudding Food

SOUTHERN BANANA PUDDING RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
• Separate 3 eggs, set the whites aside for later use in the meringue.
• Add 3 cups of milk to a medium saucepan. Place over LOW heat on your stovetop.
• Slowly add flour, whisking continually to avoid lumps.
• Slowly stir in 1/2 cup of sugar, whisking continually until fully dissolved.
• Use a fork and break up the egg yolks.
• Slowly add the egg yolks to the saucepan, whisking continually to avoid making scrambled eggs. It's very important to stay with the cooking process at this point. Keep stirring.
• Increase the heat gradually up to about medium as you constantly whisk the pudding mixture.
• Using a candy thermometer, bring the mixture up to 170 degrees. Continue to stir it constantly as it thickens. When it reaches 170 degrees, remove from heat but continue to stir.
• Add the teaspoon of Vanilla Extract and continue to stir off and on as it cools down. The mixture must cool down before you begin to assemble the banana pudding.
• When fairly cool, spread a light layer of the pudding in a casserole dish.
• Add a layer of Vanilla Wafers. Reserve about 5 or 6 wafers for topping later.
• Add a layer of sliced bananas.
• Add a layer of pudding mixture, spreading it out to the edges of the dish.
• Repeat the layer process as needed, ending with a layer of the pudding mixture on top.
• Crumble the 5 or 6 reserved wafers and sprinkle on top. If not adding the meringue, bake this at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes. Let cool and serve. Hopefully you'll try the meringue.

SOUTHERN BANANA PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat 2 1/2 cups of the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until steaming.
• Whisk 3/4 cup of the sugar, the 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, and then gradually whisk the egg-milk mixture into the milk in the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture boils. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and let the mixture come to a simmer. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until it has thickened to a puddinglike consistency, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla.
• Layer a third of the pudding, half the banana slices and half the vanilla wafers in a 9-inch square baking dish. Layer with half the remaining pudding, all the remaining banana slices and all the remaining wafers. Top with the last of the pudding. Cover with plastic wrap pressed directly on the pudding surface, and refrigerate overnight to soften the cookies.
• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Bring the egg whites to room temperature. Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on medium speed until frothy. Increase the speed to medium-high, and slowly sprinkle in the remaining 1/2 cup sugar a tablespoon at a time, whipping for 15 seconds after each addition, until glossy firm peaks form. Spread the meringue on top of the pudding with an offset spatula so it reaches the edges of the pan. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.

SOUTHERN-STYLE BAKED BANANA PUDDING

Steps:

• Separate eggs, placing the whites in the bowl of a stand mixer and the yolks into a saucepan.
• Add sugar, salt, and 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour to the yolks. Splash in about 1/4 of the milk and start blending mixture with a whisk. Pour in remaining milk and whisk until smooth.
• Cook and stir mixture over medium heat until hot to the touch, occasionally dipping your finger in to test. Whisk constantly until custard is thick enough to form ribbons.
• Remove custard from heat and add vanilla extract, banana liqueur, and cold butter. Whisk until butter dissolves. Set custard aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Toss banana slices with lemon juice.
• Spread a quarter of the custard over the bottom of a baking dish. Add a single layer of vanilla wafers. Cover with 1/2 of the bananas and spread 1/2 of the remaining custard on top. Add another layer of vanilla wafers, using slightly fewer this time. Top with the remaining bananas and custard. Smooth the top and tap dish against the counter to settle the pudding.
• Add cream of tartar to the egg whites. Beat using the whisk attachment until foamy. Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff, but not dry, peaks form. Spread meringue over the pudding using a soft spatula, creating ridges for contrast.
• Bake in the preheated oven until meringue is nicely browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.

AUTHENTIC SOUTHERN BANANA PUDDING

Steps:

• Place a layer of wafer cookies on the bottom of a large glass bowl. Top with a layer of banana slices. Alternate layers, reserving 10 wafer cookies to crumble for topping.
• Mix sugar, flour, and salt together in a saucepan. Slowly whisk in cream, about 1/4 cup at a time. Add milk and butter. Place pan over medium heat. Stir constantly until custard begins to thicken, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat.
• Place egg yolks in a bowl. Whisk a few tablespoons of warm custard mixture into the egg yolks. Add the egg/custard mixture back to the saucepan. Stir over medium heat until custard is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in vanilla extract. Remove from heat; allow to cool about 20 minutes.
• Pour mixture slowly over the layers of wafers and bananas. Gently shake bowl so custard seeps to the bottom of the bowl. Crumble the remaining wafer cookies and sprinkle over the top.

REAL "DOWN HOME" SOUTHERN BANANA PUDDING

Steps:

• BANANA-WAFER PREPARATION:.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Slice the bananas crosswise into 1/4" thick round slices.
• In a large, oven safe bowl, or in an 8x8x2-inch pan or glass baking dish, line the bottom and sides with a layer of vanilla wafers.
• On top of the layer of wafers, place one layer of bananas. Repeat, alternating a layer of wafers and a layer of banana slices until the bowl or dish is filled to within 1/4 to 1/2-inch below the rim.
• THE FILLING:.
• Separate the eggs, being careful not to nick the yolks. Reserve the egg whites and set aside.
• Combine evaporated milk and water.
• In a large sauce pan, mix flour, sugar, and egg yolks until well blended.
• Mix in milk slowly, stirring constantly.
• Place pan on the range eye and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.
• As soon as mixture reaches boiling point, reduce heat to medium, stirring constantly until desired thickness is achieved. Filling should be thick but pourable.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in vanilla extract.
• Immediately pour over wafer-banana layers, jiggling the dish to ensure that filling covers all layers and there are no air pockets.
• THE MERINGUE:.
• TIP - If you do not have cream of tartar, you can use 1/2 tsp of lemon juice as a satisfactory substitute. 1/4 tsp lemon juice = 1/8 tsp cream of tartar.
• TIP - Cold egg whites will not yield as much volume as room temperature egg whites and will take longer to peak.
• Beat room-temperature egg whites with vanilla and cream of tartar until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff and glossy peaks form and all sugar is dissolved.
• Spoon meringue over banana pudding, smoothing the top and sealing it to the edge of the bowl or baking dish.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes, or until meringue is golden.
• Cool to room temperature or chill in refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours before serving.
• Banana pudding's flavor is best the day after it is made.
• 9 Servings.

SOUTHERN BANANA PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, combine sugar and flour. Stir in milk until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. , Remove from heat. Stir a small amount of hot milk filling into egg yolks; return all to pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat; gently stir in butter and vanilla. , In an ungreased 8-in. square baking dish, layer a third of the vanilla wafers, bananas and filling. Repeat layers twice., For meringue, beat egg whites, vanilla and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff peaks form. Spread evenly over hot filling, sealing edges to sides of dish. Bake until meringue is golden, 12-15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.

DELECTABLE SOUTHERN BANANA-PINEAPPLE PUDDING

Steps:

• WAFER-BANANA-PINEAPPLE PREPARATION:.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Open cans of pineapple. Drain the pineapple and reserve 3/4-cup of the juice.
• Slice the bananas crosswise into 1/4" thick round slices.
• In a large, oven safe bowl, or in an 8x8x2-inch pan or glass baking dish, line the bottom and sides with a layer of vanilla wafers.
• On top of the layer of wafers, place one layer of bananas.
• Add another layer of vanilla wafers, then a layer of pineapple.
• Repeat layering pattern to 1/4 to 1/2 inch below the dish's rim. If using an 8x8x2-inch baking dish, there may not be room for two layers of pineapple. If not, combine pineapple and banana on the last banana layer.
• THE FILLING:.
• Separate the eggs, being careful not to nick the yolks. Reserve the egg whites and set aside.
• Combine evaporated milk and water.
• In a large sauce pan, mix flour, sugar, and egg yolks until well blended.
• Mix in milk slowly, stirring constantly.
• Stir in reserved pineapple juice.
• Place pan on the range eye and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.
• As soon as mixture reaches boiling point, reduce heat to medium, stirring constantly until desired thickness is achieved. Filling should be thick but pourable. Thickening will happen quickly.
• NOTE: Due to the reaction caused by the pineapple juice, the filling may or may not thicken before it reaches the boiling point, so pay close attention as the filling begins to heat up and approaches boiling.
• Remove from heat as soon as desired thickness is achieved.
• Stir in vanilla extract.
• Immediately pour over wafer-banana-pineapple layers, jiggling the dish to ensure that filling covers all layers and there are no air pockets.
• THE MERINGUE:.
• TIP - If you do not have cream of tartar, you can use 1/2 tsp of lemon juice as a satisfactory substitute. 1/4 tsp lemon juice = 1/8 tsp cream of tartar.
• TIP - Cold egg whites will not yield as much volume as room temperature egg whites and will take longer to peak.
• Beat room-temperature egg whites with vanilla and cream of tartar until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff and glossy peaks form and all sugar is dissolved.
• Spoon meringue over banana pudding, smoothing the top and sealing it to the edge of the bowl or baking dish.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes, or until meringue is golden.
• Cool to room temperature or chill in refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours before serving.
• Banana pudding's flavor is best the day after it is made.
• Makes 9 servings.

EASY SOUTHERN BANANA PUDDING

Steps:

• Beat pudding mixes and milk with whisk 2 min. Let stand 5 min.
• Arrange half the wafers on bottom and up side of 2-qt. serving bowl; top with layers of half each of the banana slices and pudding. Repeat all layers. Cover with COOL WHIP.
• Refrigerate 3 hours.