HEAVENLY PORTIONS

After hearing that a 9th planet may have been discovered, we had to celebrate with my favorite dessert: Banana Pudding.  I know this was a fitting choice, because when I ate it, it was like eating a piece of heaven.

I use my own recipe for the pudding, which is a bit like Aunt Irene's:

VANILLA PUDDING

2/3 C. sugar

1/3 C. cornstarch

2 1/2 C. milk (even low-fat milk works just fine)

2 eggs, well beaten

2 T. butter

1 tsp. vanilla (which I often forget to put in)

In a 1 quart container:  Blend sugar and cornstarch.  Gradually stir in milk, mixing well.

Microwave on HIGH for 5-7 minutes, whisking/stirring every 3 minutes, until thickened, smooth, and clear:  until it looks like pudding!

Drizzle (stirring madly) a small amount (perhaps 1 cup) of hot pudding gradually into the egg.  Then return the egg mixture to the hot pudding, mixing well.

Microwave on MEDIUM LOW (#7 out of 10) for 1 to 5 minutes, stirring after each minute, until it is smooth and thickened.  I do sometimes have trouble with this step; sometimes it really thins out and I don't know why.  So keep at it till it thickens.  Someone has suggested not to let it get over 180 degrees hot?

Add butter and vanilla.

Now, you're supposed to wait until the pudding cools before adding bananas and graham crackers. This is the hardest part of the recipe!  My son has suggested that you make a double batch of the pudding so that you can eat some of it plain while it's hot.  This will hold off your anxiety until the pudding cools enough to be used for the BANANA part.

This plan works well.

BANANA PUDDING (SOME CALL IT REFRIGERATOR PUDDING)

The proportions depend upon your taste, but the general idea is to make it in layers:  pudding, graham cracker crumbs Kinnickinick makes great GF ones), sliced bananas.  Again and again until you've reached the end of the pudding.

It is SO GOOD!