Mom's Famous Banana Pudding

I cannot put into words what my Mother means to me. The women I am today is solely because of the morals and values she instilled in me. She is the kindest, most hard working, God fearing women I know and I'm proud to be her daughter.

Mom, I love you with all my heart! Happy Mother's Day!

Some of my favorite childhood memories were watching her cook. My little self would push a dining room chair to the kitchen counter, crawl up on the chair and wait until she gave me some dough to play with while she was cooking. My mother showed love in many ways, but she put extra love into cooking for her family. Have you heard I'm the baby of eight!? Yes, I have 5 beautiful sisters and 2 handsome brothers. We always had balanced, delicious home cooked meals and I am thankful for those meals. As a child, I picked up a little bit of cooking skills from my mom, unfortunately not enough because now days she always receives a phone call from me when I'm trying to mimic one of her dishes. In fact I called her this morning to make sure I had her recipe right. At every family gathering we always have to have my moms famous banana pudding. Everyone is afraid to attempt to make it because we know it will not be like mommas! In celebration of my mom I thought I would share her recipe.

 Caution: the only thing healthy about this dish is the bananas! Mom's homemade banana pudding is not like the store bought! Enjoy in moderation and share with others!

Ingredients/Shopping list

2 boxes of vanilla wafers
8-12 bananas
3/4 Cup self rising flour
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 Cups of sugar (yes the real stuff!)
2 Cups of Whole Milk (yep Whole!)

Directions

1. Line the bottom of your bowl with wafers, covering from side to side.
2. Slice the bananas about 1/3 inch wide per slice. Lay a single layer of your sliced bananas across the wafers. Repeat until you have made it to the top of your bowl.
Note from mom: you want to start with wafers and end with wafers!
 To make the Pudding:
3. Mix dry ingredients extremely well in a separate bowl: sugar and flour.
4. Add dry ingredients to double broiler.
5. Add milk to double broiler and stir continuously
Note from mom: if you stop stirring it will burn!
I do not have a double broiler so I place a large pot, 3/4 way filled with water, on the stove top and place a steamer basket on top. I hold an additional pot with my ingredients over the steamer basket of boiling water. You will get an arm work out! I typically have to call in Brian to relieve me.
6. Whisk eggs in a separate bowl and place to the side.
7. Once flour, sugar, and milk  reach a buttermilk consistency take a measuring cup and scoop out 1/2 Cup of your mixture and stir slowly into your bowl with the eggs.
Note from mom: The eggs will burn and begin to clump if you add the hot mixture too fast.
8.Pour mixture from the egg bowl back into the double broiler and continue to stir.
Note from mom: You never want to add the egg straight to the mixture because the eggs will burn and and you will be left with clumps of white!
9. Stir in vanilla extra (please note a lot goes a long way!!)
10. Lastly, Pour you pudding mixture over your bananas and wafers.
11. Cover with tin foil or lid and chill for an hour. Or serve nice and hot!

Prep Time: 15 minutes (depending on how fast you can slice bananas and layer your bowl)
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Serving size: 1 generous bowl =)

You may not want to look at the Nutrition facts! So I did not post them!

If you have any specific questions I'll give you my mom's number...just kidding, mom! You can email me at cindyjadeRD@gmail.com

Continue Reading as I continue my mission: Healthy Huggins!