Old Fashioned Banana Pudding

This classic recipe for Old Fashioned Banana Pudding is a family favorite. Bananas, vanilla wafers, and homemade custard make this a true Southern favorite! #banana #pudding #recipe #easy #southern
A few weeks back, the spring soccer season was wrapping up and Jack started giving some consideration to trying out for all-stars. One afternoon in the car, I could hear the disappointment in his voice when he told me he had decided not to try out.
“Why,” I inquired.
“Well, there are so many boys on the other teams that are better than me; I just don’t think I’ll make it. I’m not good enough,” he said.
I was crushed. How could my boy ever think he wasn’t good enough for something. But still, as a parent, I was caught in between the ideas that I should always encourage him and the fact that he could be crushed if he doesn’t make it. Do I save him from the pain of failure? Or do I push him out there?
This classic recipe for Old Fashioned Banana Pudding is a family favorite. Bananas, vanilla wafers, and homemade custard make this a true Southern favorite! #banana #pudding #recipe #easy #southern
I could hear it in my head, comparison is the thief of joy. My boy LOVES soccer. He shouldn’t let the idea that there are others who are better keep him from trying something he wants to do.
Folks, the reality is that there will almost ALWAYS be someone out there who is better than you, more successful than you, has a nicer car than you, plays soccer better than you. And we can’t let that keep us from the things we love.
I’m reminded of some words I shared with a group I spoke to a few years back. When we get caught up in the whole “grass is greener” thing, I told them to stay so intently focused on keeping their own grass green than they don’t have the time to see if the neighbor even has grass.
We need to pay attention to our own grass.

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk (NOT skim)
4 or 5 ripe bananas, sliced thin (cover with plastic wrap or sprinkle with lemon juice to keep them from turning brown)
1 box vanilla wafers
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1 tablespoon Butter (not margarine)
4 Egg yolks (Large eggs or better)
Meringue:
4 egg whites, room temperature
5 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line the bottom of a 9×9-inch pan with a layer of vanilla wafers.
Combine sugar, flour and salt in a bowl, and mix well. Set aside.
In a heavy saucepan, beat the egg yolks well. Over medium heat, add the flour mixture to the egg yolks, alternately with the milk and vanilla, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil and, when the mixture begins to thicken, add the butter, continuing to stir. Keep boiling and stirring until mixture reaches a nice pudding consistency. Make sure you don’t scorch the pudding. Remove from heat.
Place a layer of banana slices on top of the vanilla wafers. Pour half of the pudding over the banana layer. Put down another layer of vanilla wafers, another layer of banana slices, and cover with the remaining pudding.
Beat the egg whites at high speed until they form soft peaks. Add the cream of tartar. At high speed, gradually add the sugar, a tablespoon at a time, and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold the vanilla into the meringue, and spread the meringue over the pudding, sealing it at the sides of the dish.
Bake until meringue browns, 12 to 15 minutes. Old Fashioned Banana Pudding