Real Homemade Banana Pudding

They didn't use instant pudding, flour or anything extra to add to the cost, but, the end result was wonderful. I'm talking about our grandmothers' recipes for banana pudding. The ones that didn't have all the modern conveniences we have. It's surprising how easy and fast (as fast as making instant pudding) a real homemade banana pudding recipe can come together. Let me tell you how....

Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt

1 2/3 cups (large can) undiluted Carnation milk

3 eggs, separated

1 tsp. vanilla

Box of vanilla wafers

2 or 3 ripe bananas (important that they be ripe)

1/4 cup sugar

Directions
Mix 1/2 cup sugar, salt and Carnation milk in top of double boiler; heat.
Take off double boiler.
Beat 3 egg yolks. Gradually stir into hot mixture in a thin stream, stirring constantly. Return to double boiler.
Cook, stirring often until mixture thickens. Remove from heat.
Add l teaspoon vanilla.
Completely cover the bottom of an 8 x 8 inch pan with vanilla wafers. Top with 1 sliced banana (or more, to be sure every helping has some bananas in it) and half of the custard.
Repeat layers, ending with custard on top.
Beat 3 egg whites stiff; gradually add 1/4 cup sugar. Beat until stiff and top the pudding with the egg whites, making sure they touch the edge of the pan so they don't shrink.
Bake at 350 until egg whites are browned.

This recipe is so easy and so good. You can serve this warm, at room temperature or cold right out of the refrigerator. This is the dish I have to bring to family gatherings, specially my husband's family. There is nothing like a real homemade banana pudding from scratch.

Enjoy.