Actual Food — Pudding

Sustenance for The Spirit

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — -his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2

A few months ago, in a daily devotional message, I related how eggs transform. I believe that particular piece was in reference to egg whites, that when whipped long enough, change from clear slimy goo to beautiful white peaks. It happens before our eyes and is always fun to watch for those of us who appreciate those kinds of things that happen in the kitchen. The kitchen can be an environmental setting for lots of entertainment, from chemical reactions to explosions of fruit to smoke laden concoctions. Transformations in the kitchen are understood to be a given. Today’s recipe is no exception.

Again, the transformation occurs with eggs, but it is with the egg yolks. Egg yolks are full of protein, an important substance for our bodies, so they are thick and murky. This makes them perfect to serve as a thickening agent for pudding. I found this out when I first cooked pudding from scratch. I though pudding had to come from a small box you purchased at the grocery store until I received today’s recipe from a friend at a wedding shower. To be honest, I disregarded the recipe at first, because…well I though pudding came from a box so why should I try to make it from scratch? I don’t remember the circumstance that forced me to try it, but once I did, there was going to be no more boxed pudding in my pantry, except for extreme pudding emergencies.

I have used this recipe for plain vanilla pudding, with coconut for the filling for coconut cream pie (using the egg whites for meringue), and for banana pudding, which is the actual recipe. When I make banana pudding, I don’t use the egg whites for meringue because we never ate it that way in my past, but I’m sure it would be good to include the meringue if you’re not as biased as I am about your banana pudding. I still remember the dear friend that gave me the recipe and am thankful we’ve reconnected on Facebook, even though she has no idea how many times I have transformed my egg yolks due to her gifted recipe. As a side note, this recipe is another one that uses only a few basic ingredients that you will most likely have on hand.

Banana Pudding

1 cup sugar

3 egg yolks

½ cup flour

1 pinch salt

2 cups milk

1 tsp. vanilla

4 bananas (sliced )

Vanilla wafers

Combine sugar, milk, flour, egg yolks and salt in a medium saucepan. Cook ingredients over a low-medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly. After mixture thickens, remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Layer as follows in a square or round dish: vanilla wafers, bananas, pudding, again….

Top with meringue* and brown in oven.

*Meringue

Beat 3 egg whites until frothy. Add 3 Tablespoons sugar gradually until mixture peaks.