Ingredients

• 4 cups half-and-half
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 (1-pound) pound cake, cubed
• 4 large ripe bananas, sliced
• Meringue*

Directions

Whisk together first 5 ingredients in a saucepan over medium-low heat; cook, whisking constantly, 13 to 15 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla until butter melts. Layer half of pound cake cubes, half of bananas, and half of pudding mixture in a 3-quart round baking dish. Repeat layers. Cover pudding, and chill 6 hours.

Spread Meringue over pudding.

Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes: Makes 10 to 12 servings

Southern Living, MARCH 2006

Meringue:

1/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine sugar and salt.

Beat egg whites and vanilla at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy. Add sugar mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat 2 to 3 minutes or until stiff peaks form and sugar dissolves.

Yield: Makes about 3 1/2 cups

Southern Living, MARCH 2006

Ingredients

• 1 (1-pound) pound cake, cubed
• 4 large ripe bananas, sliced
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 4 cups half-and-half
• Meringue*

Directions

Whisk together first 5 ingredients in a saucepan over medium-low heat; cook, whisking constantly, 13 to 15 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla until butter melts. Layer half of pound cake cubes, half of bananas, and half of pudding mixture in a 3-quart round baking dish. Repeat layers. Cover pudding, and chill 6 hours.

Spread Meringue over pudding.

Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Note: For testing purposes only, we used Sara Lee Family Size All Butter Pound Cake.

*Meringue

1/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine sugar and salt.

Beat egg whites and vanilla at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy. Add sugar mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat 2 to 3 minutes or until stiff peaks form and sugar dissolves.

Makes about 3 1/2 cups

Source: Southern Living (March 2006)