Mama's "Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding" :)

I have been waiting to start a series of guest posts from my friends and family who mean a lot to me. These people have definitely influenced me in a big way - each in their own way has made my life experiences rich and memorable.

This is the first in the series. It is from my sister-in-law who is my name-sake (we both have same nicknames which has led to quite a few confusion situations! ;)). When you get married via arranged marriage and move into a new family, there are some people who will make you feel at home and she was/is definitely one of them. I have always enjoyed the few moments we have spent with each other and I cherish her being "family". Thank you, Mama, for all the camaraderie! :)

Mama had made this super-delicious "Banana Pudding" when I was visiting them during Thanksgiving this year. Wow! The taste and smell still lingers! So you can imagine? I had to get the recipe and she was as gracious as ever to share it in no-time with all the detailed steps. Thank you, Mama, for sharing the recipe. Btw, Mama has her very own blog - would recommend everyone to take a look! Good luck, Mama, in all your pursuits - may the new year 2013 fulfill all your dreams and beyond! :)

Continue reading for the yumm recipe...

I can only speak for myself, but it's not often I find a recipe that is quick to make, delicious to eat, and impressive to look at. But I found these three criterions rolled into one in a glorious Paula Deen banana pudding recipe titled Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding. For full disclosure, I was drawn to the recipe because of the novelty of the name and because "Mama" is my pet name. That, and the fact that this recipe had been reviewed 5-stars by a thousand-some people.

The dramatic diva suppressed inside me would like to say that the first time I made this pudding was a happy accident where the stars aligned so that I could make this dessert. But, the reality is far less titillating: It was 3 am and I needed to prepare something with the ingredients in the kitchen for a barbecue the next afternoon. I typically have the opportunity to cook for a potluck few times a year and because I usually stay up late into the night working and studying (OK, and procrastinating), I tend to revert to a tried and tested recipe. But 3 am is an inconvenient, if not impossible, time to go grocery shopping, so I scrambled online to see what I could make with the random ingredients in our fridge, the eclectic ensemble of fruits on our counter, and the overflowing pantry filled with snacks and spices.

Long story short: Twenty minutes after finding the recipe, I was all tucked into bed with an episode of The Good Wife playing on my TV (yes, I am that nocturnal) and my dessert chilling (pun intended) in the refrigerator. The next day my impromptu attempt at making a dessert turned out to be a hit and since then, this recipe has replaced caramel walnut brownies as my go-to dish for potlucks and gatherings.

Ingredients

2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
6 to 8 ripe bananas, sliced
2 cups milk
1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream

Directions

Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.

In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve or at least 2-3 hours.

The only modifications I make to the recipe above is that I tend to add more bananas—it really varies by banana size and how many ripe bananas I have on hand. I find adding more fruit evens out the sweetness and the rich flavor of the pudding, but it boils down to personal preference.