International Banana Pudding Day

The 50th anniversary of the International Banana Pudding Festival is celebrated in Kentucky (!) with a one ton banana pudding.  Should you decide to invite fewer friends, you might try this recipe:

Banana pudding with warm chocolate sauce

Ingredients

Banana pudding

• 5 large egg yolks
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups whole milk
• 3 tablespoons banana liqueur (or 1 teaspoon banana flavoring)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Chocolate sauce

• 2/3 cup water
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) chocolate, chopped

To assemble

• 3 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick, 1/2 banana per serving
• 2 cups fresh whipped cream, 1/4 to 1/2 cup per serving
• 1 cup warm chocolate sauce

Preparation

To make the banana pudding, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside. Bring the milk to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from the heat and whisk a little at a time into the egg mixture. Once the bottom of the bowl is warm, slowly whisk in the remaining hot milk. Pour the mixture back into a clean medium saucepan (cleaning the saucepan prevents the pudding from scorching), add the banana liqueur, and whisk over medium-low heat until it thickens, about 2 minutes. Cook while constantly whisking until the pudding is glossy and quite thick, 1½ to 2 minutes longer. Transfer the pudding to a clean bowl. Add the vanilla extract and butter to the bowl and gently whisk until the butter is completely melted and incorporated into the pudding. Press a piece of plastic wrap onto the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate for 4 hours.

For the chocolate sauce, bring water and corn syrup to a simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low. Add both chocolates and stir until smooth. Remove from heat, set aside and keep warm.

To assemble, place banana pudding in serving bowls, add the sliced bananas, top with fresh whipped cream and drizzle with warm chocolate sauce.

Serving Size

6 servings
Source:  The Scottos  Valentine dinner on The Today show February 2012

Make a Hat Day

The hat that I'll make today is the Bishop's Miter.  It is a napkin fold often found in restaurants and will look very elegant standing up on your dinner plate.

         

Easy to follow directions at
www.napkinfolding.net/folds/bishop/index.htm

September celebrations

September marks National Rice, Piano, and Courtesy Month; as well as International Square Dancing, Little League, Better Breakfast and Classical Music Month.  We can party on Be Late for Something, Ask a Stupid Question, or Positive Thinking Day
and honor newspaper carriers, teddy bears, grandparents, elephants, Uncle Sam, and skyscrapers on their days.  National days are commemorated for cream-filled donuts, butterscotch pudding, cheeseburgers, comic books, chocolate milk shakes, good neighbors, and apple dumplings.  And who doesn't want to party on International Talk like a Pirate Day?!  Most importantly, say 'thank you' on the 21st, World Gratitude Day.  This year I think I'll celebrate Chinese MidAutumn Festival, also called the Moon Festival on the 28th.