It seems you've been eating at the wrong Southern buffets. Some people might make their nanner puddings with instant pudding and Cool-Whip, but that's only to satisfy a quick midnight craving. A proper banana pudding has Nilla wafers, cooked custard, and is topped by real whipped cream in the summer and a torched meringue (made from the leftover eggs whites not used in the custard) in the winter. Although in my house it's always meringue, regardless of the season.

• Reply