Oh Snap! Banana Pudding

While I'm still a fan of the straight-from-the-box, Nillas and Nanners, made with Cool-Whip and instant pudding, I decided to try something a little more classic. This supposedly was the original recipe on the back of the Nilla wafer box. Me I used some hippie whole wheat cookies, but they were actually better that way with a flavor crossed between a graham cracker and a nilla wafer, put none of that hydro-gee-nated vegetable oil.

3/4 c sugar
3 Tbls All Purpose flour
dash of salt
4 eggs
 2 c milk
1/2 t vanilla
vanilla wafers
5 or 6 fully ripe, medium bananas, sliced

Combine 1/2 c sugar, flour, and salt in top of dbl boiler. Mix in 1 whole egg and 3 egg yolks. Stir in milk. Cook uncovered over boiling water, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Spread small amount in bottom of 1 1/2 qt casserole. top w/nilla wafer, layer of bananas. Pour about a 1/3 of custard over bananas. Continue to layer, ending with custard.
Make a meringue of the 3 egg whites beating them until dry before adding the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar. Beat until stiff peaks form. Pile on top of pudding covering entire surface.Bake in preheated 425 oven 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm or chilled.

Comfort Food

Turkey Tetrazzini

I have no idea why this registers so strongly as comfort food. I barely remember my mom making it. But I had some leftover Thanksgiving turkey in the freezer staring at me

10 oz. mushrooms, sliced thin about 4 cups
5 tbsp. unsalted butter
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 3/4 c. milk
2 c. chicken broth
1/4 c. dry white wine
10 oz. spaghetti
3 c. coarsely chopped cooked turkey
1 c. cooked peas
2/3 c. freshly grated Parmesan
1/3 c. fine fresh bread crumbs

In a large heavy saucepan cook the mushrooms in 1/4 cup of butter over moderate heat, stirring until most of the liquid they give off has evaporated. Stir in the flour and cook the mixture over low heat, stirring for 3 minutes. Add in a stream (that is pour slowly) of milk, the broth, the wine, stirring bring the mixture to a boil, stirring and simmer the sauce for 5 minutes. In a pot of boiling, salted water cook the spaghetti until it is al dente (cooked) and drain it well. In a large bowl combine well spaghetti, the mushroom sauce, the turkey, the peas, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in 1/3 cup of the Parmesan, and transfer the mixture to a buttered shallow 3-quart casserole. In a small bowl combine the remaining 1/3 cup of Parmesan, the bread crumbs and salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle the mixture over the tetrazzini and dot the top with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter, cut it into bits. Bake in 375 degrees F. oven for 30 to 40 minutes.