Real Southern Banana Pudding

Real Southern Banana Pudding

2 large boxes vanilla pudding or equivalent in homemade

1 box vanilla wafers

milk

1 carton CoolWhip

1 tbls vanilla

4-6 bananas

You can make Banana Pudding so many different ways!  This one comes from GiGi, Russ Grandma in Statesboro, GA.  It's not the fancy version with meringue, it's just the good 'ole creamy picnic version my husband adores!

Here goes! Make the 2 boxes of vanilla pudding, following the directions for whatever brand you are mixing.  Here is the exception, omit one cup of milk from the preparation.  Now, replace that cup of milk with one cup of Coolwhip.  Or, add however much Coolwhip you like to taste.  Finally, add the 1 Tbls vanilla.

Now, it's time to layer.  Listen, nobody sees what is going on in there, so it doesn't have to be perfectly laid out.  Layer the wafers, followed by the banana slices, followed by the pudding.  Repeat this until you get to the top.  Now, have fun and decorate however you like.  

You can add a few cookies to the top, you can use a cheese grader and dust the top with vanilla wafers or you can simply top with Coolwhip.  You might even do all three.

Here is the secret to the perfect pudding.  It absolutely has to sit in the fridge 4-6 hours to let the wafers get soft or it will be a crunchy pudding. So, you can make this one ahead.  Now, my husband likes it best the next day or even the day after that, but I just can't go there:)