Original Nilla Banana Pudding - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1 dash salt
4 eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
44 vanilla wafers
5 -6 medium ripe bananas, sliced

Preparation

Reserve 2 tablespoons sugar. In top of double boiler combine remaining sugar, flour and salt. Beat in 1 whole egg and 3 egg yolks; reserve 3 egg whites. Stir in milk. Cook, uncovered, over boiling water, stirring constantly, 10 min., or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
Spoon about 1/2 cup custard onto bottom of 1 1/2-qt. round casserole dish; cover with 8 Nilla wafers. Top with layer of sliced bananas; pour about 2/3 cup custard over bananas. Arrange 10 Nilla wafers around outside edge of dish. Cover with 12 Nilla wafers; top with sliced bananas and 2/3 cup custard. Cover custard with 14 Nilla wafers; top with sliced bananas and remaining custard.
In small bowl, beat reserved egg whites till stiff but not dry; gradually add reserved 2 tablespoons sugar; beat till mixture forms stiff peaks. Spoon on top of custard, spreading to cover entire surface.
Bake at 425 degrees for 5 min., or till surface is lightly browned.
Choice of Garnish: extra banana slices and/or crushed cookie crumbs. Serve warm or chilled.