Notched-up NIlla pudding evokes taste of past

(Old-fashioned Nilla Banana Pudding gets a makeover with Frangelico, blueberries and cream)

I had a dream the other night about Nilla Banana Pudding — you know, that creamy concoction made with Nabisco Nilla Wafers, layers of vanilla pudding and banana slices. (I think Magilla Gorilla made an appearance in the dream, but that's a whole 'nother story!)

The pudding dream got me thinking about those old-fashioned recipes on the back of boxes of cookies, crackers and other assorted goodies. My Mom used to clip some of those recipes (she was a big fan of Jell-O recipes), but I don't think she ever made Nilla Banana Pudding. I think I first had it in college, when being away from home for the first time made cooking for oneself an adventure.

Today, there is a Web site for everything, including "back of the box recipes." Here's the link to "desserts."

Of course, there is a world of recipes for using those Nilla Wafers in desserts that range from Black-Bottom Banana Cream Pie to Layered Dulce de Leche Dessert, all courtesy of Nabisco.
This borders on creative junk food, but every now and then it's fun to make something like that and share it with family and friends, so you don't have to feel guilty about indulging in a few bites. Remember, everything in moderation is good for the soul.

A box of Nilla Wafers is not something I keep in the cupboard, so I blame the dream for making me rush out to buy one.
Sure enough, the original recipe was on the back of the box, but I did not remember the meringue topping.
Once I opened the box (and sampled a few of those cunning cookies), I found another recipe on the inside for Easy Southern Banana Pudding, which called for boxed vanilla pudding mix and whipped cream. OK, I was getting closer to the pudding of my dreams.

One taste of those little wafers made me think about dipping them in something before layering them with homemade vanilla pudding, as you would do with ladyfingers for tiramisu.

Here's the recipe for Original Nilla Banana Pudding. I changed it up a bit, skipping the meringue part and substituting whipped cream. I also dipped the wafers in Frangelico, that sinful hazelnut liqueur. Dark rum would have been good, especially with the bananas, but I didn't have any so I went with what I had.

The final product came out like a cross between a tiramisu and a trifle, but with the original base of good ol' Nilla Banana Pudding. I tucked some frozen blueberries from last season in between the layers, which nicely topped it off.

So if you happen to have a box of Nillas hiding in the closet, break it out if you're hankering for an old-fashioned dessert that is ready in minutes.

Here's what I did.

(Layers of pudding, Nilla Wafers and banana slices make this creamy dessert)

Nilla Wafer Pudding Redux

1. 3/4 cup sugar, divided
2. 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3. Dash salt
4. 3 eggs, separated
5. 2 cups milk
6. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
7. Nilla Wafers
8. 5 ripe bananas, sliced
9. Additional Nilla Wafers and banana slices, for garnish

For the pudding:

• Mix 1/2 cup sugar, flour and salt in top of double boiler.
• Blend in 3 egg yolks and milk.
• Cook, uncovered, over boiling water,
• stirring constantly for 10 to 12 minutes or until thickened.
• Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
  

• Spread small amount of pudding on bottom of 1 1/2-quart casserole.
• Dip Nilla wafers in liqueur of choice.
• Layer on top of pudding.
• Add a layer of sliced bananas and a sprinkling of fresh blueberries, raspberries or strawberries, or not.
• Pour about 1/3 of pudding over bananas/berries.
• Continue to layer wafers, bananas and pudding to make a total of 3 layers of each, ending with pudding.
• Topped with whipped cream, sweetened with a little honey and a dash of vanilla.

Sit back and sink your teeth into a decadent dream of a dessert.