What would happen if a banana cream pie and banana pudding had a baby?  Well,  here is what the baby picture would look like.  I also showed a more traditional look for you traditionalists. What sets this apart is the homemade banana extract which will make you say Wow!   I got a lot of input on this one and kept with the banana-first theme.  I hope you like it.

50 vanilla wafers (I figure you will eat 7 or 8 while you’re  cooking)

3/4 cup sugar

1 pinch salt

6 oz dark chocolate

2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup whipping cream

2 large eggs

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon lemon juice

3 tablespoons corn starch

4 tablespoons butter cut in 8 parts

2 teaspoons banana extract*

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 bananas

1/4 cup of vanilla wafer crumbs

Melt dark chocolate in the microwave in 20 second bursts

Dip vanilla wafers in chocolate (I only do half the cookie)

In a 2 quart sauce pan,

Add sugar, corn starch, salt,

Add eggs and stir briskly for 2 minutes

Place on medium heat

Add milk and cook for 5 minutes

Add vanilla and banana extract

When mixture bubbles, remove from heat

Whisk in butter, one pat at a time

Cover with parchment and refrigerate for 3 hours

Cut bananas into 1/4 inch disks (you did peel them first, didn’t you?)

Coat with lemon juice

Place a layer of pudding in a bowl

Add a layer of bananas

Add layer of vanilla wafers

Add layer of  pudding

Add layer of bananas

Add layer of vanilla wafers

Add pudding

Top with whipped cream

Second way:

Put pudding in a graham cracker crust

Top with a layer of sliced bananas and a layer of coated wafers

Serve

* Home made banana extract:

4 tablespoons of vodka (I used chocolate vodka which is like my new favorite)

1 banana

1 glass jar with lid

Add vodka and sliced banana in jar and let sit for 2 days