Home, Home and My Range

Home, Home and My Range
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Friday, March 16, 2012

Craving Grandma's Pudding


I am a child of the 50's and I love homestyle cooking. I have been craving, for many years, my Grandmother's pudding. I believe it was popular back in the 50's and may have disappeared from homestyle cooking today.

 
Last Thanksgiving there was conversation (again) about this pudding. My Mother has tried to locate the recipe within the recipe files that were Grandma's...no luck yet. I wish I had gotten the recipe from Grandma before she passed on, but, regretfully, didn't do that. While my Parents and I were discussing this pudding...I mentioned the pears at the bottom. When I added that little note about the pudding Dad said he remembered that as well. We all pondered what and where the recipe was and fondly remembered Grandma's pudding.
Ahhh....memories. Ahhh....that was good pudding!  And funny that I remember such detail about the pudding...texture, taste, pears, white layer on the top, graham crackers...oh so good!

Recently...right smack dab in the middle of enjoying a pudding cup...the craving hit me...and I scurried to the internet! My online search pulled up a few recipes and I found what I believe to be Grandma's pudding! There were no recipes with pears but everything else seemed to be probable. So...I think the pears were Grandma's idea...good idea! They add a nice texture and delicate flavor to balance the sweetness.

I was so excited to find this recipe. I mean...EXCITED! Called Mom...Mom got EXCITED! She said...'thank you honey'!

I couldn't wait to try it! Hurried to the store...then back to 'The Range'! In my 'test kitchen' my husband tested the recipe.  He loved it! My first taste....oh yes....this is it! It took me back to Grandma's kitchen, Grandma's laughter, her smile and how she enjoyed my delight over that creamy, scrumptious concoction she made for me.

A couple of weeks later we had some of my Husband's family over for dinner. Without telling them the story...served Grandma's pudding for dessert. All agree...this pudding is 'oh my goodness...so delish'! Then we told them all about Grandma's pudding. As always... the proof is in the pudding!

Here is what I believe to be...

                Grandma's Graham Cracker Pudding

OSD (Oh So Delish)!

What you will need:

1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
18 graham crackers, crushed (for the crust)
6 graham crackers, crushed (for the topping)
4 cups whole milk
a pinch of salt
3 egg yolks, beaten
1 tablespoon (yes...tablespoon) vanilla
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
3 egg whites
1 teaspoon confectioner's sugar
and...

one large can sliced pears


Simple Ingredients
(Graham crackers and pears did not show up for the photo shoot.)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
 Crush the graham crackers for the crust (18).
Crush the graham crackers for the topping (6)...set aside.

Graham Crackers, Melted Butter & Brown Sugar
How I crush graham crackers...place in a large zip lock bag, ease the air out of the bag and close, use rolling pin to crush the crackers, roll back and forth until you have fine crumbs.

In a medium bowl, mix melted butter, brown sugar and crushed graham crackers for the crust. Press mixture, lightly, into the bottom of a 9 x 13 glass baking dish.

Graham Cracker Crust
For the Pudding...

Separate eggs, beat egg yolks and reserve egg whites for topping.

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, mix milk, salt, beaten egg yolks, vanilla, white sugar and cornstarch. Stirring constantly, cook until thickened (10 minutes or a bit longer). When pudding has thickened pour evenly over crust. (Oops...no picture...but you'll know what to do).

Stir with Wooden Spoon or Wire Whisk

Now for the topping...

In a medium bowl...beat egg whites until soft peaks form, then add confectioner's sugar and mix in.
Beaten Egg Whites... Soft Peaks
Spread the beaten egg whites, evenly, over the top of the pudding.
Beaten Egg Whites... evenly spread over Pudding

Spread the reserved crushed graham crackers, evenly, over the top.

Crushed Graham Crackers... evenly spread over Egg White Topping
 Bake at 400 degrees F...for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Cool, refrigerate...overnight is best.


Grandma would be so proud!


                                          And...ENJOY!

I hope you will try this recipe. Or...perhaps you are inspired to whip up one of your Grandmother's favorite recipes...maybe just remember Grandma. If you have a favorite childhood memory...please share!

Wishing you...
Moments to remember...
From Home...and The Range!
Vee

1 comment:

  1. Yummy...I never knew about this pudding, I'll have to try it. Get a follower's wiget.
    Love,Deb:)

    ReplyDelete