Old Fasioned Banana Pudding with Candied Graham Crakcers

Once a young man asked me to go to dinner with him; he took me to one of my favorite places to eat~ Artie's. It is owned and operated by a group that also runs Sweet Water restaurants but Artie's is the only one. Even though their dishes are not particularly fancy, they do offer two of my favorites, roasted chicken salad and old fashioned banana pudding.

I know, what sounds so wonderful about those? Well it is the way they make them and serve them. The chicken salad has the crispest and freshest lettuce, corn off the cob and creamy goat cheese aside juicy roasted chicken all tossed in a delightful champagne vinaigrette. That one I can almost duplicate at home.

The pudding is another beast entirely. It doesn't have an overwhelming banana flavor and is more like mousse than pudding. Instead of vanilla wafers or a pie crust, the pudding is served over a bed of candied graham cracker crumbs. It is a taste of heaven. And I have been trying to make it for a couple of years now. Last night, I did it!


I stumbled across a banana pudding recipe from Paula Dean with cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. I was a little skeptical but once I made it, with some alterations, I realized THIS WAS THE PUDDING I have been enjoying at Artie's! So I would like to share with you this wonderful dessert.

Old Fashioned Banana Pudding
based on recipe from Paula Dean and dessert from Artie's

Ingredients
1 5 oz box instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups milk
2 cups whipping cream
1 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 stick butter
1/4 c sugar
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
bananas {3-6, depending on personal taste}
chocolate syrup {for drizzling}

Directions
1. Combine the pudding mix and milk. Set aside. Whip cream beginning on low speed gradually moving to medium high; whip till fluffy but not too stiff. Set aside.


2. Combine cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk in mixing bowl on low speed until smooth. Fold pudding mix into cream cheese mixture until completely combined. Gently fold in whipped cream. Chill in refrigerator for at least two hours.


3. In saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Add sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Continue to heat while stirring constantly for about five minutes until crumbs begin to lump together and harden. Allow to cool thoroughly. The crumbs will become crunchy as they cool.


4. Place some graham cracker crumbs on a dessert plate or in a bowl. Add desired amount of banana slices. Top with two scoops of pudding {using an ice cream scoop makes this easy}. Drizzle with chocolate syrup {caramel syrup would be wonderful, too}.


Serves between 12-16; or if you are me, about 6 servings!

By the way, the man became my husband. Wasn't he smart?