Pound Cake Banana Pudding with Meringue

This so much reminds me of the banana pudding that is served at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room in Savannah, Ga. This is just flat wonderful. Paula is not the only place in Savannah that has great country cookin'.

Pound Cake Banana Pudding
Makes about 10 servings
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4 cups half-and-half
4 egg yolks (save whites for meringue
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (1-pound) pound cake, cubed (Sara Lee works great)
4 large ripe bananas, sliced
Meringue (recipe below)

1. Whisk together first 3 ingredients in a saucepan over medium-low heat; cook, whisking constantly, 13-15 minutes or until thickened.. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla until butter melts. Layer half of pound cake cubes, half of bananas, and half of pudding mixture in a 3-quart round baking dish. Repeat layers. Cover pudding, and chill 6 hours.

2. Spread Meringue over pudding.

3. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Quick Meringue
makes about 3 1/2 cups

1/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine sugar and salt.

Beat egg whites and vanilla at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy. Add sugar mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat 2-3 minutes or until stiff peaks form and sugar dissolves.