1/3 cup flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups milk
2 egg yolks, beaten
2 tbs butter OR margarine
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
4-6 firm bananas, sliced
chopped walnuts, optional

in a medium saucepan, combine the flour & brown sugar; stir in milk. cook & stir over medium heat until thickened & bubbly; cook & stir 1 minute more. remove from heat. gradually stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into the egg yolks (this is called tempering). return all to the saucepan. bring to a gentle boil; cook & stir for 2 minutes. remove from heat; stir in butter & vanilla. cool to room temp, stirring occasionally. fold in the whipped cream. layer 1/3 of the pudding in a 2-qt glass bowl; top with 1/2 of the bananas. repeat layers. top with remaining pudding. sprinkle with nuts, if desired. cover & chill at least 1 hour before serving.

8 servings