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Sometimes
all we need to satisfy a craving is a bowl of creamy smooth vanilla pudding.
Homemade vanilla pudding is an easy dessert as it uses ingredients we usually
have in our pantries, milk, eggs, sugar, and vanilla, and it can be made quickly
with a minimum of fuss. It looks so enticing when served in pretty bowls with a dollop of softly whipped cream and
maybe a small handful of toasted and
chopped walnuts sprinkled on top.
When you make vanilla pudding what you are really doing is making a 'cooked'
custard. The difference between a pudding and a custard is that a pudding
contains cornstarch (corn flour). Cornstarch is used to make the pudding
thick enough to eat with a spoon. Puddings have to be cooked carefully to
prevent lumps. So keep the heat fairly low and use a heavy bottomed
saucepan, making sure that you stir constantly with a large heatproof
rubber spatula. When stirring it is important to reach the bottom, sides
and corners of the saucepan to prevent the pudding from sticking and
scorching. Once the pudding has become thick, like mayonnaise, remove it
from the heat and add the butter and vanilla extract. Then strain the
pudding to get rid of any lumps that may have formed. If you like
your vanilla pudding warm, then by all means eat it right away. But if
you like your pudding cold, simply press plastic wrap
onto the surface of the puddings and refrigerate until firm (a couple of hours). For those who like a skin (film) on the top of their pudding, let the pudding cool
uncovered and then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
Since vanilla is
the prominent flavor in this pudding it is important to use a good vanilla
extract. The first thing to do is to make sure that it is labeled "pure". The
best I have found, although it is quite expensive, is Nielsen-Massey Madagascar
Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract that can be found in specialty food stores and by
mail order. If your budget doesn't allow this expenditure or you cannot find it,
don't worry though, as there are quality brands of vanilla extract to be found
in your local grocery store. Just stay away from the ones labeled "imitation"
vanilla extracts as they are made with synthetic vanilla (from glycoside found
in the sapwood of certain conifers or from coal extracts) and leave a bitter
aftertaste. Also, products labeled 'Vanilla Flavoring' are a combination of pure
vanilla extract and imitation vanilla extract and should be avoided. Although
pure vanilla extract is what I normally use to make vanilla pudding, some may
prefer using one whole vanilla bean. This will give the pudding an excellent
vanilla flavor and it will also add those lovely small dark seeds. To use the
bean; cut it in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds and pulp. Add this,
along with the pod, to your milk when you are bringing it to a boil. The pod can
then be removed, rinsed, dried, and placed in some granulated white sugar to
produce what is called vanilla sugar. Besides using vanilla extract or a vanilla
bean, you can also use a product called vanilla bean paste (Nielsen-Massey
Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Paste). This paste contains vanilla seeds so
your pudding will have those lovely little black seeds in it, like you get when
using a vanilla bean, only there is no work involved.
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