Banana Pudding

Of all the South’s soothing desserts, none is quite so palliative as banana pudding. It is a dandy finish for any meal of meat and threes, especially welcome as the denouement following salty country ham, spicy barbecue, or highly seasoned fried chicken. Cooks swirl their custard with Cool Whip, whipped cream, or meringue. Some serve the pudding tepid rather than cool. The common denominator of nearly every good banana pudding is ‘Nilla Wafer cookies. Fact: When Elvis secluded himself at Graceland in search of serenity, banana pudding was a favorite indulgence, referred to in baby talk as “‘naner pudding.”