Banana Pudding

I made banana pudding the other night. Not for me. I am not a banana-eater. I made it as a reward for my daughter. She is a banana-lover.

Some of you know of our recent struggles to get her to stay in her own bed at night - not because she doesn't want to sleep, but because she is afraid of the "lions and elephants and monkeys jumping on the bed." Completely irrational. And yet so real to a 2-year-old.

This week we "tamed the beasts" of bedtime and are crossing our fingers that it not only continues, but also translates into full nights of sleep. She has stopped throwing fits when we leave her alone in her room at bedtime. And she allows us to take her back to her bed when she comes running into our room in the middle of the night. Now we're just waiting for the night - and consecutive nights - when she will stay in her bed all night and we will wake up to realize that we have slept a full 8 hours without interruption.

Back to the banana pudding (which she says so well - "bah-nah-nah puh-ding" - pronouncing each consonant fully!). This was the dangling carrot we hung out for her every night before going to bed, with the promise that after three nights of staying in her bed, she and mommy would make it together.

It was one of the most satisfying desserts I have ever made that I will never taste. Even though it took me less than 10 minutes to make, it was about a month "in the making." Victory never tasted so sweet.

It seems a bit silly to put the recipe here, but this IS a baking blog, so let's rock this out:

Banana Pudding
1 box instant banana pudding mix
2 1/2 cups milk
8 ounces whipped topping, thawed
3 bananas
36 Nilla wafers

Whisk together the pudding mix and milk for 2 minutes. Fold in whipped topping. Place 1/3 of the Nilla wafers in the bottom of a 2 quart serving dish. Slice 1 banana and layer on top of the wafers. Pour 1/2 of the pudding on top. Repeat. Top with remaining wafers and bananas. Refrigerate at least 10 minutes.

"Don't you see that children are God's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?" Psalm 127:3 (The Message)