ANNA BANNATHE REAL DEAL Food Narrative Essay 1

My mother is justly famous for her Banana Pudding. With roots deep in rural Alabama, and a home economist by trade, this should come as no surprise. Her banana pudding is so spectacular that we cannot have a family gathering without it!

There is nothing “instant” about the banana pudding at our house. My mother’s recipe is old and authentic. She got it from the Blue Moon Cookbook. The Blue Moon Inn was an old restaurant located in downtown Montgomery, and like all the old restaurants in Montgomery, it has long since “gone with the wind.” But, as for this recipe, I am sure it is the best one to be found anywhere. My mother has a massive cookbook collection and she makes a habit of trying out recipes from many cookbooks before she finds the “right one.” Such is the history of her banana pudding.

The recipe is not complicated but the ingredients must be very precise. The ingredient list looks like this:
six “just- right” bananas (not green but not too mushy either)
one box of Murray’s or Bud’s vanilla wafers (Nilla Wafers
can only be used if our local Piggly Wiggly is out of the
other brands)
eggs (extra large )
flour (White Lily)
sugar (Dixie Crystals)
half & half (any brand will do)
lots of real vanilla
real whip cream for topping (Piggly Wiggly brand is good)

The ingredients are basic, but they are real food—nothing imitation or packaged, and everything is carefully selected. The same procedure is followed each time the pudding is made. The preparation process takes some time because the custard must be cooked in a saucepan over low heat. After layering the vanilla wafers, bananas, and custard, the finished product is then topped with fresh whipped cream. (No meringue on this baby.)
Another very important part of this banana pudding is its presentation. It is always put together in a large, footed, crystal, trifle bowl. The bowl, along with its twelve inch pedestal stands about eighteen inches in height. The banana pudding always stands out among the other selections on the dessert table. It appears to be the “king” dessert and the other desserts are it’s subjects. Yet, it just a simple banana pudding.

Regardless of the occasion, the banana pudding must be served in the footed, crystal trifle bowl. My sisters and I insist on it—even if it is a picnic at the lake. We don’t even complain when one of us has to gingerly coddle in her lap in the car until it reaches it’s destination. So you can see, it is not just the soothing, rich taste of the pudding that makes it so spectacular—it is the presentation as well. Who else would take a plain, country, southern dessert and make it look so elegant?

This well-rounded dessert brings comfort and joy to all who savor it. It is the perfect compliment to life’s celebrations: Christmas, Easter, funerals, homecomings, graduations, and other milestones.

Wait a minute—something has just clicked in my brain. I should be like my mother’s banana pudding; an unpretentious leader among my peers. I should be true to myself and never an imitation of something. I should always be proud of my simple, rural heritage and the lessons I learned from it. I should always present myself as a lady and standout as a classic in any situation. I should not compromise on quality.

Most of all, I want to spread comfort and happiness to all I meet. I, like banana pudding, will become friends with those around me. If the governor puts me on his spoon and gracefully swallows me, I will remember to be kind and courteous to his position of power, without envy. I will be just as kind and respectful to the poor man who is delighted by my taste. During times of stress for others, I can be a small oasis for the weary. I can relate to the Rhet Butlers and the Billy Grahams and receive a satisfied response from both.

Whether we dip our banana pudding out of a Waterford bowl from Tiffanies or a plastic bowl from Wal-Mart, the look on our faces when we see and taste a banana pudding is the same. There is a lesson to be learned here: take the time to research and plan before making a decision, keep the ingredients pure and consistent and mixed in the right proportions, serve with class and dignity, and the proof will be in the pudding. If all the people of the world would love each other the way they love banana pudding, world peace would become a reality. Please pass the banana pudding!