banana trifle puddingSo this Banana Trifle Pudding is like my go-to, easy, no-fail recipe for a dessert that is a sure shot way to impress company or just yourself. You know, because sometimes you need that reinforcement that you are just awesome.

Its basically a vanilla cake, slathered with a generous serving of spiked up custard, a little jam, toasted walnuts and a layer of bananas, followed by the layers being repeated and then the whole thing topped with whipped cream. Delicious and no frills whipped cream.

The beauty of this dessert is the variations that could follow. You could play with the jam used. Raspberry pairs well with banana, but I have used blueberry crush as well and had amazing results. I have also used the cheap, ration brand of jam which is overtly sweet with an awful texture and I would otherwise not go near but mix it with some orange juice to add a little tang to the jam and its sweetness is reduced and the taste very much acceptable. And in the dessert a welcome ingredient.

banana trifle pudding | The Novice Housewife

 

Custard is a must, but you could make the pudding more of a banoffee by also using a little dulce de leche or a butterscotch sauce (the dulce de leche, I speak from experience, tastes heavenly). I used the powdered custard, since thats easy and less complicated. In India, there’s a brand Brown & Polson that makes it. I used the package instructions to make a free flowing custard. It was a vanilla flavored custard powder but I added some banana flavoring to it as well, for good measure. But, for true gastro-geeks go ahead make the real thing. But do add some cognac, or rum, or brandy. Because, spiked up is always better. You could also use Baileys. I have done that too. And I have not been disappointed. But then its Baileys, how can anybody be disappointed??

You could add caramelized walnuts, or just plain toasted walnuts, or just plain walnuts for an extra crunch to the dessert. Or if walnuts are not your thing, then I suggest chocolate chips, or chocolate shavings, or forget putting the chocolate in the dessert and eat it instead. I know the last option speaks to you the most. It speaks to me too.

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Yes, I know I missed another GMT this week. And I also know most of you would have not noticed, but I will still give an explanation for the absence!

I have such a backlog of recipes, that I thought I would attend to those first. Also, I was waiting for WordPress support to answer a query of mine before posting anything. But since they do not seem to be replying anytime soon (Hello, WordPress support, are you listening?), I thought I will post anyway.

And I am not lying when I say I have a backlog of recipes- there’s today’s post, Chipotle’s Burrito Bowl Copycat recipe, Tomatillo Salsa, Bbq Chicken Tacos, Apple Pie Tartlets and a Cottage Cheese Cake recipe in the pipeline. Not to mention a zafrani chicken recipe one of V’s colleagues requested me to try. Yes, some one has been busy in the kitchen.

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If it didn’t Bring you Joy,
Just Leave it Behind.

Let’s Ring in the New Year
With Good Things in Mind.

Let Every Bad Memory Go
That Brought Heartache and Pain.

And let’s Turn a New Leaf
With the Smell of New Rain.

Let’s Forget Past Mistakes
Making Amends for This Year.

Sending You These Greetings
To Bring you Hope and Cheer!

-Author unknown

A very, very happy new year! Hope you had a blast welcoming 2012 and wish it brings with it beautiful moments that you will cherish for years to come.

V and I had an amazing new year eve.

There was a small get together at home with friends.

There was dancing.

Laughter.

And, drinking- a lot of that actually.

There was also food- lots of that too (which I could not savour since ‘someone’ had a little too much to drink!).

Overall it was a good, good night!

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