Home Style Banana Pudding

3/4 Cup granulated sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 Cup all-purpose flour
3 Cups of milk, low fat or whole
3 large eggs yolks
3 Tbsp butter, room temperature
2 tsp vanilla
Vanilla wafer cookies
3 to 4 bananas, ripe but firm
sweetened whipped cream or whipped topping
banana slices for garnish
mint sprigs, optional

PREPARATION:
In a bowl, combine the sugar, salt, and flour; stir to blend. Slowly stir in milk until smooth. Pour into the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Cook, whisking frequently, until the mixture begins to thicken.

In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks; gradually whisk in about 1 cup of the slightly thickened hot milk mixture.

Return egg misture to the double boiler, stir in the vanilla and butter, and continue whisking and cooking until well thickened. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.

In tall dessert glasses or a 2 quart serving dish, make a layer of vanilla wafers then sliced banana. Spoon some pudding over the banana layer and then layer more vanilla wafers and banana slices, topping with more pudding. Serve with whipped cream topping. If using short dessert dishes, use only one layer each of the wafers, banana slices, and pudding, and then top with a dallop of whipped cream. Garnish eash serving with a few slices of banana and a mint sprig if desired. YUM YUM!!!