Vanilla Pudding

¾ cup sugar

3 tablespoons corn starch

¼ teaspoon salt

2 cups milk (warm ahead of time to lessen preparation time)

3 beaten egg yolks

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 teaspoons vanilla

In heavy saucepan combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Pour in milk slowly and stir using wire whip. Cook and stir over medium heat till thickened and bubbly; cook and stir 2 minutes more;. Remove from heat. Gradually stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into the egg yolks.

Return all to mixture in saucepan. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla till butter melts. Pour into a bowl. Cover surface with clear plastic wrap. Chill without stirring. Serves 4.

Coconut cream pie – Stir in 1 cup shredded coconut into vanilla pudding

Banana cream pie – Layer vanilla pudding with fresh slices of banana