Ice Cream Sundaes

These are hardly recipes, they're so easy, but I might as well share since hot weather is rolling in (or already has rolled in if you're in certain parts of the world).

1. I think of this as the Quad Sundae but I'm sure they ate it in Cowles, too, so call it what you will:

Vanilla ice cream (traditionally soft-serve, but use what you have)
Crushed Golden Grahams cereal
Chocolate syrup

Golden Grahams are drastically underappreciated as an ice-cream topping, by the way.

2. Millionaire Sundae.  This is based on the millionaire pie.

Vanilla ice cream
Pineapple (canned crushed, fresh diced, or good-quality sundae topping)
Chopped pecans
Whipped cream
Maraschino cherry

I was out of cherries.

Ideally, you'd soften the ice cream a bit and mash the pineapple into it, but we're not going to tell you how to live your life. 

Vanilla (or banana or coconut) pudding

You can combine this with coconut, or with bananas and vanilla wafers, if you wish.

2/3 - 1 cup sugar, as you prefer
3 eggs, beaten
dash salt
3 tablespoons cornstarch

2-3 tablespoons flour
2 cups (1 pint) whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond flavoring

Optional:

Shredded coconut

Slivered, toasted, almonds

Egg whites for meringue topping
3 - 4 ripe bananas, sliced about 1/4-inch thick
1 box of vanilla wafers

This is important: Have everything measured out and ready to go before you start.  The custard will thicken pretty fast once it gets going and you don't want to risk burning it.  I guess you could do this over a double boiler but I never have.

 

Mix sugar, flour, and cornstarch together.  Add the salt and beaten eggs.  Add milk and bring to a boil briefly over medium-high heat, stirring constantly and thoroughly (scrape the bottom of the pan all over).  Cook until thickened.  Remove from heat; add vanilla and mix well. Allow to cool to room temperature and then chill thoroughly.

 

Optional: 

Whip egg whites to stiff peaks, spread over top, and brown in the oven.

 

Top with coconut or almonds if you wish.  

 

For banana pudding:

Line the bottom and sides of a heat-proof casserole dish with some of the vanilla wafers.  Spread a layer of pudding over the wafers.  Dot pudding with banana slices (and wafers, if you have enough).  Repeat pudding and bananas until both are used up.  End with a pudding layer and dot top with the rest of the wafers.  Don't put banana slices on top or they will turn brown with exposure to air.  Top with meringue if you wish, or serve with whipped cream.