Easy Homemade Pudding

 Most people who eat pudding, have boxes of this on their pantry shelves.  It usually costs 60 cents to $1 a box, (plus the milk), and it's loaded with lots of artificial flavors and chemicals.  I usually make my own for about 25 cents, (plus the milk).  It only takes about 15 minutes and it tastes so much better.   There's only 1 pan, and no mixer involved.  Let me show you.

Today, I am going to make vanilla, at at the end, I will tell you how to make variations of flavors.

You will need:
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup corn starch
1/8 teas. salt
2 3/4 cup milk
2 Tab. butter
1 teas vanilla extract

In a 2 quart saucepan, mix together the sugar, salt, and cornstarch.

Note:  if you are watching your sugar intact, you can use a sugar substitute.  I have many times, and it still taste just fine.   Make sure to whisk everything together well.

Slowly whisk in the milk, making sure to incorporate all the sugar mixture.  Scrape along the edges of the bottom of the pan.  Turn on the stove to medium high heat.  Stirring consistently, (so the milk does not burn), bring the milk to a boil.  Cook for 1 more minute.

Note:  you can use whole milk, skim milk, 1% or 2% milk - the choice it yours. - I usually use skim milk.

Once the mixture comes to a boil, add the vanilla and the butter.

Whisk in well, and remove from heat.

Note:  If you want your vanilla pudding to be very white, use clear vanilla.

Pour into individual serving dishes, (or one large bowl).  This recipe will make 2 1/2 cups.  Cover with plastic wrap, (to prevent a skin from forming on top of the pudding).  Refrigerate until cool.

Once the pudding is chilled, it is ready to enjoy.

You will notice it has the same smooth rich taste that the box puddings have, but none of the chemicals or artificial taste.

Note:  for variations:
Butterscotch:  replace the white sugar with 1/2 cup of firmly packed brown sugar
Banana: When you add the vanilla and the butter, add 2 ripe mashed bananas that you have added 2 tsp of lemon juice, (to prevent the bananas from turning brown).
Dark Chocolate: Add 1 square, (1 ounce), of unsweetened chocolate, (broken into pieces), when you add in the milk.

Enjoy !