Milk Chocolate Banana Pudding

Ingredients
Milk Chocolate Pastry Cream:
3 cups whole milk
3 ounces good-quality milk chocolate, finely chopped
1-ounce unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
6 large egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 ounces thin chocolate wafer cookies (recommended: Nabisco)
4 large bananas, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick
2 cups sweetened whipped cream
Milk chocolate shavings, for garnish


Directions
Place milk in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Whisk in both chocolates and heat until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat.


Whisk together the yolks, sugar, and cornstarch in a large bowl. Slowly whisk in the chocolate-milk mixture and then return the mixture to the saucepan over medium-high heat and whisk until thickened. Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla, and transfer to a clean bowl. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the surface of the pastry cream and let cool to room temperature.


Spoon about 1 cup of the pastry cream into a 9 by 13-inch glass dish. Layer the cookies, bananas, and pastry cream in the bowl, ending with the pastry cream. Cover tightly and refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours or overnight. Just before serving, spread the whipped cream over the top of the pudding and sprinkle with the chocolate shavings.


SOURCE

White Chocolate Rice Pudding with Cherries Jubilee and Sliced Almonds

Ingredients
4 1/2 cups whole milk
2/3 cup long-grain white rice
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons whipping cream
4 ounces good-quality white chocolate (recommended: Lindt or Valrhona), chopped
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Warm Cherry Sauce, recipe follows
Whipped cream, for garnish, optional
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted, for garnish


Directions
Combine first 5 ingredients in a heavy, large saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until mixture thickens and rice is very tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.


Reduce heat to low. Whisk egg yolks and cream together in a small bowl. Gradually whisk 1/2 cup rice mixture into egg mixture; return mixture to the saucepan and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly; do not let boil. Remove from the heat. Add white chocolate and stir until melted. Stir in the orange zest and cinnamon. Transfer pudding to a large bowl, cover, and chill until cold. Serve in bowls or large goblets with Warm Cherry Sauce, whipped cream, and toasted almonds on top, or layer in parfait glasses.


Warm Cherry Sauce:
1 cup cherry preserves
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons kirsch (cherry brandy)


SOURCE

Rice Pudding