Nibbles & Dreams: Dreaming Up Delicious Recipes, One Nibble at a Time.

There's nothing quite like a classic dessert, and homemade banana pudding is a true crowd-pleaser. This recipe forgoes the instant pudding mix for a rich, creamy homemade version that's bursting with flavor. Get ready to indulge in layers of buttery vanilla wafers, sweet bananas, and a luscious, homemade pudding. Yields: 8-10 servings Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Chill time: At least 2 hours Ingredients: For the Pudding: 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup cornstarch 1/2 cup granulated sugar Pinch of salt 3 large egg yolks 3 cups whole milk 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract For the Topping: 1 cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons powdered sugar 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Other Ingredients: 1 (16 ounce) package vanilla wafers 4 medium bananas, sliced Instructions: Make the Pudding: In a medium saucepan, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, sugar, and salt. Whisk in the egg yolks until smooth. Gradually whisk in the milk until completel...

Yields: 6 servings Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 45 minutes Ingredients: 1 pound andouille sausage, sliced 5 slices bacon, chopped 1 large onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce 1 cup chicken broth 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste) 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 1/2 cups long-grain rice, uncooked Instructions: Cook bacon and sausage: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon and set aside on paper towels, reserving the bacon grease in the pot. Add the andouille sausage to the pot and cook until browned. Remove the sausage and set aside with the bacon. Sauté vegetables: Add the onion, bell pepper, and celery to the pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Combine ingredients: Return the cooked sausa...

Yields: 6 servings Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 medium onion, chopped 1 celery stalk, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 cup dry sherry 1 cup clam juice 3 cups milk 1 1/2 cups heavy cream 1 cup chicken broth 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 bay leaf 1 pound lump crabmeat 1/4 cup crab roe (optional) Salt to taste Fresh chives, for garnish Instructions: Melt butter: In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Sauté vegetables: Add the onion and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Make a roux: Reduce the heat to medium-low, whisk in the flour, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Deglaze: Stir in the sherry and clam juice. Increase the heat to medium and bring to ...