The discussion was heated and some people needed to chill.
When Social Media debates get out of hand.
When you ask the preference from folks, there can be some deep seeded reasons why they make their particular stand. I'm not hear to judge. I posted the question because I truly wanted to know.
Whipped cream or meringue topping on banana pudding?
Shew. I was not ready.
I love asking people questions. I've always been curious as to how the live and think. We're all different - and that's what makes this world so special.
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ASIDE:
D and I went to one of our favorite local eateries, specifically to get their bowl of Banana Pudding. Theirs in a whipped topping wonderland - but no banana pieces. This got us talking more about banana pudding than any other historical event. I mean, it HAS to have banana pieces in it. But how can it be so amazing without?
I had to know.
Looking up recipes, I discovered that a version of this Southern treat had meringue. Well, I never! I have always had it with whipped cream. What in the world is all this about.
Coincidentally, I am later sitting at a table at the East Tennessee Historical Society's annual awards luncheon. The room is full of people that know their history. I mean, they're here to be recognized for their contributions to the history of this area. I am sitting at the table as a guest to this, and to give a woot-woot to some amazing people getting the honor.
Well of course, in this atmosphere of intellectual conversation, we are going to bring up banana pudding. My entire table was just shaking their heads at how it should be made. Or how their grandparents made it or passed down from generations, but no longer had the recipe. They all claimed they had the 'best'.
Now, I am geographically a Southerner by birth and living location. But my heart pumps cold with my northern, north-of-the-border roots. Who am I to say what a good Southern puddin' should be?
Well, when you hear my husband's accent, I usually get a pass on such things. Besides, I've lived here longer than anywhere else at this point. I thought learning how to make banana pudding might be the initiation moment for being here so long.
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Back to social.
I had to know, and asked, Meringue or Whipped Cream.
There were some definitive responses. "Meringue, and anything else is wrong." Or "Whipped cream, who wants warm pudding?" Some people were intrigued by the thought of meringue but politely declined and chose Whipped Cream. Some people sounded like it would be a death sentence to have anything other than their preference.
To me, it was fascinating to hear the answers. I am sure people had their reasons. I am sure people would be willing to understand the other side. I am sure some people - would not.
Did we all have to agree? Absolutely not. How boring would that be?!? We would have no interesting food options if we chose and stuck with one way of doing things.
With such wild debate, I wasn't ready to bring up the 'Nilla Wafer' options... (PS: I made homemade)
Since it was unknown to me, I decided to look for a meringue recipe. I wanted to see what and why. Really. WHY? With a little bit of research, I came across a few options on 'how to'. To understand something I am not familiar with, I needed to try it, read, and study.
With any recipe, I like to experiment. Aside here - most of the time, you can limit the amount of sugar without affecting anything. Most ask for too much. So that's my general preference. Thank goodness I am not enforced to use only the amount listed. How uncool would that be.
As for the meringue, I was a skeptic through the entire process. It was not getting my full dedication - until - until I realized that it was actually the smart choice. The pudding requires 8 yolks. I wanted the entire thing to be scratch-made. Therefore, the meringue is made from the 8 egg whites left from the pudding.
Perfect sense! No waste and no fake ingredients.
And the end result??? Holy banana, it was beautiful – tasted even better! Including out of the oven warm, or chilled overnight the next day.
I am so glad I wasn't stuck in thinking my way was the only way and open to trying another process, another way of thinking. I would have missed out on something important. I would have missed out on sharing something people are unfamiliar with and maybe open their mind to something new - that is harmless - just different.
We should rejoice in that.
Will I still make it with whipped cream? Absolutely. Will everyone agree with me? I hope not. (Again - how boring is that?!) I hope people have the patience to better understand what it is they prefer and why AS WELL AS understanding why others prefer something different to them.
We should rejoice in that, too.
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Oh, and here's the newest card.
You know the drill for this disclaimer. This is 100% human created blog posts. All the errors and grammatical challenges are my own.
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