November is Banana Pudding Lovers Month!

The Deep South has often been on the wrong side of most American social issues (Slavery, Civil Rights, Mixed Marriages, Labor, etc.) but I readily admit the food is pretty awesome. President Clinton’s heart bypass proved how addictive it was.

One particular dessert they prefer has been immortalized in song by Southern Culture on the Skids and hits the spot whenever you have barbecue for lunch or a quick dinner…banana pudding, or as they say here ‘nanner puddin’. Personally, I also dig peach or blackberry cobbler with a scoop of Blue Bell vanilla yet it isn’t an option at Rudy’s (the McDonald’s of barbecue, for its ubiquitousness) and pudding can cater to a larger gathering.

Now there’s more to it than just getting a carton from the local grocery store or those little snack-packs. The real deal must have slices of banana mixed throughout and Vanilla Wafers lining the edges and surface, for dipping. Lastly, it has to age in the ‘fridge at least a day so the cookies can soak up the moisture in the pudding. I think something happens to the bananas too.

I’ve lived her for 16 years and never gave it much thought until my friend Mark M told me about a picnic he attended in Sacramento while he was with the Air Force. He grew up around here mostly so it was a logical dish to bring. I recall he said the other attendees expressed skepticism over his decision but the bowl was empty by the end of the gathering.

And so, the colors and picture of SCOTS’ drummer Dave Hartman enjoying a batch Somara made, will be what I am adorning Picayune with for November. Maybe I will bug my wife to make some too. She has a cake coming up and that usually means additional eggs we can’t let go to waste.