Pudding

My kids, especially the little ones, notice when their friends have "fun" snacks.  The kid at the table with the pudding or jello cup, the marshmallows, cookies, etc.  I tell them that snack time is for healthy snacks, those are treats.  Well, I found a recipe and I'm going to give it a try!  It doesn't have that much sugar in it, it's only 8 ingredients and it's PUDDING!  I'm going to surprise them all by putting it in their lunch boxes for a dessert!  Maybe I'll tint it green for Thursday! ;-)

2 1/2 cups 2% milk
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise - or substitute 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cups of sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup half and half
2 large egg yolks
4 teaspoons butter

1. Place milk in a medium, heavy saucepan.  Scrape seeds from vanilla bean (or add vanilla extract) into milk.  Bring to a boil.
2. Combine sugar, cornstarch and salt in a large bowl, stirring well.  Combine half and half and egg yolks, stirring well.  Stir egg yolk mixture into sugar mixture.  Gradually add half of hot milk to sugar mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk.  Return hot milk mixture to pan; bring to a boil.  Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly with a whisk.  Remove from heat.  Add butter, stirring until melted.  Remove vanilla bean; discard.
3. Spoon pudding into a bowl.  Place bowl in a large ice-filled bowl for 15 minutes until pudding cools, stirring occasionally.  Cover surface of pudding with plastic wrap; chill.

Yields 6 - 1/2 cup servings