Edgar: Almost Eleven Months

Edgar's almost eleven months old...an official teenager in a dog's life!

True to form, he's sleeping most days until noon and eating us out of house and home....and causing trouble.

He loves to play WWF with Silas, body-slamming him outside in the afternoons...pure entertainment.

He's gotten taller and lanky...and is officially the tallest of the pups.  He can comfortably rest his head on the dining room table when standing, an action which I don't encourage!

He's very uncoordinated and can't seem to get into the car these days without a bit of help...or either he's so smart to know I'll help him in the car with just a glance from that "poor puppy" face.

He lost a few pounds this month...down to 77.8 pounds.  I'm told this is typical for golden retrievers during their teenage years, but I'm still worried a bit.

And I'm also wondering how big he will get?  With his father weighing in at a lanky 106 lbs, I'm wondering if he'll be in the same range....lots of dog food to buy!

Recipe: Homemade Banana Pudding

You can serve it in a bowl very simply...

You can bake it in a pie....

Or you can layer it in a trifle bowl....

But you simply must have banana pudding on any holiday table in our family.

Oh yeah...and a word of warning...don't make the pudding to let it cool overnight in the refrigerator..when you get up the next morning, it might not be there...just saying!

Homemade Banana Pudding
2 1/2 cups Sugar
6 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
Pinch of Salt
2 large cans Evaporated Milk (12 ounces)
4 Egg Yolks
1/4 cup Unsalted Butter, cubed
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 box Vanilla Wafers, saving a few to crumble for garnishment
6 Bananas, sliced
Whipped Cream

1. Whisk together Sugar, All-Purpose Flour, and Salt in a heavy saucepan over low heat.  Slowly pour in Evaporated Milk and stir constantly until thickened, approximately 15 minutes.
2. Lightly beat together the egg yolks in a small bowl.  Add a ladle full of the thickened liquid to the eggs and whisk to temper the eggs. Slowly stream the egg mixture into the saucepan, whisking constantly to combine, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract.  Place the pudding in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let cool in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
4. In a large bowl or trifle dish, add a layer of Vanilla Wafers, a layer of sliced Bananas, a layer of pudding and a layer of whipped cream.  Repeat the layers.  Garnish with crumbled wafers on top and enjoy!