"Have you ever come down to the last banana and it is so soft it is hard to pick up? You know you should throw it away, but all of those years of your mother yelling about starving kids in Africa has gotten to you and you just can't do it. Well, there is some life left in that poor banana yet! Try this out next time. " - Recipe submitted by Vanessa Meadows of St. Louis, Missouri USA.

Orphan Banana Pudding

1 (4.6-ounce) package instant cook/serve vanilla pudding
3 cups milk
1 to 2 very ripe bananas
Cookies of your choice

1. First what you need to do, is prepare the mix as directed on the package for a PIE! Stir until you get a rolling boil, and then set aside to cool.
2. Next, you need to prepare your pie plate or casserole dish for the pudding. Use what ever sort of cookie you choose! Vanilla wafers, lady fingers, graham crackers, and you might be surprised at the results from Ritz crackers! Layer or stack your "crust" as you choose.
3. Next, take your sad little banana and mash it with a fork in a bowl, trying to make it as smooth as possible. After stirring it a bit, take some of your hot pudding mixture and pour it in the bowl with your banana. No measurements, just make sure you have more pudding than banana. Now, with a hand mixer, mix the pudding and banana until completely blended. Add your banana mixture to the remaining vanilla pudding, and stir until blended as well.
4. Now, just pour the mixture over your cookies, and you have saved the dignity of that poor forgotten banana! Just let it set up about 3 to 4 hours, and serve. Have fun!

Makes 6 to 8 servings.