Old School Fancy Pants Christmas Party 2011 (in 2012)

Back in 2007, I had been married about a year and realized that I would never get a chance to use my wedding china since we always did Thanksgiving and Christmas at our parents' houses. And I had been reading all these homemaking magazines and I decided that instead of missing out on my chance to have a grown-up Christmas feast of my own, I would need to make up an occasion. So the Old School Fancy Pants Christmas Party was born. I collaborated with some close friends and planned a menu. People came in the day before and helped me bake all manner of things. Every year since then, I have gathered a group of friends and shared a feast, and used all the china, crystal, and few silver pieces that I have. Fancy attire is mandatory, with hats and tiaras optional but encouraged. This year, December just kept getting more and more crowded, so we decided to push it back to January and call it a Fancy Pants Birthday Party/Christmas Party. I decorated with my blue and white things (mixed up because I can't seem to find more than 4 of anything that's not stained) and I think it turned out nice.

We had a crowd of 17, despite some last-minute cancellations, and I am very thankful to our future law firm colleagues who showed up early (with appetizers and ice!) after I called in a panic announcing that I wasn't going to finish in time. If I could do things over, I would have made a larger green bean casserole and more sweet potatoes but all in all I think it was OK.

Now, the menu!
Appetizers: Assorted cheeses and veggie tray, chips and salsa, fruit tray.
Dinner: Communish Chicken, Granby's Green Bean Casserole, NSFW Sweet Potato Casserole, and Cranberry Jell-o Salad.
Dessert: Best Ever Banana Pudding.
Beverages: Tea, champagne punch

Now, I don't think I will put all the recipes up this week, but I will share the Banana Pudding. My favorite memory of this pudding is when my two grandmas came to Texas for my high school graduation. To celebrate, we had a party at our house and the two of them (with very conflicting kitchen management techniques) collaborated on this pudding. I also took it to work one year for our Soul Food luncheon and a teacher asked me if I made it with Jell-0. Bitch, please.

Best Ever Banana Pudding
 Combine 2/3 c. sugar, 1/4 c. flour, and a dash of salt in a heavy sauce pan. In a separate bowl, whisk together 14 oz can of sweetened, condensed milk, 2 1/2 c. milk, and 4 egg yolks (save whites for later.) Add to dry ingredients. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until smooth and thickened. Stir in 2 tsp. vanilla.
Arrange Nilla Wafers in the bottom and sides of a 9 X 13 baking dish. Layer 6 sliced bananas on top. Pour custard over bananas and wafers.
Whip egg whites and 1/3 c. sugar with electric beaters until stiff peaks form and sugar dissolves. Fold in 1/2 t. banana extract and spread over pudding, sealing to edge.
 Bake at 325 for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or chill. Yield 8-10 servings. (Or more... it's rich.)