Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding

My Dad loves all things banana, so I always have my eye open for new banana things to try. One look at the picture of Paula Dean's Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding online & I was sold. Then I just had to wait for a good reason to make a big pan of this not so diet friendly stuff. We went to a BBQ tonight to hang out with my friend Janet who's in town, so it was the perfect opportunity. This recipe was all I dreamed it would be. So creamy & rich & the cookies make it so delicious. I took a picture of the top and the bottom of the pan. I put the cookies in so you could see the pictures on them from either side.

Mom, if you're reading this this is definitely something Dad would love!

Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies

6 to 8 bananas, sliced (I used 3 bananas sliced thin & I think it was plenty)

2 cups milk 1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding (I couldn't find a 5-oz box, so I used 1 & 2/3 boxes of the 3-oz size. I think it would be really good with banana pudding to give it that extra banana punch.)

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream
Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top. In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.