While Banana Cream Pie with Pretzel Crust is more Southern than Midwestern, the pudding mix dessert aspect fits right into our Midwestern Potluck theme, which is all about jazzing up low-brow potluck standards. In doing recipe research before I set to preparing this Banana Cream Pie with Pretzel Crust, I discovered a strong split in opinion about the use of banana pudding mix versus vanilla mix for Banana Cream Pie. I am a staunch supporter of the vanilla mix, because I really hate banana flavoring, but hey, that’s just me. That said, if you know you love banana pudding, by all means, make the switch. Either way, the pudding mix is the signature ingredient that fits the nostalgia requirement. All similarities to the potluck staple ended there. The pretzel crust lined with chocolate is a serious upgrade that elevates this dish from good to great. Don’t forget about a really good caramel sauce, too, and don’t be afraid to add a touch of salt there as well. Another great part about this particular recipe is that it is definitely on the easy side of the spectrum, especially if you use my pre-bought (rather than homemade) caramel sauce shortcut. It’s so good … Continue reading →