Quick milk pudding

Ingredients:

• 4.5 cups whole milk
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• 5 large egg yolks, beaten
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• Additions (optional), see below

Preparation:

1. In a large saucepan, heat 4 cups of milk over medium heat until steaming. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, cornstarch, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir in the egg yolks and the remaining 1/2 cup of milk.
2. Whisk half of the hot milk into the egg mixture until smooth, then gradually whisk the egg-milk mixture into the saucepan. Heat over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until it thickens to the consistency of pudding, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
3. Cool slightly, stirring several times to prevent a skin from forming. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the pudding and refrigerate until completely cool and set, about 4 hours.
4. Before serving, stir the pudding vigorously until smooth.
   
   Supplements:
   
   Cookies and creamCrush 20 chocolate wafer cookies, stir some into the pudding and sprinkle the rest on top.
   
   Fresh berries and gingerbread cookies: Stir in 2 cups of fresh berries (assorted) and sprinkle with crushed ginger cookies (about 12 pcs.)
   
   Vanilla-bananaStir in 3 sliced ​​bananas. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Stir in 24 crushed vanilla wafer cookies and garnish with banana slices.
   
   Rocky RoadStir in 1 cup each mini marshmallows, toasted chopped walnuts, and 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips. Sprinkle with additional chocolate chips.
   
   Peanut butter and jellyStir in 1 cup quartered red grapes and 1/3 cup each chopped roasted peanuts and granulated peanut butter. Garnish with whole grapes.