1 quart milk
2 eggs, separated
2/3 cup granulated white sugar
2 cups broken up ritz-type or saltine crackers
1 cup raisins, or coconut (or diced dried, or other dried fruit)
1 tsp. vanilla

Start to heat milk in a sauce pan over medium-low heat.  Meanwhile, beat sugar and egg yolks in a bowl.  Add to warm milk. Stir in crackers and raisins (or other dried fruit).  Bring to simmer and cook over medium heat until thick, stirring as needed to prevent sticking.  Beat egg whites in a clean bowl until stiff.  Add vanilla and beat in.  Remove hot, thickened pudding mixture from the heat and fold in stiffly beaten egg whites.

Alternately, you can put the meringue (stiffly beaten egg whites) on top of the pudding, and bake at 450* until golden brown.