Let's talk homemade banana pudding

Mine turns out different every time I make it.

I use the recipe out of the betty crocker cook book for vanilla pudding.

3 cups milk
3 tbsp cornstarch
3/4 cup sugar,

cook till it thickens,
mix into 4 mixed egg yolks tempering , mixing alittle at a time, then mix the yolk mixture back into the milk mixture, and cook for a few minutes, then add 1 tbsp butter and 1 tsp vanilla, then you know the rest.

Well, I save the egg whites and beat them with a tad of cream of tarter and about 3 or 4 tbsp sugar,

The egg whites always melt partially into the pudding mx making it liquidy, do I need to let the pudding cool completely before layering with the cookies and bananas then topping with the egg whites?

What kind of vanilla wafers do you use, DH said the nilla brand wafers get soggy too fast and tom's brand is the best.

what are your fave ways to prepare this to make it perfect.