Creamy Vanilla Pudding

found on and adapted from www.sisterscafe.blogspot.com - yum yum! I love the fact that you eat it warm.

1/3 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 Tablespoons butter, softened
1-2 vanilla beans, split and scraped (or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract)

Mix sugar, cornstarch and salt in a 2-quart saucepan. Stir in milk gradually, stirring constantly. Cook over medium heat, stirring until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir for one minute. Stir at least half of the milk mixture gradually into the egg yolks. Blend egg mixture back into the milk in the saucepan. Boil and stir one more minute. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla. Pour into dessert dishes. Serve warm. Serves 4.