Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Banana Cream Pie

Every year, Louise hosts a Picnic Game. Sadly, it's not a real picnic, since her participants hail from all over the world, but everyone who plays posts a recipe for something they enjoy on a picnic, in alphabetic order. This year, I drew the letter B.

So....

I'm going on a picnic, and I'm bringing...

A - Apricot Cobbler from Mae

B - Banana Cream Pie!

I just adore cream pies, and banana cream pie is my favorite. Of course, that's doubtless because I really love bananas. When I order them (by the case, of course), I'll eat alm
ost nothing but bananas for the 4 or 5 days they last. Yep, about 8 bananas a day. And I lose weight doing so. (That, my friends, is a big bonus in my book.) So, here's my recipe (and a simple way out at the end).

BANANA CREAM PIE!

1 9" Pie crust, baked (I used my Best Ever Crust)
2/3 cup sugar
3 tbsp cornstarch

1/2 tsp salt
3 cups milk
3 egg yolks, lightly beaten
1 tbsp butter
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 bananas, sliced
whipped cream

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch and salt. Whisk the milk in and turn the heat to medium (to speed the process, microwave the milk for 2 minutes before adding it to the pan). Cook until the mixture thickens. Pour a little of the hot mixture in with the egg yolks, then add the egg yolks to the pan and cook for one minute longer. Remove from the heat, stir in the butter and vanilla extract. Slice the bananas into the pie crust, and pour the custard mixture over them. Chill for at least 3 hours. Top with whipped cream (1 cup cream, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tsp vanilla extract beaten until thick and luscious) and serve to your hungry hordes.

Of course, if it just happens to be nearly July and very hot, you can shortcut it this way: Use a graham cracker crust from the store. Slice the bananas into it. Whip up a box of vanilla instant pudding and pour it over the bananas. Top with whipped cream. Go ahead and take 2 minutes to make the real stuff...you'll enjoy it ever so much more than store-bought. Let it set for about 30 minutes, and enjoy. Don't confess that you took the easy way out, and no one will know.

Hop over to Louise's blog to see all of the Picnic Game entries, including one for our special 4-legged companions - that's right, Diva Doggy Treats!

See you on Thorsday!

18 comments:

SissySees said...

Awh, thanks for the mention! The Knight loves banana cream pie, so while I'm in the baking mood, I might have to make one.

Lapdog Creations said...

I want to come to a picnic at your house!

pam said...

I love bananas too! Though, I never used them as a weight loss tool!

Diane said...

My daily breakfast is a banana so You can guess I am a banana fan as well. This sounds right up my street. Diane

Two French Bulldogs said...

You are killing me. Now we are starving
Benny & Lily

rottrover said...

YUM!! Now I know better than to read your posts when I'm hungry!!

Linda said...

Banana cream pie is the Bossmans all time favorite.......he likes it with a walnut crust though;)

Barbara said...

Always has been my favorite pie, Marjie. And this recipe is the real McCoy. It'll be a hit at any picnic!

The Blonde Duck said...

You know, I've never tried banana cream pie!

Mickle in NZ said...

Super yummo, and now a boring tip - peel off the skins the freeze the leftover bananas.Very sloppy when thawed (ideal for baking), but delicious if eaten soonish while still frozded (dipped in choco stuff = even better). Hey - a way to get through excess super ripe bananas and overly hot days. I'm sure Thor would appreciate frozded banana pieces,

sending special huggles to Marjie and Thor, the rest of the gang will have to line up for the other huggles .....

Mickle and Zebster xzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxz ...

Gloria Baker said...

This look delicious Marjie, gloria

Mae Travels said...

From A to B: we just have desserts. Good start for a picnic!

Mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Sue said...

I love banana cream pie, though I haven't made one in years. I used to make them once a week for my brother who would eat the entire pie in one sitting.

Quay Po Cooks said...

I have some bananas in my freezer and now I know what I am going to do with it. Thanks for the recipe.

grace said...

that's a lot of bananas to eat in one day. the fiber, marjie, the FIBER! great pie, clearly. the only cream pie i like better is coconut. :)

Linda said...

Yum, look at those nice chunky pieces of banana! Thanks for bringing it to the picnic!!!

Alicia Foodycat said...

I love bananas, but I've never tried banana cream pie! Banoffee yes, banana cream no. But I like custard as well, so I know I would love this!

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