Banana Cream Pie

pie filling:

3 ripe bananas cut and mashed into small pieces
3 tbsp - butter
4 cups - milk
1 cup - sugar
2 tsp - vanilla
1/2 tsp - salt
4 egg yolks
3 -4 tbsp - corn starch (dissolved in 1/4 cup of cold water)

in a large sauce pot, saute together bananas and butter for about 3 minutes. add milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.

beat egg yolks in a separate bowl. gradually add about one cup of the hot mixture to the egg yolks stirring the entire time. stir egg mixture into the pot. cook for an additional 5 minutes. add cornstarch/water mixture and continue cooking until you have a thick, pudding-like consistency.
remove from heat and cool.

pie crust:

see recipe in Apple Pie post - but you will be making two single-crust pies instead of one double-crust one. leave the measurements the same.

bake the single pie crust in the pie pan at 350 for 10-15 minutes (or until golden brown). this can be a bit tricky because left unsupported, the pie crust will fall down the edges of the pan. to avoid this, bake the crust with baking beans or place another pie pan on top of the crust (two pans with the crust inbetween).

cool the crust

when both are somewhat cool - add the filling to the crust. chill in the fridge until the pie is cold and set. top with fresh whipped cream* and extra banana slices.


*fresh whipped cream:

2 cups - whipping cream
3 tbsp - sugar
1 tsp - vanilla

whip with an eclectic mixer until thick and creamy (to whip for too long or you'll end up with butter)


and theres it.....

Run Out of Butter?

I did this morning. But...ah hah! I was able to draw on a nifty little Kindergarten activity I did almost 20 years ago...I made butter. Simple.

Heavy Whipping Cream + Pince of salt (or sugar, or etc...depending on if you want to flavor it) + gladware container with a tightly snapping lid (or a jar with a screwcap) + shake the hell out of it (about 4- 5 minutes of vigorous shaking) = Really Good Butter + Bonus Buttermilk

Yes, I know...odd. But do try it.

The Most Amazing Apple Pie Ever....For anyone who cares to know

pie filling:

6 - large granny smith apples (peeled and cut into thin-ish slices)
juice from 1 large-ish lemon
1/2 cup - brown sugar
1/2 cup - white sugar
2 tsp - cinnamon
1/2 tsp - nutmeg
2 -3 tbsp - flour
splash of vanilla

first mix the apples, lemon juice, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla together in a large bowl - let sit for 5 minutes. next add the flour and mix well

pie crust

2 1/4 cups - flour
1 tsp - salt
1 tsp - sugar
2/3 cup - shortening
8-10 tbsp - ice water

with a food processeor, a pastry cutter, a large fork, or two knives cut the shortening into the flour , salt, and sugar until you have pea size pieces of the mixture. add the ice water - a tablespoon at a time - until a firm dough is formed. divide the dough and, inbetween wax paper, roll out into two circles.


line a pie pan with one of the circles, pressing it into the corners of the pan. add the apple filling. cover the filling with the other crust and seal the edges . make a pretty design.

Bake on the center rack of the oven at 350 for 20 minutes. Brush crust with a beaten egg and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes.

WaLah...