I have so many fond memories of spending time in my grandmothers kitchen so it’s no surprise that any time I make a cream based pie, I think of my grandmother.

I used to stand on a chair by the stove with a spoon in my hand stirring up whatever creamy delight she was making.  After she finished pouring the filling into her pie crust, she would give me a spoon and let me scrape the bowl.  I thought that was the most wonderful treat in the world.

This is one of those old fashioned banana pie recipes except that I chose to make a cream topping instead of a meringue.   You can make it either way.

INGREDIENTS  (Filling)
¾ cup sugar
¼ cups cornstarch or ½ cup all purpose flour
3 cups milk
4 eggs yolks
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon banana flavoring (use 1 tsp  vanilla if you don’t want/have the banana flavoring)
3 bananas
Pie crust (homemade or purchased)

DIRECTIONS (Filling)
 In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch or flour.  Gradually stir in milk.  Cook and stir over medium-high heat till mixture is thickened and bubbly.  Reduce heat; cook while continuing to stir for 2 more minutes.  Remove from heat.

Beat egg yolks lightly with a fork.  Gradually stir about 1 cup of the hot filling into the egg yolks. (Pouring slowly will keep the egg yolks from “cooking” when making contact with the hot filling).

Return the egg/pudding mixture to the saucepan and bring to a gentle boil.  Cook and stir for 2 more minutes.  Remove from heat.

Stir in butter, vanilla, and banana flavorings.

Place bananas into the bottom of baked pie crust.  Pour the hot filling into baked pastry shell over the bananas.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 – 15 minutes or till golden.  Cool on wire rack.  Once the pie is completely cool (can be made ethe day before and put in the refrigerator to cool) you can put the topping of your choice.

INGREDIENTS (Topping)
 1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS (Topping)
For best results, chill your bowl and whisk attachment in the freezer for 10 minutes. Add all of the ingredients to the bowl and whisk on high speed until medium peaks form, about 1 minute.

Makes 8 servings.