Caprial's Caramelized Banana Cream Pie
serves 8

Chocolate Crust
2 1/2 cups Famous Chocolate Wafer cookie crumbs
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
5 tbls unsalted butter melted

Butter a 10 in springform pan. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl Press into bottom and about 2-3 inches up the sides of the pan.
Refrigerate.

Filling
1/4 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground allspice
4 bananas - peeled and sliced

Put butter and brown sugar in a large saute pan. Heat over high heat until bubbling about 2 min.
Add the spices and bananas and saute till tender - 3 min.

Remove crust from refrig and spoon bananas over the bottom of the crust.

Pastry Cream
3 cups half and half
1 vanilla bean split or 2 tsp vanilla extract
8 egg yolks
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup dark rum (optional -I do not use)
3 tbls cornstarch

Put half and half in saucepan with the vanilla and bring to a boil. Remove vanilla bean(if used).
Put the egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch in a bowl and whisk together. WHen the half and half is hot- pout about 1 cup into egg mixture and mix to temper eggs. Then add egg mixture back into the pan of half and half- place pan over medium heat and stir constantly till thick- will take 3 min only- (will get very thick and start to look lumpy- keep stirring and all will smooth out fine)
Pour over the bananas in the crust and refrigerate at least 3 hours- or longer .

WHip 1 cup heavy cream with a few tsps of powdered sugar and decorate the slices when served.