Recipe: Mile-High banana Cream Pie

Mile-High Banana Cream Pie
from Sunset, July 2004

NOTES: To make the chocolate curls, pull a vegetable peeler or sharp knife lengthwise down the side of a semisweet chocolate bar at room temperature. Or as an alternative to the curls, sprinkle pie with unsweetened cocoa. You can bake chocolate pastry up to 1 day before filling it; cover and let stand at room temperature. If making pie through step 3 up to 4 hours ahead, cover and chill. Top with whipped cream and chocolate curls just before serving.

MAKES: 8 to 10 servings

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1/3 cup cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 1/4cups milk

4 large egg yolks

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 ripe bananas (about 6 oz. each)

Chocolate pastry (recipe follows)

1 cup whipping cream

Chocolate curls (optional; see notes)

1. In a 1 1/2- to 2-quart pan, combine 3/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Add milk and whisk to blend. Whisk over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens, taking care not to scorch. Remove from heat.

2. In a small bowl, beat egg yolks to blend. Stir about 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture into yolks, then stir mixture back into pan. Return pan to medium-low heat and stir until mixture just begins to bubble, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

3. Peel bananas. Slice half into chocolate pastry, covering bottom evenly. Pour half the warm custard evenly over bananas. Repeat to layer remaining bananas and custard. Cover surface of custard with plastic wrap. Chill until cold, at least 2 hours.

4. In a bowl, with a mixer on high speed, beat whipping cream and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla until mixture holds soft peaks. Mound on pie and swirl to cover decoratively. Top with chocolate curls, if desired.

Chocolate pastry

In a food processor or a bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; whirl or mix to blend. Add 1/2 cup (1/4 lb.) butter or margarine, cut into chunks; whirl or rub in with your fingers until fine crumbs form. Add 1 large egg yolk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; whirl or mix with a fork until blended. Pour mixture into a 9-inch pie pan and press evenly over bottom and up sides to edge of rim. Bake in a 350 regular or convection oven just until crust is slightly darker around edges, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool on a rack at least 1 hour.

Per serving: 421 cal., 51% (216 cal.) from fat; 5.8 g protein; 24 g fat (14 g sat.); 48 g carbo (1.4 g fiber); 272 mg sodium; 172 mg chol.