BANANA CREAM PIE – Page 2

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix the graham crackers, melted butter, and sugar. Press into a 9-inch pie dish and bake in the oven for 7 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Once cooled, layer the bottom and sides with banana slices.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together milk, cream, sugar, salt, and cornstarch. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is bubbling. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks together. Remove 1/2 cup of the hot mixture, and in a slow stream, whisk it into the egg yolk mixture. In a very slow stream, whisk the egg mixture into the saucepan, cooking until bubbling. Cook for 2 minutes, whisking constantly. It should be fairly thick and leave a whisk trail as you drag the whisk through it. It would also pile slightly when poured, as in the picture of the pudding being added to the pie crust.
Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla and butter. Cool for 15 minutes whisking several times so a skin does not form. Pour the pudding into the crust over the bananas. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Chill bowl and beaters in the freezer for 20 minutes. Add whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to the bowl. Beat on low until the mixture starts to increase in volume. Turn to medium-high and beat until stiff peaks form. Spread or pipe over chilled pie. Garnish with banana slices and reserved graham cracker crumbs.