Birthday Pie

Stan is not to fond of Birthday cake so I thought I would bake a pie instead. Problem is,he does not like fruit pies that much either. I drug out my trusty Taste of Home Cookbooks and in the Baking Book Edition I found this!!

Coconut Banana Cream Pie! You begin with a crust made from coconut and then fill it with a homemade custard sauce and bananas. Recipe will follow.

Everyone went up to Gina's house for Birthday "Cake". Gina did have angel food cake with strawberries and cupcakes for those who did not want the pie.

Needless to say, the kids ate the angel food cake and most of the adults had the pie.

Coconut Banana Cream Pie

3 cups flaked coconut

7 tablespoons butter (a cube is 8 tablespoons)

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup all purpose flour

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups half and half cream

4 egg yolks, lightly beaten

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 large firm bananas sliced

Whipped cream and sliced bananas, optional

1. In a large skillet, saute coconut in butter until golden. Reserve 2 tablespoons for garnish. Press remaining toasted coconut into the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9 inch pie plate. Bake at 350 for 7 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. I did not take into consideration the baking time and my coconut was a little dark when it came from the oven. Next time, I will not brown it as long in the skillet.

2. For filling, combine the sugar, flour, cornstarch and salt in a large saucepan. Stir in the half and half until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot filling into egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in vanilla. Cool to room temperature without stirring.

3. Place bananas in the crust. Cover with the cream mixture. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours. Sprinkle with the reserved toasted coconut. If desired, garnish with whipped cream and bananas. Refrigerate leftovers.

Very rich and decadent. Enjoy:)