Chocolate Banana Cream pie

This is what you bake when you've been sick. Just when I thought I was better yet another wave of this crap hit me and I ended up at the hospital being treated for what they think was a migraine. By the way, it didn't help and it took two days to abate.

Anyway, I almost always make dessert on Friday and this was simple enough to throw together and I knew Danny would like it. Basically, it is the chocolate pudding recipe I always make thickened with a bit of flour and poured in a short paste crust. I told you it was easy. I was able to make it in stages (because heaven knows, I ain't up to standing on my feet very long) and the filling cooks in about five minutes.

(If you want to see a professional take on banana cream pie by someone that knows what they are doing-go HERE. Isn't that just beautiful? She's so talented it blows my mind).

As I was cutting a piece late in the afternoon to get a photograph, Danny wandered into the kitchen:

Danny: Do you need someone to test your pie?
Me: (Laughing) OK, would you like a small slice?
Danny: You'd better let me try a large slice to test.
Me: Oh, of course. you need to be sure.

I gave him a plate and he ran off to the table to dig in. I returned to photographing my pie when Danny returned bearing an empty plate.

Me: So how, was the pie?
Danny: I think I need to test another piece to make sure it is good.

Five minutes later...

Danny: (almost overwrought) Mama, I can't concentrate on playing unless I have more chocolate.
Me: Well, it's getting close to dinnertime...
Danny: But I can't think! (Waves arms in frustration) I can't think about anything but that pie!


It was a very good pie. It has a short shelf life, but somehow, I doubt you'll have much trouble getting rid of it. I'm expecting Danny to wake up at three AM unable to sleep knowing that pie is just sitting in the ice box all alone!

You Will Need:

A fully-baked pie crust (I used the short paste recipe in Mastering The Art Of French Cooking because I knew it would hold up to a wet, heavy filling)

4 ripe bananas
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 squares unsweetened chocolate (3 oz.) chopped fine
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon flour
3 cups milk
3 egg yolks
1 tablespoon butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Whipped Cream (I used about a cup, but you may prefer a thicker layer or just dollops here and there)

Chocolate shavings

Bake crust and slip carefully out of baking dish to cool on a rack completely. This will keep it from getting soggy. When cool, return to dish.

Prepare filling:

In a large saucepan, combine sugar, salt, chocolate, cornstarch and flour. Slowly whisk in the milk. Over medium heat, cook whisking constantly until it comes to a boil. Cook one minute longer. Remove from heat. Place eggs in a medium bowl. Add a few ladles of pudding to it and whisk until smooth. Return to large pot and whisk in slowly returning to a boil. Cook one minute longer. Remove from heat. Whisk in the butter and vanilla. Cover with cling wrap, punch a few holes in the film with a knife, and let cool. Five minutes on the counter then in the fridge.

Slice bananas and place in the pie as neatly as possible. Cover with chocolate filling (You'll probably have extra-save it covered). beat whipping cream until stiff and add sugar as desired. Spread generously on top . Sprinkle with chocolate shavings.