Banana cream pie is a real favorite around here.

The combination of sweet bananas, a pastry crust and custard just can't be beat.

Top it off with slightly sweetened whipped cream or meringue if you prefer and you have a wonderful dessert your crowd will love.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup all purpose flour or 3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 to 4 bananas, sliced
1 - 9" baked pastry shell
meringue (made from the leftover egg whites), optional

Directions:
Combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan. Add milk gradually. Cook, stiring constantly, over medium heat til bubbly. Cook and stir an additional 2 minutes and remove from burner.

Stir small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks, immediately add egg yolk mixture to hot mixture and cook for 2 minutes, stiring constantly. Remove from heat.

Add butter and vanilla and stir til smooth.

Slice 3-4 bananas into the cooled baked pastry shell. Top with pudding mixture and spread meringue or fresh whipped cream (if desired) on top of the pie. Cool.

• This pie is great topped with either meringue or fresh whipped cream. I prefer the whipped cream but if you like meringue, it is a great way to use up the egg whites left over from the yolks in the recipe. Whip the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Spoon over the completed pie, then bake at 350º degrees for 12-15 minutes.