Banana Cream Pie

Tonight was Pie Night at my in-laws since not everyone will be together for Thanksgiving this week. I'm not much of a pie person but I wanted to make a banana cream pie. Yummy. Original recipe can be found here. After reading some reviews and finding out how my mom makes it this is my version. It must have turned out great because there was only 1 piece left.

Banana Cream Pie
3/4 c. white sugar
2T + 1/2 t. cornstarch
1/4 t. salt
2 cups milk
3 egg yolks, beaten
2 T butter
1 1/4 t. vanilla
1 nine-inch pie crust, baked
3 bananas, sliced

1. In a saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Add milk in gradually while stirring gently. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is bubbly. Cook and stir for about 2 more minutes, and then remove from the burner.
2. Stir a small quantity of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks, and immediately add egg yolk mixture to the rest of the hot mixture (this keeps the eggs from scrambling). Cook for 2 more minutes; remember to keep stirring. Remove the mixture from the stove, and add butter and vanilla. Stir until smooth.
3. Slice 2 bananas into the cooled baked pastry shell. Top with pudding mixture.
4. Cover with plastic wrap and chill over night. Top with more bananas just before serving. 

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

I know this wasn't on the schedule but I was craving this last night so I made it. This was a family favorite growing up. I never make mac and cheese from the box. This is just too good to ever go back to that.

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
2 cups macaroni (shells, elbow,etc.), cooked and drained
3 T flour
3 T butter
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Over medium heat melt the butter and blend in the flour. Slowly whisk in milk. Cook and stir until think. Add 1/2 tsp. salt and dash of pepper. Stir in cheese until melted. Add noodles. Serve.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pie

I should call this Choco-butter pie for short :) This is one of Sean's favorites and his request for his birthday today. I got this recipe from my MIL, LaNiece, and I hope it tasted as good as when she makes it.

Choco-butter Pie
Mix in pan:
1 1/4 C. milk
1/3 c sugar
2 tsp cornstarch
1/8 tsp salt
2 egg yolks
Cook until thick. Remove from heat then add 1/4 c peanut butter. Cool -- it helps to cover with saran wrap and cool in refrigerator while making chocolate part. When cool, add 1/2 tsp softened butter (a little less than you would spread on a piece of toast) and 1/2 tsp vanilla. Pour into baked, cooled pie shell.
For the chocolate part, you can use any halved chocolate pie recipe or 1 package chocolate pudding. (I used pudding. Too scared of melting chocolate). Pour chocolate on top and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Enjoy!