Homemade Banana Cream Pie

Ok, I can't bake a lot of things, we've been over that, but somehow I manage to make a kick ass Banana Cream Pie. I made this for my dad, who loves loves loves banana cream pie, as do I :) Happy Father's Day Dad!

It takes a little time (most of my day in fact) to make the custard, but the end result is well worth it.

First off, everyone knows a pie isn't much of anything without a good pie crust. My crust recipe is short and sweet.

1 and 3/4 cups flour
1/2 cup butter flavored crisco
1/2 tsp salt
4-5 ounces cold water.
(this should make enough for 2 crusts, so I usually just freeze what I don't use)
Mix the flour, salt, and crisco until crumbly, slowly add the water until you get the right consistency. Not too dry, not too sticky.

Pour a little flour on your clean counter suface, where you will roll out the crust. Rub some flour on your rolling pin as well. Start Rollin'!

Make your circle about 10 inches wide. Then roll it into a log. This makes it so much easier to get it into the pie plate in one piece!

Place the "log" into a pie plate and un-roll.

Trim off the excess dough, leaving enough to pinch along the edge.

Bake at 350 for 20 min, then set aside to cool.

For the Banana Cream Filling you will need;

1 envelope of unflavored gelatin

1/4 cup cold water

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 tsp. salt

2 3/4 cup milk

4 egg yolks, beaten

2 tbsp. butter

1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract

4 medium, firm bananas

1 cup heavy cream

juice of 1 lemon

1/2 cup apple jelly

cool whip

Soften gelatin in the cold water, set aside.

In a saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Over med-high heat, whisk in the milk until smooth. Cook and keep stirring until thick and bubbly.

Reduce heat, cook another 2 min, then remove from heat. Stir a small amount of this mixture into the egg yolks. Now add the yolk mix into the saucepan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil and reduce heat, cook 2 more min, then remove from heat.

Stir in the gelatin, until dissolved. Add the butter and vanilla. Cover and chill for about 30 min.

Slice 3 bananas.

Fold the bananas into the custard, along with the cup of cream. Spoon into pie crust.cover and chill til set, for 4-5 hours.

Once the pie is set, slice the 4th banana and place the slices in a bowl with the lemon juice.

Cover the top of the pie with cool whip!

Melt the apple jelly in a saucepan over low-medium heat.

Place the banana slices all along the edge of the pie, then take a brush and lightly coat the bananas with the melted jelly. Chill until ready to serve.