Five Food Finds about Pie:

• In 1986 National Pie Day was first celebrated by the American Pie Council to commemorate Crisco’s 75th anniversary of “serving foods to families everywhere.”

• The first pies appeared around 9500 BC.

• Meat pies with fillings such as steak, cheese, steak and kidney, minced beef, or chicken and mushroom are popular in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand as take-away snacks.

• Pot pies with a flaky crust and bottom are also a popular American dish, typically with a filling of meat (particularly beef, chicken or turkey), gravy, and mixed vegetables (potatoes, carrots and peas).

• Fruit pies may be served with a scoop of ice cream, a style known in North America as pie à la mode.

Banana Cream Pie

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YIELD:  8 servings
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INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup white sugar 
1/3 cup all-purpose flour 
1/4 teaspoon salt 
2 cups milk 
3 egg yolks, beaten
2 tablespoons butter 
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract 
1 (9 inch) baked pastry shell, cooled 
4 bananas, sliced

DIRECTIONS

1. In a saucepan, combine the sugar, flour, and salt. Add milk in gradually while stirring gently. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is bubbly. Keep stirring and cook 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. Cook for 2 more minutes; remember to keep stirring. Remove the mixture from the stove, and add butter and vanilla. Stir until the whole thing has a smooth consistency.

3. Slice bananas into the cooled baked pastry shell. Top with pudding mixture.

4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 12 to 15 minutes. Chill for an hour.

Footnotes
Cook's Notes:
You may use 3 tablespoons of cornstarch in place of 1/3 cup flour (I use cornstarch).
The pie crust can be store-bought or homemade.