Banana Cream Pie

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour or 1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups milk
4 eggs
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
(9-inch) baked pastry shell
meringue for pie

Instructions

For filling, in a medium saucepan combine sugar, flour or cornstarch, and salt; gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat till thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat, cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Separate egg whites; set whites aside for meringue. Beat egg yolks slightly. Gradually stir 1 cup of the hot mixture into yolks. Return egg mixture to saucepan; bring to a gentle boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla. Pour hot filling into Baked Pastry Shell. Spread meringue over hot filling; seal to edge. Bake in a 350F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or till golden. Cool. Cover; chill to store. Makes 8 servings. For banana cream pie, slice three bananas into bottom of pie crust, then pour hot filling over and bake as usual. Garnish with whipped cream and sliced bananas instead of the meringue.