Pie for Kierstien!

I have a super easy pie recipe that you can change in to many other pies.

*I do not make my own pie crusts, I have not found a good recipe. Instead I used Pappy's. It can be found in the frozen section near all the premade pies and cakes.

* There is a meringue recipe that accompanies this pie. I have found that it sucks and I don't like it. I top these pies with homemade whipped cream.

4 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 1/2 cups half and half, light cream, or milk
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1. Prepare pastry shell as directed and put in the pie plate

2. Seperate yolks from whites


3. For the filling combine sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in half and half. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly; reduce the heat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Slightly beat yolks with a fork. Gradually stir in about 1 cup of the hot filling in to the yolks, return mixture to saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil and reduce the heat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.

4.Pour warm filling in to pastry shell.

5. Bake at 325 for 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack 1 hour chill 3-6 hours before serving.


Substitutions(from cookbook, not mine)
* cocnut cream pie- prepare as directed except stir in 1 cup flaked coconut with butter and vanilla. Top with meringue or cool whip. *I like to toast coconut and sprinkle that on the top.

To toast the coconut. Throw 1/2 -3/4 cup of coconut into a small fry pan. Stir occasionally until brown and crunchy.

*Banana Cream Pie- prepare as directed. Before adding filling to the pie crust arrange 3 medium bananas over the bottom of the shell. Add topping of choice. * I like to shave baker's chocolate over the top of this. The bitter mingles with the sweet and it's so so tasty!