Strawberry Banana Cream Pie

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup shortening or 1/3 cup lard
• 4 -5 tablespoons cold water
• 1/4 cup finely chopped almonds, toasted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 2 beaten egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon margarine or 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 medium bananas
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2 cups sliced strawberries
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Recipe

• 1 in a bowl stir together 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt. using a pastry blender, cut in 1/3 cup shortening until pieces are pea-size. using 4 to 5 tablespoons cold water total, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of water at a time over the flour mixture, tossing with a fork until all of the dough is moistened. form dough into a ball.
• 2 on a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 12-inch circle. transfer pastry to a 9-inch pie plate. ease pastry into pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry.
• 3 trim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of plate. fold under extra pastry. crimp edge of pastry. do not prick pastry. line the pastry shell with a double thickness of foil. bake in a 450 degree f. oven 8 minutes. remove foil. bake 4 to 5 minutes more or until set and dry. cool.
• 4 for filling, in a saucepan mix the 1/2 cup sugar and cornstarch. gradually stir in milk. cook and stir until bubbly. cook and stir 2 minutes more. remove from heat. stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks. return all to saucepan. bring to a gentle boil. cook and stir 2 minutes more. remove from heat. stir in margarine and vanilla. cover surface with plastic wrap.
• 5 slice bananas 1/4-inch-thick; toss with lemon juice. (you should have about 1-1/4 cups). spread half the hot filling evenly into pastry shell. arrange half the bananas and strawberries on top. top with remaining filling, bananas, and strawberries. cover; chill 1 to 6 hours.
• 6 before serving, beat the whipping cream, 1 tablespoon sugar, and almond extract until stiff peaks form. pipe or dollop onto pie. makes 8 servings.