WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!
Best. Dorie. Recipe. EVER!
I have never had banana cream pie. What was I MISSING?! Up in NY, especially Italian land where I proudly grew up, I never even SAW a banana cream pie. So when Amy of Sing For Your Supper (click for recipe) chose this, I was super excited.
This recipe is amazing.
First, let's start with Dorie's ungodly good-for-everything-but-my-diet pie crust. This is the best pie crust that exists in the entire universe. It is unbelievably flaky and buttery. I have actually been told that the crust is TOO good and sometimes will outshine the filling, like in the case of a pumpkin pie that I made back in October.
I took it as a compliment to the crust rather than an insult to the pumpkin pie filling because I like to look at things positively.
Because I don't need an entire banana cream pie sitting around, I made six mini tarts. I had a half of one, my boyfriend had the rest. He LOVED it. He actually did a little dance when he tasted it. The pastry cream is thick, rich, and wonderfully spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. I used little red bananas, which actually have a bit of a cinnamon taste as well. If you can find them in your grocer, I suggest you try them. They are wonderful. The whipped cream was delicious and I loved the bit of tang from the sour cream.
Because I wanted to try something a bit different, I also made a deconstructed banana pie... as an ice cream sundae! I made a no-cook vanilla ice cream (seriously, this recipe is dangerous for me and my willpower) base and split it into three flavors - banana, cinnamon and nutmeg to mock the pastry cream, and then I mixed homemade graham crackers into the third flavor (which I topped with a little pie slice of Dorie's awesome crust).
HOLLA!!!!
This tasted EXACTLY like the banana cream pie, but even more dangerous because it is ice cream and I can't resist ice cream. I did a dance when I tasted this. In fact, all I heard was Katrina and the Waves' hit song "I'm Walking on Sunshine" as I danced around my apartment with a spoon in my hand. I looked like I was straight out of a scene of Look Who's Talking in a room full of dancing babies and a once-upon-a-time sexy John Travolta.
It looks delicious! The pie and the ice cream. I'm glad you liked it so much. I liked it in the end, I just need to perfect my pie skills. ;)
Posted by: Annette | April 07, 2009 at 05:30 PM
Oh, I love the little red bananas. And the little yellow sweet ones. Glad they worked for this recipe!
Posted by: Amber Marie | April 07, 2009 at 05:45 PM
This recipe is amazing! I love your photos and creativity. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Hayley | April 07, 2009 at 06:20 PM
OH MY! Your mini's look amazing! I think I may have just drooled on my keyboard!
Posted by: Jennifer | April 07, 2009 at 07:14 PM
I love the deconstructed pie ice cream. It sounds absolutely heavenly.
Posted by: pinkstripes | April 07, 2009 at 07:42 PM
Love the mini pies--how cute! I have never even heard of red bananas but now you've got me all curious...I will def. keep an eye out for them in the future!
Posted by: Rachel | April 07, 2009 at 08:04 PM
Wow, awesome!! That ice cream looks phenomenal. And your pie sounds wonderful!! Glad you enjoyed it!
Posted by: Melissa | April 07, 2009 at 08:24 PM
Your little pies look sooo cute and yummy! I just bought myself an ice cream maker and I might just give this a try too!
Posted by: Ivette | April 07, 2009 at 09:32 PM
I love the mini pies! I bet it was delicious with the ice cream.
Posted by: Erin | April 08, 2009 at 12:40 AM
good lord. the mini tarts look fabulous...the ice creams look AWESOME! very creative. i loved this pie too--mainly for the custard. yum!
Posted by: HappyTummy | April 08, 2009 at 06:33 AM
This look delicious! This pie was a hit at my house :)
Posted by: Amanda | April 08, 2009 at 07:30 AM
Oh, I would have loved the ice cream version so much more than the actual pie. I like fruit flavors, just not the fruit itself. I will surely try that.
Posted by: Lillian | April 08, 2009 at 07:39 AM
You have to be one of the most creative bakers I know. Seriously, I wish I just made ice cream on a whim. T, you always have the best TWD posts! You are awesome.
Posted by: carolina | April 08, 2009 at 08:51 AM
Your post made me laugh. Leave it to you to create these in some mini-too cute- form! These look great!
I have NEVER had banana cream pie either...have we been living under a rock?
Posted by: Courtney | April 08, 2009 at 08:57 AM
Sounds like there's a lotta yummy dancing going on at your place! :) I LOVE, LOVE your creative take with the ice cream...I love pie, but I think I will love the ice cream even more.
Fantastic job Teanna!
Posted by: Linda | April 08, 2009 at 04:09 PM
I don't know how you do it - you are a font of creativity! Love it all, want it all!
Posted by: Tangled Noodle | April 08, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Ah, You didn't like the pie. So Sorry!!! HAH!! I think you are the most enthused with this TWD pick. I don't think any one else danced...
Yours looks great and the ice cream. Fantastic!!!
Posted by: Margaret | April 09, 2009 at 02:05 PM
FABULOUS all around girl!
Posted by: carolina | April 09, 2009 at 06:03 PM
Your mini pies look amazing! I just want to pop one in my mouth right now. And the ice cream sundae? To die for! Can I come over next week?! ;)
Posted by: Annette | April 12, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Holy heck, that is some hardcore baking & making. It all looks SO good too.
Posted by: April | April 13, 2009 at 12:09 PM