Happy Pi(e) Day

As today is 3.14, I would like to wish everyone a happy Pi Day. In honor of this irrational number, the ratio of circumference to diameter of a circle, many pie and pizza places, such as Blaze are offering 3.14- themed discounts. However, the way the Haas family commemorates Pi Day is by, well, baking a pie.

This year’s pie will be pumpkin, as that’s what I have plenty of in my cupboard. That and Sami loves a good pumpkin pie. Other Haasienda bakery favorites include apple, macadamia nut, cherry, and key lime. So in celebration of Pi Day, we will share one of our most beloved pie recipes.

Banana Cream Pie

This pie was voted best at our school’s first (and only) pie-baking contest in 2016. It uses vanilla wafer cookies for the crust to compliment the bananas and vanilla pudding.

Ingredients:
¾ cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup flour
¼ tsp. salt
1 ¾ cup nonfat milk
¼ cup heavy cream
3 egg yolks, beaten
1 tbsp. butter
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 9” vanilla wafer crust
1 recipe whipped cream
3-4 bananas

1. Prepare crust by crushing ½ boxes of vanilla wafers in a food processor about 30 seconds. Add 5-7 tablespoons of melted butter and pulse until cookies are crumbly and moist. Press cookie crumbles into a 9” pie plate and bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Set aside to cool.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Stir in milks and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture begins to bubble. Cook about 2 minutes longer, then lower heat to medium-low.
3. Stir in a small quantity of the milk mixture into the eggs to temper, then immediately add to the pan of milk. Add butter and vanilla and cook until butter melts into the mixture, then remove from heat.
4. Slice bananas into the cooled pie crust. Top with pudding mixture. Chill in the fridge at least 2 hours. Serve with whipped cream.

Whipped cream:
1 cup heavy cream
¼ cup confectioners sugar

Combine cream and sugar and whip to desired consistency.

So to all the kitchen mathematicians out there, have a positive day. I hope you have a chance to enjoy some delicious pie! Happy Pi Day!