It's winter.
I know you understand that.
Anyone with a calendar gets it.
But here in the North when it gets cold, the ice cream stands CLOSE.
So sad.
Abbott's? My personal favorite ice cream/custard in the world?
Closed.
But absence creates desire AND ingenuity, so I sat here thinking "What can I do with this delicious fresh vanilla custard pudding I made?
A banana cried out from the bunch on the counter.
And it wasn't brown and speckled. All the better.
A strawberry chimed in, singing harmony.
And Helen Gray talked about strawberry pie in Seekerville on New Year's Eve!
So I blame HELEN!!!!
For Helen's strawberry cream cheese pie, click on the COOKBOOK HERE!
Anyway, for this bit of amazement you need a baked pie shell:
Or you can use a prepared pie crust.... or cookie crust.
Let your imagination and time guide you!
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
CUSTARD FILLING (RECIPE BELOW)
HOT FUDGE TOPPING (HERSHEYS AND MRS. RICHARDSON ARE MY "GO-TO" PEEPS FOR THIS!)
WHIPPED CREAM FROM HEAVY CREAM, Simple, simple, simple!!!
BANANAS AND STRAWBERRIES.
Custard filling:
4 TBSP. butter, melted
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn starch
4 cups milk
4 egg yolks
Melt butter in 3 quart pan. Remove from heat. Mix sugar and cornstarch in bowl, add to butter and mix thoroughly. Whisk in milk and egg yolks. Cook over medium/medium-high heat, stirring constantly (almost) until mixture thickens and boils.
Add two teaspoons vanilla and mix thoroughly. Chill. To prevent "skin" on top, lay a piece of plastic wrap directly against surface of pudding. This way the cream cannot rise to the top and no skin forms.
But I like to eat the skin, so if I don't let it "skin" it saves me from myself!
Put thin layer of custard on bottom of pie crust. Slice bananas and strawberries over the custard. Top with next layer of custard. Repeat with berries and bananas. Cover with third layer of custard.
Whip 16 ounces of heavy whipping cream and 1/3 cup sugar on high until peaks form.
Oh my stars, this looks amazing. I'm totally in love right now. But, wait:
Spread a thick layer of whipped cream over the deliciousness hidden in the depths below.
Meet "Dusty":
Dusty isn't as high-tech as Edna, but he's a trustworthy old soul of the same era. I love him. I will not replace him. He ranks right up there with my pastry blender.... Aged but perfect in his combined wisdom.
What's that, Dusty?
You want to meet Edna?
You think she's hot?
EXCUSE ME???????
Get back in the drawer before I box your ears, young man.
Sheesh.
Okay, back to it:
Using a sifter, dust about a teaspoon or so of cocoa over the whipped cream...
And yes, your company and/or family will love you.
Church ladies will sing your praises.
People will smile as they pass you on the street.
And all because of a pie, the work of human hands.
It's positively inspirational!
