Ellery Adams
In each installment of the Charmed Pie Shoppe mysteries (the first one debuts this July), I include a customer of the week pie. These are recipes sent me by real readers and this one was to die for!
Not only is it a blend of soft, ripe bananas and rich, decadent caramel, but the creamy smoothness of the whipped topping just finishes it off with a dollop of pure heaven. Add a few chocolate shavings for the garnish and you've got a pie worth serving Mother.
In fact, the woman who sent me this recipe comes from a long line of Scottish bakers. Her mam ran a bakery on Orkney Islands (sorry, but I don't know exactly where) and they're still boiling their sweetened condensed milk even though you can buy it pre-made nowadays. Some things are better done the old fashioned way. Some things are worthy of patience and attention to detail. I think that's something most moms would agree on.
So enjoy this wonderful pie and Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there (whether your children have two feet or four paws!)
Charmed Banoffee Pie
Ingredients
10 ounces ginger snaps, crushed fine
1 stick butter, melted
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
3 ripe bananas, sliced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 ½ cups chilled heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar
hunk of milk chocolate candy bar for garnish
Directions
Prepare ginger snap crust. In medium bowl, mix
melted butter with brown sugar. Add crushed ginger snaps. Mix well. Press
mixture into 9-inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 5-8 minutes. Cool.
Put can of sweetened condensed milk in large
saucepan and cover with water. Boil for 2 hours (Adding water when necessary).
Cool. Open and stir with fork to remove any lumps. (It will be brown in color).
Spread on top of the ginger snap crust.
Slice three bananas and sprinkle with lemon juice.
Arrange over the toffee.
Put large mixing bowl and electric mixer beaters in freezer for ten
minutes. Remove and add heavy whipping cream. Whip until peaks are just about
to form and then add in vanilla extract and sugar. Continue whipping until
stiff and spread on top of banana layer. Grate milk chocolate over the top.
Chill until serving.
