BLACK BOTTOM BANANA CREAM PIE

(from Cooking Light magazine – not as bad for you as it could be – and it is SO good)

Graham Cracker Crust

1/3 C butter
¼ C sugar
1 ¼ C finely crushed graham crackers

Melt butter; stir in sugar.  Add crushed graham crackers; toss to mix well.  Spread mixture evenly into a 9-inch pie plate.  Press onto bottom and sides to form a firm, even crust.  Chill about 1 hour or till firm. (Or, bake in a 375 degree oven for 4 to 5 minutes or till edge is lightly browned.  Cool on a wire rack before filling).

Filling

3 T cornstarch, divided
2 T sugar
2 T unsweetened baking cocoa
dash of salt
1 1/3 C low-fat milk, divided
1 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
½ C sugar
¼ tsp salt
2 lg eggs
1 T butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 oz block style fat free cream cheese, softened
2 C sliced ripe banana (about 2 lg bananas, slice up to ½ inch thick)
1 ½ C frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed  (or regular CoolWhip)
Chocolate curls (optional)

  1. Prepare Crust.  Cool completely.
  2. Combine 1 T cornstarch, 2 T sugar, cocoa, and dash of salt in a small, heavy saucepan; gradually add 1/3 C milk stirring with a whisk.  Cook 2 minutes over medium-low heat.  Stir in chocolate; bring to a boil over medium heat.  Reduce heat to low; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Spread chocolate mixture into bottom of prepared crust.
  3. Combine 2 T cornstarch, ½ C sugar, ¼ tsp salt, eggs, 1 C milk, and butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly with a whisk.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low and cook 30 seconds or until thick.  Remove from heat.  Add vanilla.  Beat cream cheese until light (about 30 seconds).  Add ¼ C hot custard to cream cheese, and beat just until blended.  Stir in remaining custard.
  4. Arrange banana slices on top of chocolate layer; spoon custard over bananas.  Press plastic wrap onto surface of custard; chill 4 hours.  Remove plastic wrap.  Spread whipped topping evenly over custard.  Garnish with chocolate curls, if desired.  Chill until ready to serve. (Yeild: 8-12 servings).