Velvet Smooth Cream Pies

Vanilla cream pie:

¾ cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
¼ tsp. salt
2 eggs
2 cups milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. butter
1 baked pie crust

In pan mix sugar, flour and salt. Add eggs and milk. Beat with a wire whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook until smooth and thick. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla. Cook 5 minutes. Pour into pastry shell, chill until set.

Banana cream pie: Put a little pudding in the bottom of the pie shell. Slice 2-3 bananas into the bottom of the pie shell. Then cover with the rest of the pudding. Variation: Drizzle bananas with chocolate sauce. When serving add a dollop of whipped cream.

Coconut: Stir 1 cup coconut flakes into pie filling before pouring into pie shell. Serve with whipped cream.

Chocolate: Make basic recipe. Add ½ cup semi-sweet to hot vanilla pudding in saucepan. Stir until melted. Pour into pie shell.

~ Tawna