VANILLA CREAM PIE FILLING RECIPES

Steps:

• in saucepan, combine sugar, flour, and salt; gradually stir in milk.
• Cook and stir over medium heat till mixture boils and thickens.
• Cook 2 minutes longer.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir small amount hot mixture into yolks.
• Return to hot mixture; cook 2 minutes stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat.
• Add butter and vanilla; cool to room temperature.
• Pour into baked pie shell----> Meringue: Beat 3 egg whites with cream of tartar and vanilla.
• Gradually add 6 Tbsp sugar till soft peaks form, spread atop pie.
• Bake in moderate oven 350°F 12 to 15 minutes.
• Variations of Vanilla Cream Pie-------------.
• Banana or Coconut or Butterscotch or Chocolate or Pineapple.
• Follow directions for vanilla cream pie substituting the following: for butterscotch pie substitute 1 cup brown sugar and use 3 Tbsp butter.
• For chocolate increase sugar to 1 cup and use approximately 4 tbsp cocoa.
• For banana layer three sliced bananas on crust and pour pie filling over.
• For pineapple, drain 1 8 oz can of crushed pineapple and stir into cream filling.
• You may also make this into a pudding by using 3 cups of milk instead of 2.

Steps:

• Prepare Baked Pastry Shell. Separate egg yolks from egg whites. Set aside yolks for filling and whites for meringue.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Prepare Meringue for Pie before preparing filling; set aside meringue.
• For filling, in a medium saucepan stir together sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in half-and-half. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly; reduce heat. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat.
• Gradually stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into egg yolks; return to remaining hot mixture in saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly; reduce heat. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla.
• Pour hot filling into baked pastry shell. Immediately spread meringue over filling, sealing to edge of pastry. Using the back of a spoon, swirl meringue to form high, decorative peaks. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden and a thermometer registers 160°F.* Cool on a wire rack 1 1/2 hours. Chill 3 to 6 hours before serving; cover pie or longer storage.