On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the McDowell Family kicked off our fun old fashioned family Christmas by heading out into the country in our old front wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols- our Christmas tree.

We took it inside, decorated it, and then my very own Abominable Snowman put the angel on the top…. And then went out with his friends for a guys night.

My very own abominable snow man.

After I had put the kids to bed, I was sitting on the couch admiring my tree when the tree sort of shook and a couple of ornaments fell off.  I looked around for my cats, but they were both sound asleep, one underneath the tree, and one on the couch next to it.  I was a little weirded out, but ignored it and kept on watching television.  Twice more it happened, and so I started to pay more attention, getting more and more nervous that there was some kind of animal in my newly cut down tree.

The 4th time, the entire tree shook, and about 5 ornaments fell off.  I panicked.  I was too scared to approach the tree, (visions of that scene in Christmas vacation where the flying squirrel jumps out at them were flying through my head) and my husband was too far away to do anything about it.

I began to cry. (This is true)

I posted a highly dramatic Facebook status about how terrified I was, and my friends who live down the street came to my rescue.  Even though it was almost midnight and Chris had had surgery 5 days before, he came right over and poked around in my tree with a wooden spoon until we were satisfied that there was no animal in my tree.

Perhaps it ran out of the tree while I was hiding upstairs in my bedroom crying for a half an hour, or perhaps it was a ghost, or something else.  But we never did find that animal. But I swear to God, the entire tree shook that 4th time. I’m convinced there is a chipmunk (or worse, a rat) nesting away somewhere in my house.  My husband is convinced that I imagined the whole thing  Who knows.

So, this banana cream pie is for the Mannings.  For coming to my rescue. 🙂

Recipe from Food.com

Ingredients:
1 9 inches pie shell, baked (I use Crisco’s pie crust recipe)
3 cups whole milk
3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 bananas

Directions:
Have baked 9-inch pie shell ready.

In a large saucepan, scald the milk. (This means heat on low until small bubbles form around the edges, but milk is not boiling)

In another saucepan, combine the sugar, flour and salt; gradually stir in the scalded milk.

Over medium heat, stirring constantly, cook until thickened.  You will know it is thick enough if when you drag your spoon through the mixture, the custard “parts” and you can see the bottom of the pan for a moment)

Cover and, stirring occasionally, cook for two minutes longer.

In a small bowl, have the 3 egg yolks, slightly beaten, ready; stir a small amount of the hot mixture into beaten yolks; whisk CONSTANTLY while you are adding the hot mixture to to yolks, or you will end up with scrambled eggs.  When thoroughly combined, stir yolks into hot mixture.

Cook for one minute longer, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and blend in the butter and vanilla.

Let sit until lukewarm.

When ready to pour, slice bananas and scatter in pie shell; pour warm mixture over bananas.

If desired, make a meringue (you’ll have 3 leftover egg whites) to top the pie, or just let the pie cool until serving and top with whipped cream.