I'm addicted to the Cooking Channel.. No, not the Food Network, The Cooking Channel home to some of my favorite shows like Chucks Day Off, B*tchin Kitchen, Jamie at Home, and a plethora of others. I've had two Pre-made (I know, Blasphemy) Graham Cracker pie crusts staring me in the eyes.... I couldn't think of anything to make. Until I saw banana's, a box of vanilla pudding (Another Blasphemy) and a pint of heavy whipping cream; and it came to me, like mana from heaven, a Banana Cream pie.. Ohh but it gets better; while watching B*tchin Kitchen's show she was making candied pecans for a strawberry spinach salad so I checked my freezer and I had 2 cups of pecans screaming "Candy me, CANDY ME!" Well, I certainly couldn't ignore them now could I! No, I couldn't! Never ignore food that speaks to you, bad things will happen! Banana Cream Pie and Candied Pecans, the ultimate Banana Cream Pie. I honestly cannot even express how delicious this pie was it was like an explosion of flavors the candied pecans really added a whole new dimension.. Sweet, Salty and Nutty... Mmm.... They also added some texture to the pie, which a Banana Cream Pie definitely needs in my opinion.
Ingredients:
1 Pre-made Graham cracker crust
1 40z box of Vanilla Pudding
2 large Banana's
1 Pint of Heavy Whipping Cream
Candied Pecans: (http://bitchinlifestyle.tv/Recipes/Bitchin-Kitchen/Recipes/Candied-Pecan-and-Strawberry-Salad.html)
2 cups Whole Pecans
2 Egg Whites
4 tablespoons Brown Sugar
1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
Pecans:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl beat 2 egg whites, 4 tablespoons brown sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon.
Then add raw pecans.
Mix with your hands until all pecans are evenly coated.
Arrange pecans in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes or longer. Sprinkle with extra brown sugar.
I broke them up after 30 minutes because the egg white was still slightly gooey and popped them back in for another 5-10 minutes until it dried out. Cool on a wire rack.
Chop about a cup of the pecans and set aside.
WARNING: These are highly addicting and make a great snack!
Pie:
(Apparently I forgot to take a picture of the first two steps... Face Palm.)
Mix the pudding pouch and 2 cups of cold milk and mix with a hand mixer for 2-3 minutes or until thick and set up. Cover and place in the fridge.
Next mix the pint of heavy cream and 1/2 tablespoon of sugar together until it forms soft peaks. I don't like my whipped cream very sweet.
Spoon half the pudding into the pie crust. Slice one banana and spread them around the pie.
Chop the nuts.
Sprinkle on half of the nuts.
Add the rest of the pudding banana's and nuts.
Add the whipped cream and decorate with some of the chopped Pecans and finish it with some whole pecans.
ENJOY!!!!
