banana bourbon strawberry cream pie

I've got this dress. I bought it in beautiful Wisconsin last summer when it was too hot to wear anything but thin cotton. It's white and covered in tiny blue pinstripes.

Have you ever seen the film Waitress? It's (unsurprisingly) my favourite film of all time. Whenever I wear this dress I get the urge to bake pies like the pies that Jenna makes.

I know it's not quite the same but it is in my mind. I don't get inspired by tales of triumph or people overcoming huge obstacles much, I get inspired by somebody making themed pies in a southern diner.

so that's my dress and this is the pie I made.

Last week along with the lovely samphire, I got given a jar of homemade strawberry compote that I used in this, but you could definitely use fresh strawberries. Yes I used a premade pastry crust, yes I know it's lame. Time is short sometimes and if you can pick up a half-decent pastry crust, I'm not going to stop you.

Inside this beauty is a layer of banana, banana bourbon pudding, strawberry compote and soy cream. It's all gone now and I only made it yesterday so I think it gets the thumbs up.

The banana bourbon layer tastes like rich and sweet banana pudding, kind of like the filling in a banoffee pie. Leave out the bourbon if you don't have it, you could try adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract instead.

To make a dreamy pie you also need a good soundtrack so might I suggest listening to the new Bon Iver album while you stir, or putting this on repeat?

To make a 9 inch pie you'll need:
A store bought crust, some pre-made pastry, or your own pastry. I recommend this recipe but whatever works for you.

1/3 cup cornflour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cups soy milk
1/2 mashed banana
1 tsp vanilla extract OR 2 tsps bourbon, or both!
1 extra banana
some fresh strawberries, or some strawberry compote
a cream substitute*

*there are so many options. I used Soyatoo whippable cream and was pretty impressed with how stiff it went (that's what she said). But you could try a cashew cream, coconut cream, even a tofu based cream, loads of options!

Put the cornflour, sugar and soy milk into a pan and heat over a low heat until you can feel with your wooden spoon that the grains have pretty much dissolved.

Pour in the mashed banana and the vanilla/bourbon.

Keep stirring and turn the heat up a tiny bit. You want to keep stirring until it boils and thickens. I made a gif to show you how thick it should be! look!

When it's all thick and bubbly like that, take it off the heat and set aside to cool a little.

Slice the rest of the 1 1/2 bananas and lay them across your pastry base.

Pour over the banana pudding (doesn't it smell amazing?) until the slices are completely covered.

If there's any leftover, put it in a bowl for banana bourbon pudding breakfast funtimes.

If you're using a compote, scoop out the strawberries from the juice so that the pie doesn't get too sloppy. If you're using fresh strawberries, slice them and layer over the pudding.

Whip your soy cream furiously. I mean, this stuff is good but it takes some serious elbow grease.

Slather it on and stick the pie in the fridge for an hour (minimum) so it'll set well.

While we're waiting for that to set, would you like to see my new home? I really love it.
This is my comfy reading area where I read the letters that flew between Julia Child and Avis Devoto a long time ago.

This is my wonderful window. So big!

Where I sleep.

The view from that window in the evening is pretty lovely, that's the entire London skyline you can see right there.

Anyway, pie will be set, you'll have guests, they'll love it and you'll feel good. I hope your weekend was dreamy.