MICROWAVE VANILLA CREAM PIE & VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Mix together sugar, cornstarch, salt and 1/2 cup milk in a 1 1/2 qt.
• casserole until smooth.
• Stir in remaining milk.
• Microwave on HIGH for 5 to 8 minutes or until thickened.
• Stir occasionally the last half of cooking.
• Beat a little of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks, then add the egg yolk mixture to the remaining hot mixture.
• Microwave on HIGH for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until thickened.
• Stir occasionally.
• Blend in butter and vanilla.
• Pour into the cooled baked pastry shell.
• Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy.
• Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.
• Spread over filling.
• Seal around edges.
• Microwave on MEDIUM-HIGH for 3 to 4 minutes.
• *Ifmicrowave has a browning element, brown as desired.
• Variations:.
• BANANA CREAM PIE.
• Follow Vanilla Cream Pie recipe as directed except slice 2 medium bananas in the bottom of the 9 inch baked pastry shell.
• Pour vanilla cream pie filling over the bananas.
• Top with meringue.
• BUTTERSCOTCH CREAM PIE.
• Follow Vanilla Cream Pie recipe as directed except substitute the granulated sugar with dark brown sugar and add 3 tablespoons butter instead of the 2 tablespoons butter.
• COCOA CREAM PIE.
• Follow Vanilla Cream Pie recipe as directed except add 1/3 cup cocoa in Step 1 and increase cornstarch to 1/4 cup.
• (I use the larger amount of sugar for this one.) COCONUT CREAM PIE.
• Follow Vanilla Cream pie recipe as directed except add 1 cup coconut to cream pie filling and sprinkle 1/3 cup toasted coconut over the meringue.
• I bake my meringue in my gas oven just because I prefer it that way.