Vanilla Cream Pie/Chocolate/Coconut/Banana Cream Pudding

This recipe came from a Betty Crocker Cookbook, 1972. I have since lost that book, however, I have always made my pudding, pies including the best banana pudding you will ever taste! I have altered the recipe to cook in the microwave, and have included stove top directions also. Every time I take this to a potluck, I have to give out recipes--so I thought I would just refer them here! I use this crust Pie Crust - Blue Ribbon Enjoy!

• Ready In: 28 mins
• Yields: 10 Inch Pie

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup cornstarch
• 2  tablespoons cornstarch
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 4  cups milk
• 5  egg yolks, slightly beaten
• 3  tablespoons butter, softened
• 1  tablespoon vanilla
• 2  teaspoons vanilla

Directions

1. Cooking on stovetop.
2. Bake pie shell. Stir together sugar, cornstarch (Cornstarch is 1/4 C PLUS 2 T - I was unable to enter that amount as one ingredient)and salt in saucepan. Blend milk and egg yolks; gradually stir into sugar mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; blend in butter and vanilla. Immediately pour into baked pie shell; press plastic wrap onto filling. Chill pie thoroughly, at least 2 hours. If desired, serve pie with sweetened whipped cream.
3. Microwave.
4. Bake pie shell. Stir together sugar, cornstarch and salt in microwave glass mixing bowl. Blend milk and egg yolks; Whip with whisk well. Cook on high for 2 minutes at a time, take out and use wire whip to blend well and return to microwave for 2 more minutes. Continue this until mixture is of pudding consistency. Blend in butter and vanilla. Immediately pour into baked pie shell; press plastic wrap onto filling. Chill pie thoroughly, at least 2 hours. If desired, serve pie with sweetened whipped cream.
5. Variations:
6. Chocolate Cream Pie:
7. Follow recipe for 9-inch pie except-increase sugar to 1 1/2 cups and cornstarch to 1/3 cup. Omit butter and stir in 2 ounces melted unsweetened chocolate with the vanilla.
8. Coconut Cream Pie:
9. Decrease Vanilla to 2 teaspoons and stir in 1°C flaked coconut. Sprinkle flaked coconut over whipped cream on pie.
10. Banana Pudding:
11. Make Vanilla Cream. Cool for 15-20 minutes. While cooling, line bottom of pan with vanilla wafers and top with sliced bananas.
12. Cover with cooled pudding. Top with heavy cream (for every 8 oz of heavy cream add 4 t of sugar -- whip cream until stiff. Crush a few wafers and sprinkle on top.