Love Actually inspired: Banoffee Pie

Everyone has their go to movie every holiday season and mine is undoubtedly, Love Actually.  Released in 2003, Love Actually is a British romantic comedy that follows the ten different love stories.  One of many reasons I love it so much is the fact that the director can make you feel so involved with each story line.  My heart breaks with one as it laughs with another.  I'm sure many of you out there has seen it but if you haven't, it's a must have.

One of my favorite story lines is the one between is Juliet (Keira Knightley) and Mark (Andrew Lincoln).  In one ver emotional scene, Juliet visits Mark to review the footage he took from her wedding.  She enters the door offering banoffee pie.  

"I'm nice. I really am. Apart from my terrible taste in pie and... It would be great if we could be friends." - Juliet

Before Love Actually, this pie was already quite popular in the U.K.  Supposedly, this pie was started in 1971 in East Sussex for The Hungry Monk Restaurant.  

Banoffee Pie

yield: 6-8 servings

you'll also need a 10" loose bottom cake pan or tin

crust:

digestive biscuits     250 g
butter                       160g
sugar                        2 tbsp

fillings:

condensed milk      397g
heavy cream           1/2 cup  + 1 1/2 cup for topping
bananas                  2-3 large bananas, sliced
sugar                      2 tbsp
vanilla extract        1/2 tsp

1. For the crust, crush your biscuits in a food processor until it looks like bread crumbs.  If you do not have a food processor, place the biscuits in a zip lock bag and crush with a rolling pin.
2. Melt the butter and incorporate it with the crushed biscuits and sugar.
3. Make sure the biscuits are saturated with the butter or it will have a difficult time holding together.  
4. Pour the mixture into a cake or pie pan.  Press it in with your fingers.  Make sure the edges are quite pressed together or you'll have a difficult time taking it out later on.
5. Refrigerate for an hour.

1. In a small pot, combine your condensed milk and heavy cream.  Cook on medium to low heat until it takes on a dark caramel color.  Stir this occasionally to prevent the bottom from burning.
2. Pour the mixture into the prepared crust and set it aside to set.
3. Star to slice your bananas I sliced them quite thin but feel free to slice them up to 1/4".  Lay the bananas over the dulce de leche.  
4. In a mixing bowl, pour in your cold heavy cream and whisk on medium speed.  Add your sugar and vanilla.  Whip until you achieve soft peaks.
5. Top the pie with the whip cream and refrigerate.  This is best served chilled.

Tips: 

• Whisking your cream cold and on a low speed will give you a much more stable and smooth cream.
• Many like to dust the top with cocoa powder or shaved chocolate.  I left that out but feel free to  do so if you prefer.
• Make this for a friend that's a fan of Love Actually.  I guarantee they'll love you for it!

Good luck!

xo,

Dee