County Fair Banana Cream Pie

CHOCOLATE LAYER
1 c Chocolate chips
1 Stick unsalted butter
1 tb Light corn syrup
1 ts Vanilla

BANANA CUSTARD
1 c Milk
4 Egg yolks
1 c Sugar
5 tb Flour
3 tb Unsalted butter
1 tb Rum or 1 tsp. vanilla
2 Bananas
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 c Heavy cream
Chopped pecans,optional

For the crust: Chop pecans very fine,preferably in a food processor
fitted with a metal blade.Place in bowl with other crust ingredients and
mix until well blended.Divide in half and press into the bottom of 2 pie
pans.Chill 30 minutes.
Bake the pie crusts for 25 minutes @ 350 degrees.Cool completely.
For chocolate layer:Melt chocolate with butter and corn syrup in the top
of a double boiler set over hot,not boiling water.Stir frequently. Remove
from heat and cool,then stir in vanilla.Divide between cooked pie crusts
and spread evenly.
For Filling:Heat milk in a medium size saucepan over medium heat to
scald.Beat the egg yolks and gradually add sugar.Then beat in flour.
Gradually stir in hot milk.Transfer to medium saucepan and cook,stirring
constantly over medium high heat(use a whisk).The mixture will lump as it
begins to thicken.Bring the mixture to a boil and boil 1 minute,stirring
constantly.Remove from the pan from heat and continue to stir until the
mixture is smooth.Then,beat in butter and optional rum.Cool to room
temperature.
Peel the bananas,slice very thin and toss with lemon juice.Whip 1 cup of
the cream until it is firm but not stiff.Mix about 1/4 of the cream into
the cooled egg mixture to lighten it,then fold the remaining cream and
bananas into egg mixture.Fill the pastry shells with banana cream and
smooth to even.Beat remaining cream until stiff. Spoon around edge of the
pies and sprinkle with chopped pecans,if desired.Makes 2 pies.