Basic Cream Pie

5 Tbls cornstarch
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2-1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup half n half cream
3 egg yolks
2 Tbls butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup whipping cream
baked 9" pie shell

Mix cornstarch, sugar, and salt in a 3-quart saucepan.  Add milk and cream and cook over medium heat until smooth and thick, stirring constantly.  Pour a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; blend thoroughly, then pour back into saucepan.  Cook another 2 or 3 minutes.  Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla.

Coconut cream pie:  Add 1/2 cup coconut (toasted, if desired) to pie filling,   Pour into baked shell.  Chill 3 to 4 hours.  When ready to serve, whip the cream and spread over the top.  Top with another 1/2 cup coconut.

Banana cream:  Slice 2 bananas into pie shell.  Pour the filling over.  Add whipped cream.