Vegan-Vegetarian BANANAS FOSTER ICE CREAM PIE/BASIC EASY ICE CREAM PIE..RECIPE/TIPS

HERE IS AN EASY COMBINATION OF 2 VERY AMERICAN DESSERTS*, and if you are Vegan you may substitute any vegan ingredients for the same results.

for 6 -8 servings

2 cups broken cookies (vanilla, short breads, sandies or even chocolate)
1 cup broken walnuts or pecans
1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp butter ( or vegan margarine)
pinch of salt

1 qt vanilla ice cream ( vegan ice cream is also fine)

1/2 cup light brown sugar
4 firm bananas
1/2 cup dark rum or apple juice

Grease the bottom and sides of a 9 inch spring form pan/or deep pie plate and set aside.
Process or crush in a bag the cookies and half cup of the nuts, until fine crumbs.
Melt 1/2 cup butter (Vegan marg) and add pinch of salt and add to the crumb mix, and mix well to combine and moisten. Add the remaining nuts and mix well.

Press the crumb mix into the bottom and side so of the greased pan.
Cover with plastic wrap  and chill for 30 mins .
Meanwhile remove the vanilla ice cream from freeze and allow it to soften, enough to whip.

Press the softened ice cream well into the crumb base and smooth the top with a rubber spatula.
Cover with plastic wrap or foil and freeze for 3 hours to firm up.
Remove the sides from the pan and carefully cut into portions, re-attach the sides and continue to freeze overnight well wrapped ( this will keep fully frozen for 4-6 months well wrapped).


When ready to serve:
 
Place the ice cream pies on cold plates.

In a heavy skillet heat the 2 tbsp butter with  the 1/4 cup brown sugar and stir to  melt the sugar.
Cook for 1 min then add the thickly sliced bananas and cook until they are slightly golden brown (about 1 minute).
Add the rum and cook for 1 min to burn off alcohol and ignite...serve immediately over the ice cream slices.

* Variations...use any fresh summer fruit, poached and add any hard liquor/liqueur of choice

Also great with fresh or bottled cherries and chocolate ice cream..for a Cherry Jubilee Ice cream pie.

Add crushed Fresh ripe berries to vanilla ice cream and freeze then serve in winter months with hot chocolate fudge sauce..perfect for Christmas celebrations

Try a great lemon/almond ice cream with a ginger snap crust..and serve with warm lemon curd

Or fresh blackberries with a layered ice cream pie..fabulous.