Butterscotch Meringue Pie Food

BUTTERSCOTCH MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Whisk together the cornstarch, salt, whole milk, and egg yolks until smooth. Set aside convenient to the stove.
• In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter.
• Add the brown sugar and stir together until all the sugar is moistened.
• Cook over medium heat until the butter/sugar mixture is boiling, stirring frequently with a long-handled wooden spoon or heat-resistant spatula.
• As soon as the butter/sugar mixture barely starts to smoke, carefully pour in the heavy cream. It will bubble up and spatter. The sugar will seize up into a hard mass. Worry not. Continue to cook and stir, switching to a whisk to make things a bit easier, until the sugar melts back into the cream.
• Once the mixture is smooth again, pour about half of it into the egg mixture, whisking all the while. Then pour the egg mixture back into the pan.
• Cook over medium to medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Boil, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Do not slack on this part, or the pudding will not set up correctly. 2 full minutes. Set a timer.
• Strain the pudding through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl. Stir in the vanilla. Fill the prepared pie shell so it is full up to the crimped edge. Set aside for a few minutes while you make the meringue.
• In a metal bowl set over a pot of simmering water, whisk the whites, salt, and brown sugar together until all the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is very hot--about 165F.
• Remove the bowl from the heat and beat on medium speed with a hand mixer until the mixture thickens somewhat and lightens in color.
• Add the vanilla and beat on high speed until the tips of the meringue just curl over a bit at the ends when you hold the beaters upright.
• Dollop the finished meringue onto the pie filling and carefully spread it out so it completely covers the filling and meets the crust all the way around.
• Using an offset spatula, press it onto the meringue and then lift straight up to make swoops and peaks if you'd like.
• Place under the broiler, watching it carefully, or use a torch to brown your meringue. Chill overnight before serving. Share. Or don't. Enjoy!

BUTTERSCOTCH PIE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the milk and cream, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Immediately turn off the heat and set aside.
• In a large, heavy skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Stir in the brown sugar, raise the heat to medium-high, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring constantly, to caramelize the mixture. (You will smell a characteristic nutty-caramel odor when the butter browns, signaling that the mixture is ready.)
• Whisking constantly, gradually add the butter/brown sugar mixture to the hot milk/cream mixture. If the mixture is not smooth, blend for 20 seconds with a hand blender or pour through a fine sieve.
• Put the egg yolks in a medium bowl. Whisk in about 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture. Whisk in the cornstarch and salt until dissolved. Whisk the cornstarch mixture back into the hot milk mixture in the saucepan. Add the scotch and whisk in.
• Whisking constantly, cook over medium-high heat until thick and just boiling. When the mixture thickens, the whisk will leave trail marks on the bottom of the pot and the mixture will have a few large bubbles boiling up to the top.
• Turn off the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Pour into the pre-baked pie shell and chill, uncovered, at least 2 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the meringue top: Whip whites with the salt to soft peaks, then add sugar and whip until sugar is dissolved and whites are glossy. Spread meringue on top of the slightly cooled pie and bake for 5 minutes until lightly browned (cappuccino colored). Chill until ready to serve.
• In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), mix the flour, salt, and sugar for 1 minute. Add the butter and mix just until you have a crumbly, sandy mixture. You should still be able to see the pieces of butter.
• In a small bowl, stir the water and vinegar together. With the mixer running at medium speed, drizzle in the water-vinegar mixture and mix just until a dough forms. You should still see small bits of butter.
• Turn out onto a work surface, divide the dough in half, and shape into round, flat disks. Wrap separately in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before using. (Or, refrigerate up to 48 hours or freeze up to 1 month before using. If frozen, let thaw in the refrigerator overnight before rolling out.)
• When the time comes to roll out the dough, let the dough warm up for a few minutes at room temperature. Dust a work surface with just a few tablespoons of flour and keep some extra flour at hand. If you like, you can roll out the dough between two sheets of waxed paper (flouring the bottom sheet and the top of the dough before rolling), which makes it much easier to transfer to the pan later on. However, you won't be able to check the progress of the dough as easily. It's entirely up to you.
• Sprinkle a little flour on top of the dough and start rolling outward from the center with quick, light strokes. Don't worry if the edges split a bit; concentrate on getting a good circle going from the center. Lift up and rotate the dough 1/4 turn every minute or so to help ensure even rolling. The dough should feel smooth and soft; some say it should feel like the inside of your forearm. If it gets sticky, sprinkle on a bit more flour, but don't do this more than two or three times; the dough will absorb too much flour. Instead, put it back in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to firm the butter up. Keep rolling until the circle is at least 2 inches larger than your pan (for example, 11-inches wide for a 9-inch pie pan), or 3 inches larger for deep-dish pies.
• Set your pie or tart pan nearby. We always use heavy aluminum pans, because glass pans seem to bake the crust too fast. However, we know that the advantage of glass is that you can easily check the color of the crust. Again, it's up to you. Either choice will work.
• To transfer the crust to the pan, we find it easiest to roll a finished crust up onto the rolling pin, then gently unroll it in the pan. Or, you can fold it gently in quarters, lift it up, position the center point on the center of the pan, and unfold it into the pan. If using waxed paper, peel off the top layer, turn the crust gently into the pan, and peel off the remaining paper. Make sure that the dough is allowed to settle completely into the pan.
• Don't stretch and press the dough into the corners; stretched dough will likely shrink back when you bake it. Instead, lift the edges of the crust to let it settle down into the corners. If the dough tears a bit, don't be concerned; it will patch easily. Using scissors or a sharp knife, trim the dough to within 3/4-inch of the rim. Use any extra scraps to patch the crust, pressing with your fingers (wet them if necessary) or set aside.
• For a single-crust pie: Working around the rim, turn the crust under itself (not under the rim of the pan) to make a thick edge, pressing it firmly against the pan to reduce shrinkage. To decorate the rim, just press it all around with the back of a fork. For a slightly more advanced look, press the thumb and forefinger of one hand together. Use them to gently push the thick dough rim outward, while pushing inward with the forefinger of the other hand, so that they intersect in a "V" with the dough in between. Repeat all around the rim to make a wavy edge.
• Chill the finished crust or crusts for 20 to 30 minutes before filling the pie. When the bottom crust is filled, rest the top crust on top and pinch the edges together, turning them under all the way around. To decorate the rim, just press it all around with the back of a fork. For a slightly more advanced look, press the thumb and forefinger of one hand together. Use them to gently push the thick dough rim outward, while pushing inward with the forefinger of the other hand, so that they intersect in a "V" with the dough in between. Repeat all around the rim to make a wavy edge.
• For a prebaked pie or tart crust (blind baking): Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line the inside of the chilled crust with aluminum foil (don't turn it down over the rim, but leave the extra sticking up so that you have something to hold on to). Fill the foil all the way up to the top of the shell with pie weights or dried beans. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until dry and beginning to turn "blond". Lift the foil and weights out of the shell and bake another 10 to 15 minutes, checking frequently to prevent overbaking, until medium brown.
• Yield: 2 crusts
• Preparation time: 15 minutes plus rolling and shaping
• Cooking time: 30 minutes
• Ease of preparation: moderate
• Recipe courtesy Gale Gand, "Butter Sugar Flour Eggs" by Gale Gand, Rick Tramonto, Julia Moskin: Clarkson N. Potter Publishers, 1999

BUTTERSCOTCH CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Brush pie crust lightly with egg white to seal. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until light brown and crisp. Remove from oven and reduce temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar and salt; set aside. In the top of a double boiler over medium heat, scald the milk while stirring with a whisk. Slowly whisk in the flour mixture. Cook, stirring constantly until thickened; remove from heat.
• Place the egg yolks in a medium bowl. Stir in 1/3 of the milk mixture, whisking constantly, to temper the yolks. Pour the yolk mixture back into the pan. Return to the stove and cook, stirring constantly, until thick. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla. Pour into baked pie crust.
• In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tartar, and confectioners' sugar until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pie, covering completely.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 to 15 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown in spots.

BUTTERSCOTCH PIE

Steps:

• Make the filling. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it begins to brown. Stir in the brown sugar. Add 1 1/2 cups hot water and whisk until the mixture comes to a boil. Continue to cook for 2 more minutes, remove from heat, and set aside. Combine the cornstarch, flour, and salt in a small bowl. Whisk in 1/2 cup each of heavy cream and milk until smooth and pour into the butter mixture. Whisk continuously, over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens - about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Lightly beat the egg yolks together in a medium bowl. Stream in 1/2 cup of the hot mixture while whisking the egg yolks. Whisk the egg mixture with the milk mixture in the saucepan over medium heat for 1 minute. Remove from heat, strain through a fine sieve, and stir in the vanilla. Pour into the Baked Pie Shell, and chill until set.
• Make the cream topping. Beat the remaining cup of heavy cream with the honey and confectioners' sugar to stiff peaks. Spread over the cooled pie and chill until ready to serve.

BUTTERSCOTCH PIE WITH MERINGUE TOPPING

Steps:

• Begin by taking a moment to separate the 4 eggs** you will need for this recipe. Place 1 egg yolk in a small bowl (for the pie crust.) Place 3 egg yolks in another small bowl (for the pudding). Place all 4 egg whites in a large bowl or stand mixer that is very clean and grease free (for the meringue. The whites need to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before you beat them, that's why we're doing this now.)
• Now make the pie crust. Fill a small bowl with ice and water so it is ready when you need it.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt.
• Use a pastry cutter or fork to cut in the butter-flavored Crisco.* Cut with the pastry cutter until it looks like coarse crumbs. Don't overdo it! You want pea-size chunks of shortening.
• In the small bowl with 1 egg yolk, whisk in 1/4 cup ice water, then add it to the flour mixture. Stir until it with a fork until it is just coming together, then use floured hands to knead it a few times (only to make it come together). Divide the dough in half.
• Shape one half into a disc, put it in a ziplock, and stick it in the freezer. Save it for another pie another day!
• Generously sprinkle flour onto a sheet of parchment paper or a pastry cloth (or the counter). Roll the dough with a rolling pin, using as much flour as you need so that it doesn't stick. Invert the parchment paper onto a 9-inch pie pan and gently peel off the paper. (Or if you are not using paper, roll it up gently on the rolling pin and transfer to the pie pan.)
• Arrange the pie crust and fold any excess crust underneath (I don't believe in trimming it off. Just fold it under!) Crimp as desired. I used a fork, easy peasy. Use the same fork to prick the bottom and sides of the crust all over.
• Place the pie pan in the freezer or fridge. It should chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F.
• When your oven is very hot and your pie crust is very cold, line the bottom of the pie crust with foil. Fill with pie weights, coins, dried beans or rice, whatever you have. This will prevent bubbles from rising up.
• Bake at 450 for 8 minutes. Remove the foil and pie weights. Return to the oven and bake for another 7-8 minutes, until the bottom of the crust is no longer shiny.
• Remove from the oven and set aside. Lower your oven temperature to 325 degrees F.

JOLEAN'S BUTTERSCOTCH PIE, PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH STYLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Stir brown sugar and butter in a saucepan until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Cook 2-3 minutes longer on low-medium heat, and then remove from fire.
• Beat egg yolks.
• In separate large bowl, mix flour with 1/2 of milk, until smooth. Then add beaten egg yolks and salt and mix well. Blend remaining milk with this mixture.
• Add flour mixture to saucepan with sugar/butter mixture and cook on low/medium heat until thickened (anywhere from 30-45 minutes), stirring CONSTANTLY.
• Remove from heat and blend in vanilla extract. Stir CONSTANTLY until well blended and slightly warm and then pour into a prepared (baked) 9" pie crust.
• Top pie with meringue (recipe to follow).
• After meringue is spread on top, Bake at 350° for 12 to 15 minutes, or until meringue is golden. Cool for 10-15 minutes.
• MERINGUE: 3 egg whites (reserved from pie filling recipe), 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, 1/4 teaspoons cream of tartar, 6 tablespoons granulated sugar.
• With a mixer, beat egg whites with vanilla and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff and glossy peaks form and all sugar is dissolved.
• Spread meringue over slightly warm filling, sealing to edge of crust. (Then bake and cool as directed above.).

MUM-MUM'S BUTTERSCOTCH PIE

Steps:

• Combine milk, brown sugar, and cornstarch in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes.
• Remove about 1/2 cup of the filling mixture and slowly whisk into beaten egg yolks to temper them. Pour mixture back into the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking, whisking constantly, until thickened to a pudding-like consistency, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla extract until well mixed.
• Cover filling and allow to cool completely, stirring occasionally. Place in an ice bath to speed up the cooling, if desired. Pour mixture into pie crust and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Beat egg whites and cream of tartar together in the bowl of a stand mixer, or using an electric mixer, until soft peaks start to form. Add sugar gradually, continuing to beat until peaks turn stiff and meringue is glossy.
• Cover the pie filling with peaks of meringue, making sure to cover all the filling to the edges of the crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until meringue peaks are browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool to room temperature on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Transfer to the fridge to cool completely, about 4 hours.

BUTTERSCOTCH PIE

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 425°., Line unpricked crust with a double thickness of foil. Fill with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice. Bake on a lower oven rack until edge is light golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Remove foil and weights; bake until bottom is golden brown, 3-6 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven setting to 350°., In a saucepan, melt butter. Remove from the heat; add flour and stir until smooth. Stir in brown sugar. Return to heat; stir in milk and salt until blended. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Stir about 1 cup hot filling into egg yolks; return all to pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in vanilla. Pour into crust., For meringue, beat egg whites and cream of tartar in a small bowl on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Spread evenly over hot filling, sealing edge to crust., Bake until meringue is golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.

CASHEW-CRUSTED CARAMEL CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. For crust, in a food processor combine cashews and graham cracker crumbs. Cover and process with several on/off pulses to form fine crumbs. Add granulated sugar and melted butter. Cover and process with several on/off pulses to combine. Spread mixture in a 9-inch pie plate; press evenly onto bottom and sides. Set aside.
• In a medium heavy saucepan stir together brown sugar and flour. Whisk in milk and egg yolks. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter until melted. Stir in vanilla. Cover and keep warm.
• Prepare Brown Sugar Meringue. Pour warm egg yolk mixture into crust. Immediately spread meringue over warm filling, sealing to edges of crust. Use a spoon to swirl meringue into peaks.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until meringue is firm and golden. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Chill for 4 hours before serving; cover pie for longer storage. Brown Sugar Meringue
• In a large bowl let egg whites stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Add vanilla, cream of tartar, and salt. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed about 1 minute or until soft peaks form (tips curl). Gradually add brown sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form (tips stand straight) and brown sugar is dissolved. Salted cashews add a nice flavor contrast to the sweetness of the pie.

AUNT JIMMY'S BUTTERSCOTCH MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Make the Filling: In a large saucepan, combine the milk and cream and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Immediately remove from the heat and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the brown sugar, raise the heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring constantly, until caramelized, 5 to 7 minutes. (You'll smell a characteristic nutty caramel odor when the butter browns, signaling that the mixture is ready.)
• Whisking constantly, gradually add the butter/brown sugar mixture to the hot milk/cream mixture. If the mixture isn't smooth, blend for 20 seconds with a hand blender or pour through a fine sieve.
• Put the egg yolks in a medium bowl. Whisk in about 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture. Whisk in the cornstarch and salt until dissolved. Whisk the cornstarch mixture back into the hot milk mixture in the saucepan. Whisk in the Scotch.
• While whisking constantly, cook over medium-high heat until thick and just boiling. When the mixture thickens, the whisk will leave trail marks on the bottom of the pot and the mixture will have a few large bubbles boiling up to the top.
• Turn off the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Pour into the prebaked pie shell and set aside while you make the meringue.
• Make the Meringue: In a standing mixer fitted with a whip attachment, whip the whites in a clean dry bowl on low speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue whipping on medium speed until soft peaks are formed. Gradually pour in the sugar and continue whipping on high speed until stiff and glossy. Pile the meringue onto the pie and swirl to cover, spreading it to the edge. (Making sure it touches the edge.) Bake the pie until the meringue is lightly browned, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Chill the pie, uncovered, at least 2 hours or overnight before serving.

BUTTERSCOTCH PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium saucepan, stir together the brown sugar, heavy cream and butter. Cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture comes to a full boil, becoming thick and brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the milk. Slowly add the remaining milk to the sugar mixture.
• Whisk together the cornstarch, egg yolks, vanilla and reserved 1 tablespoon of milk in a medium bowl. Add the cornstarch mixture to the sugar mixture over medium-low heat and cook, stirring constantly, until thick, about 3 minutes. Pour the filling into the prebaked pie crust.
• Make a meringue by beating the egg whites and a pinch of salt with an electric mixer until they begin to set stiff. Add the granulated sugar and continue beating until the whites are stiff and hold peaks. Spread the meringue on top of the pie, taking care to spread it to the edges of the crust. Bake until light brown, about 10 minutes.

BUTTERSCOTCH PIE

Steps:

• Mix the brown sugar, flour and salt in the top of a double boiler.
• Stir in the milk, add the butter and cook over simmering water, stirring, until thickened.
• Let cook 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Beat 2 egg yolks.
• Temper them with a little of the hot mixture, then stir them into the pudding.
• Cook 5 minutes longer.
• Remove from heat.
• Add the vanilla, then pour into the prepared pie shell.
• Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff, beating in the sugar a little at a time to make a meringue.
• Spread on top of pudding and brown in a 350*F oven for about 10 minutes or until golden.

BUTTERSCOTCH MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Make and bake a 9" single pie shell. Or use store bought.
• In saucepan combine brown sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Whisk in half & half. Whisk constantly over medium heat till mix is thick and bubbly. Cook an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Gradually whisk about 1 cup of the hot mix into the egg yolks, whisking all the time. Add this back into the rest of what is in the pan. Bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and cook and whisk for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in butter and vanilla till well mixed. Let cool a bit, whisk and pour into pie shell and set aside.
• Pre-heat oven to 350 degree's.
• Take egg whites and sugar to please you and beat to make meringue. Top pie (sealing edges) and bake till the top is the way you like it.
• Enjoy and save me a piece :O).

BUTTERSCOTCH MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place pie crust in a 9-inch pie pan and gently press into the bottom and up the sides. Fold edges under and crimp edges.
• Top piecrust with a piece of parchment paper and add pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the parchment paper and weights and bake another 5 minutes. Let cool.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
• In a large heavy saucepan, combine brown sugar, 1/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Whisk in half-and-half and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Place egg yolks in a medium bowl and gradually whisk in 1/4 of the hot half-and-half mixture. This will temper the eggs so that they do not curdle.
• Add the egg yolk mixture to the saucepan and whisk in. Cook, whisking continuously, until thick and bubbly, about 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and butter until the butter completely melts. Pour into prepared pie crust. Cover with plastic wrap.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on high speed until foamy.
• Gradually beat in 6 tablespoons of sugar and keep beating until stiff peaks form.
• Remove plastic from pie and spoon meringue over filling. Spread it all the way to the edges so that it completely covers and seals the filling.
• Bake until golden, about 12 minutes, in in 350 degree oven.
• Let cool completely before slicing.

BUTTERSCOTCH PIE

Steps:

• In a saucepan melt butter and add brown sugar. Stir until the mixture bubbles up and looks slightly browner. Add milk to sugar stir to combine well. Whisk in egg yolks with flour and salt. Stir in remaining milk to mixture. When the sugar mixture becomes hot, slowly stir in the egg and flour mixture. Cook over medium heat until the pudding boils up. Turn the heat very low and stir and cook 1 or 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour cooled butterscotch into pre-baked piecrust. Top the pie with meringue. Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven 15 to 18 minutes until lightly browned.
• For the Crumb Crust: Put the metal chopping blade in place in the food processor beaker. Add the flour, frozen butter, and salt to the beaker. Process for 8 to 10 seconds, turning on and off, until the butter is cut into the flour and the mixture forms very small, flaky granules. Add the lemon juice and eggs to the beaker and process until a ball of dough forms on top of the blades, about 15 seconds. The dough should be damp but not sticky. If it seems too soft, sprinkle with 1 to 2 tablespoons flour and process for an additional 5 to 6 seconds, until well combined. If it feels too dry, sprinkle with a few drops of water and process to blend well. Wrap the ball of dough in waxed paper, plastic wrap, or foil and chill until firm but still malleable.
• For the Meringue: Whip egg whites together with sugar until the peaks are soft. Rolling out the pastry. When the pastry is chilled and firm but still malleable, it is ready to be rolled out. Roll out on a cool surface as possible; a marble slab is ideal. Baking Shell -Blind Baking: Lay the roll out pastry dough into the pan, and line the shell with foil or waxed paper, weight it down with raw rice or beans and bake it in a preheated 425 degree oven for 14 to 16 minutes, until the bottom is set and the edges lightly browned. After the initial baking, remove the shell from the oven, remove the lining and brush the bottom with beaten egg yolk, and return to the oven for 2 minutes. This seals the bottom and prevents a soggy crust. Top the pie with the meringue and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until the meringue is lightly brown.

BUTTERSCOTCH PIE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together the dark brown sugar and flour, breaking up any sugar lumps. Add 1 cup of whole milk and the egg yolks. Whisk until smooth and set aside.
• In a 4-quart saucepan, melt the sugar over medium-low heat. Shake the pan periodically to evenly heat the sugar. Once the edges start to melt, stay with the saucepan and swirl until all the sugar is melted. Continue to cook until the sugar reaches a deep amber color, 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and slowly add the heavy cream and remaining ½ cup of whole milk. The mixture will sputter and the caramelized sugar will harden.
• Return the mixture to medium-low heat and stir until the caramel is melted into the milk mixture, 3-5 minutes. Slowly whisk in the prepared egg yolk mixture. Continually whisk and cook over medium heat until the mixture thickens. Keep whisking until it's just beginning to bubble throughout and thick, 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and add the salt, vanilla extract and butter. Whisk until the butter is melted and the pudding is smooth. Pour into the prepared pie shell. Press plastic wrap directly on the pudding surface to prevent a skin from forming. Place in the refrigerator and chill until firm, at least 6 hours.

BUTTERSCOTCH MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Bake pie crust as directed.
• Cool.
• Preheat oven to 400°F Mix flour and salt together in a small bowl.
• Add 2/3 cup milk and beat until smooth.
• Melt butter in a pot over medium heat: add brown sugar and cook until thick and fluffy.
• Add 1 1/2 cups milk all at once.
• Cook over medium heat until butterscotch dissolves.
• Stir a small amount into flour mixture.
• Add to cooked mixture in pot.
• Cook over medium heat until thick.
• Cook additional 5 minutes stirring constantly.
• Stir a small amount of hot mixture into beaten egg yolks.
• Add eggs to mixture in pot and cook stirring for 1 minute longer.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
• Pour into baked, cooled shell.
• Prepare meringue and spread on filling.
• Bake for 5-7 minutes until meringue is lightly browned.
• MERINGUE: Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry.
• Gradually add sugar, while beating.
• Pile gently onto pie filling.
• Bake.

BROWNED BUTTER BUTTERSCOTCH MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Make crust: Combine cracker crumbs, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, and 1/4 tsp salt. Add the melted butter and mix to moisten dry ingredients. Press onto bottom and up sides of a 9" pie pan Bake until the edges of the crust are beginning to brown, 8-10 minute.
• Make filling: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, swirl the pan until the butter begins to brown, 2-3 minutes more. Remove from heat.
• In the top half of a double boiler, combine the brown sugar, flour, cornstarch, and 1/2 tsp salt. Stir in the browned butter, milk, and egg yolks until fully incorporated. Cook mixture over simmering water, whisking until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a sppon, about 8 minutes. Pour the pudding mixture into the prepared crust. Lay a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the pie to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate while you make the meringue.
• Make the meringue: With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until frothy. Add the salt and beat until soft peaks form. Add the sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, beating until incorporated. Continue to beat until glossy peaks form, about 4 minutes. Beat in the vanilla.
• Remove the plastic from the pudding. Spoon some of the meringue onto the edge of the pudding, spreading it right up to and touching the crust to create a seal. Spoon the rest of the meringue into the center, and using the back of a spoon, spread to cover the entire top.
• Bake until the meringue is golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Let stand for at least 1 hour before serving.

BLOOD ORANGE BUTTERSCOTCH MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Prepare the crust: On a lightly floured surface, and using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll pie dough into a 12-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer to a 9-inch pie pan (not deep dish); fold the edges over and crimp them together. Prick crust all over with a fork and chill in freezer for 30 minutes until frozen. (Cover with plastic if freezing for longer than a few hours. Well wrapped, it will last in the freezer for up to a month.)
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line chilled crust with foil, fill with pie weights or dried rice, then bake for 12 minutes. Remove foil, lower oven temperature to 350 degrees, and bake until pale golden, 10 to 16 minutes longer. Transfer to a rack to cool while you prepare the filling. (Leave the oven on if baking the pie immediately.)
• In a heavy saucepan, whisk together egg yolks, egg and sugar. Stir in the orange and lemon juices, zest and salt. Add pieces of butter and cook, whisking constantly, over medium-low heat until the mixture thickens enough to coat a spoon, about 7 to 9 minutes. An instant-read thermometer should register 180 degrees. Inspect the filling: If you think there are any coagulated bits of egg, strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl.
• Pour filling into pie crust and return to the oven to bake until filling is set (it should jiggle only slightly in the center), about 18 to 40 minutes. (Pies prepared in glass and ceramic dishes can take much longer to bake than those prepared in metal dishes. Don't give up: The curd will eventually set.) Remove pie from oven and increase oven temperature to 400 degrees for baking the meringue.
• As the filling bakes, make the meringue: Fill a medium pot with 1 inch of water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Using a large metal bowl, whisk together egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar and salt. Set the bowl with the egg white mixture into the pot above the water, and whisk constantly by hand until sugar dissolves and mixture is warm (160 degrees on an instant thermometer) and has thickened and lightened in color, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove bowl from heat.
• Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-low speed and gradually increase speed to high, until mixture is thick, fluffy and stiff peaks form, about 5 to 8 minutes. Be careful not to overbeat.
• Spread the meringue over the hot filling, making sure it meets the edges of the crust. Using a knife or spatula, swirl in a design if you like, and bake until lightly browned, about 8 to 12 minutes.
• Allow to cool completely and top with more orange zest before serving.

COFFEE BUTTERSCOTCH MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Mix milk, dry pudding mixes and coffee granules in medium saucepan. Bring to full boil on medium heat, stirring constantly. Cool 5 min.; stir. Pour into crust. Refrigerate 3 hours.
• Heat oven to 425°F. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in large bowl with mixer on high speed until foamy. Gradually beat in sugar. Continue beating until stiff peaks form. Spread some meringue around edge of filling first, touching crust all around, then fill in center.
• Bake 8 to 10 min. or until meringue is golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack.Refrigerate 1 hour.