Scintillating Lemon Pie Food

SHAKER LEMON PIE

Steps:

• Wash and cut 2 of the lemons into paper-thin slices. It is very important to slice the lemons as thinly as possible; use a very sharp knife or an electric meat slicer, if on is available. Remove peel and pith of remaining lemons; slice the flesh very, very thinly, and put it with the other slices in a large mixing bowl. Add sugar, and toss well to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, and let the mixture rest overnight, stirring occasionally.
• The next day, preheat oven to 450 degrees. Press one circle of pastry into an 11-inch pie plate and chill.
• Add beaten eggs to the lemon mixture, and mix well. Turn mixture into prepared pie shell, neatly arranging some of the lemon slices on top. Cut long, even slashes 1 inch apart in the other pastry round, and place on top of filling. Crimp edges of the pie to seal. Brush top and edges with egg-white glaze. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees and continue baking for 30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and shiny. Let cool on a rack before serving.

OLD FASHIONED LEMON PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• To Make Lemon Filling: In a double boiler, combine cornstarch, sugar, and salt. Stir in water, mixing well. Cook until mixture is thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
• Place egg yolks in a medium bowl and beat well. Slowly pour 1/2 cup of cornstarch mixture into egg yolks, whisking constantly.
• Pour egg yolk mixture back into cornstarch mixture in double boiler, continuing to whisk constantly. Return double boiler to heat and cook mixture 2 minutes longer, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
• Stir butter or margarine, lemon juice, and lemon rind into thickened mixture. Allow mixture to cool, then pour into pie shell.
• To Make Meringue: In a large metal or glass mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Add 6 tablespoons sugar a little at a time, continuing to beat until all sugar is incorporated and whites are stiff. Spread meringue into pie shell, making sure to completely cover lemon filling.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, just until meringue is golden brown. Chill before serving.

MAGIC LEMON PIE

Steps:

• Blend sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks together. Gradually add lemon juice, stirring until mixture thickens and is well blended. Pour filling into crust.
• In another bowl, beat room temperature egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy. Gradually add sugar, and continue beating until egg whites are stiff. Carefully spread meringue over filling, sealing the edges.
• Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) until meringue browns, about 6 minutes. Cool. Refrigerate uneaten portions.

SHAKER LEMON PIE

Steps:

• Using your sharpest knife (a serrated knife is ideal), trim each lemon to remove the stem end and tip. Slice each lemon crosswise, as thinly as you can possibly do it, into paper-thin circles. If you can drape them over the knife blade like the watches in Salvador Dali's surrealistic paintings, you're on the right track. Scoop up as much of the escaping lemon juices as you work, and add them to the bowl of sliced lemons.
• Chop the thinly sliced lemons coarsely, so that the largest pieces of lemon rind and pith are only 1 inch long, again gathering escaping juices back into the bowl for their flavor.
• Add the sugar to the bowl of lemons, and stir to mix them together really well. Cover and set aside at room temperature, for at least 3 hours and as long as overnight. Stir occasionally with a big spoon, to mix everything together well.
• Heat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a 9-inch pie pan with crust, leaving a 1-inch overhang.
• Add the eggs, flour, and salt to the bowl of sugary lemons. Stir to mix everything evenly and well. Pour this filling into the piecrust.
• Use a little water to wet the top rim of pastry around the piecrust. Roll the remaining dough into a 10-inch circle and place it carefully over the filling. Trim away the extra pastry, leaving a 1-inch overhang extending beyond the rim of the pie pan. Fold the crust up and over, and crimp it decoratively. Or press the tines of a fork into the pastry rim, working around the pan to make a design. Cut 8 steam vents in the top of the pie, so that steam can escape and the pie's juices can bubble up.
• Place the pie on a baking sheet and place it on the middle shelf of the oven. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 375 degrees F and bake until the filling is bubbling and thickened, and the pastry crust is cooked and handsomely browned, 25 to 35 minutes more. Place the pie on a cooling rack or a folded kitchen towel and let cool to room temperature.

THE BEST LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• For the pie crust: Pulse the flour, shortening, sugar, salt and vinegar in a food processor until the mixture looks like damp sand, about 10 pulses. Add the butter and pulse until you can still see large pea-sized pieces. Sprinkle in 3 tablespoons ice water and pulse until the dough begins to come together. Pinch the dough; if it doesn't hold together, add up to 3 more tablespoons ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough holds together when pinched. Lay out a sheet of plastic wrap and dump the dough onto the plastic. Using the edges of the plastic, press the dough into a disc. Wrap tightly and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and preferably overnight. (Freeze up to 2 months.)
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough out into a 13-inch round. Place in a 9-inch pie dish, gently pressing the dough into the edges and letting the excess dough drape over the sides. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Trim any excess dough with a paring knife and crimp the edges decoratively or press them down with the tines of a fork. Prick the dough on the bottom all over with a fork. Place a sheet of parchment paper inside the dough and fill with pie weights or uncooked rice or beans. Bake for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the parchment and weights and bake until the crust is deep golden brown on the edges and lightly golden in the center, 10 to 12 minutes more. Let the crust cool to room temperature.
• For the filling: Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a medium saucepan. Add the lemon juice and 1 1/2 cups water and whisk to combine. Whisk the egg yolks in a separate medium bowl. Place the sugar mixture over medium heat and cook, continuing to gently whisk, until the mixture begins to bubble and is extremely thick. Temper the eggs yolks by slowly adding half of the hot sugar mixture to the yolks while constantly whisking. Add the tempered yolks to the saucepan and return to the heat. Bring the mixture back to a simmer and cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula, for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and lemon zest until completely melted and incorporated. Pour the filling directly into the pie crust and cover with plastic wrap pressed directly against the surface of the filling (see Cook's Note). Refrigerate while you make the meringue.
• For the meringue: Add the egg whites to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment along with the sugar, cream of tartar and salt. Whisk together to combine. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water. Cook, whisking constantly, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture feels hot to the touch. Transfer the bowl to the mixer and add the vanilla. Whisk on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Remove the plastic wrap from the pie and gently mound the meringue on top of the filling. Use an offset spatula to make sure the meringue completely covers the filling and meets the crust all around the edges. (This will seal in the filling and help prevent weeping.) Use the offset spatula to create swirls and peaks in the meringue. Toast the meringue using a kitchen torch or broil in the oven until golden brown, keeping an eye on the meringue if broiling, 1 to 2 minutes. Refrigerate the pie until the filling is completely cool and set, about 4 hours.

SCINTILLATING LEMON PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400.
• Roll out 1/2 of the dough into 9-inch circle; Cut into 6 wedges; Place wedges on cookie sheet.
• Mix 1 1/2 T sugar and nutmeg together in small bowl; Sprinkle over pastry wedges; Bake at 400 degrees for no longer than 5 minutes, or until set; Remove from cookie sheet and set aside.
• Grate yellow part of rind; Peel and slice lemons very thinly; Set aside.
• Cream butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar and flour in mixer bowl; Beat in eggs, then beat in water.
• Stir in reserved lemon slices and grated rind.
• Roll out remaining pastry to form 9-inch pie shell.
• Pour lemon mixture into prepared pie shell.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
• Arrange baked pastry wedges on top of filling and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until filling is firm.

WORLD'S BEST LEMON PIE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, flour and salt. Gradually stir in water. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat. Gradually stir 1 cup of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to saucepan. Bring to boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the butter, lemon juice and zest until smooth. Pour into pastry shell. In a bowl, beat egg whites and salt until stiff but not dry peaks are formed. Gradually beat in sugar until soft peaks form. Spread over pie, sealing edges to pastry. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until meringue is golden. Cool. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.

LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Sift measured flour and salt into a bowl.
• Pour oil into glass measuring cup and add cold milk to make 3/4 cup liquid.
• Pour liquid into bowl and stir with a fork.
• Save half the dough to use later.
• Roll remaining half of dough into circle between two sheets of wax paper.
• Place into pie pan, make standing rim, and prick with fork.
• Bake in oven 450°F for 8- 10 minutes.
• Remove pan from oven and set aside to cool.
• Reduce oven temperature to 425°F.
• Mix filling mix with sugar in a saucepan (not double-boiler).
• Add egg yolks and stir again.
• Add water, stirring constantly over medium heat, until mixture comes to a boil and thickens.
• Remove from heat and let cool. (this is when I zest and squeeze the lemon).
• Add butter, juice and zest.
• Let sit until meringue is ready.
• Put 5 tablespoons of the sugar into a measuring cup.
• Beat egg whites with cream of tarter until frothy. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and continue beating until whites start to stiffen. Gradually add remaining sugar while continuing to beat. Continue to beat until meringue forms stiff peaks.
• Pour filling into pie crust.
• Spoon meringue over filling, making sure to seal the edges against the pie shell.
• Make peaks with spoon.
• Brown pie 5- 10 minutes to desired color.
• Cool pie on rack and avoid drafts.
• Allow 3-6 hours for pie to firm up!

CLASSIC LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Gradually add 3 tablespoons cold water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. , Roll out dough to fit a 9-in. pie plate. Transfer crust to pie plate. Trim to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Bake at 425° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned., Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, flour and salt. Gradually stir in water until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. , Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot filling into egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in butter and lemon zest. Gradually stir in lemon juice just until combined. Pour into the crust., For meringue, in a saucepan, combine 2 tablespoons sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in cold water. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is clear. Transfer to a bowl; cool., Beat egg whites and vanilla until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat in cornstarch mixture on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Spread evenly over hot filling, sealing edge to crust., Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until the meringue is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.

SHAKER STYLE SLICED LEMON PIE

Steps:

• Slice lemons, with rind still on, as thinly as possible, preferably paper thin; place in a bowl. Add 2 cups sugar and let stand, stirring occasionally, until sugar is well absorbed, at least 2 hours, but overnight is best.
• Roll out pastry to line pie plate. Beat eggs well; add nutmeg, if using. Arrange layers of lemon slices and their juice over the unbaked pastry, sprinkling each with extra sugar as you go. Pour egg mixture over all.
• Roll out remaining pastry and place over filling crimping edges. Cut vents in center. Paint crust with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 450F for 10 minutes. Reduce heat and to 350F and bake 35 minutes more, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Chill before serving.

SCINTILLATING LEMON PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Roll out 11/2 of the dough into 9-inch circle. Cut into 6 wedges. Place wedges on cookie sheet. Mix 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar and nutmeg together in small bowl. Sprinkle over pastry wedges. Bake at 400° for no longer than 5 minutes, or until set. Remove from cookie sheet and set aside. Grate yellow part of 1 lemon rind. Peel and slice lemons very thinly. Set aside. Cream 1 1/2 cups sugar, butter, and flour in mixer bowl. Beat in eggs. Beat in water. Stir in reserved lemon slices and grated rind. Roll out remaining pastry to form 9-inch pie shell. Pour lemon mixture into prepared pie shell. Bake at 400° for 25 minutes. Arrange baked pastry wedges on top of filling and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until filling is firm. Makes 1 (9-inch) pie.

SHAKER LEMON PIE

Steps:

• Slice the lemons and combine in a large bowl with the 2 cups sugar. Let stand for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
• Add the beaten eggs and mix well. Pour into an unbaked 9 inch piecrust and cover with a top crust.
• Brush the top with milk and sprinkle granulated sugar on top.
• Bake at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the pie comes out clean.