Lemon Meringue Pie

Baked 9 pie shell

3 lemons
4 eggs
1/3 cup sugar + ¾ cup sugar +1 teaspoon sugar (about 1¼ cups altogether)
2 tablespoons cream
1/3 teaspoon cornstarch
1/3 cup unsalted butter

To prepare filling:

In a bowl combine the zest of 2 lemons and 1/3 cup lemonjuice, saving some juice for the meringue. Set aside.

In a nonreactive saucepan, beat 3 egg yolks and one wholeegg with 1/3 cup sugar until thick. Combine 2 tablespoons cream and 1/3 teaspooncornstarch and add to egg mixture. Whiskin lemon mixture and lace pan over medium heat. Add 1/3 cup unsalted butter bit by bit, whisking constantly until custardcoats the whisk. Pour into a bowl, whisk again, cover and chill.

To prepare meringue:

Preheat oven to 325° F. to 350° F.
Beat 3 egg whites with an electric mixer until frothy. Beat in ½ teaspoon each lemon juice and vanillaextract. Gradually add ¾cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

Spoon chilled custard into prebaked 9 pie crust. Mound meringue over filling and swirl into peaks. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar, if you think you want it to be a bit on the sweet side, and bake in moderate oven (325° F. to 350° F.) until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Let cool.

Editors note: My Aunt Mabelle, who was the best pie baker I have ever encountered, made the best lemon meringue pie I have ever eaten. Unfortunately, I do not have her recipe. She did claim it was best not to make lemon meringue pie on a humid day, since that would contribute to nasty little moisture droplets forming on top of the meringue. The Joy claims this beading is due to excess sugar having been beaten into the meringue. I have not had enough experience to judge this. Aunt Mabelle also called recipes receipts and served high tea every afternoon, cambric tea for the younger set. Lots of chances to try her pies.

If you do not want to take a chance on the Williams-Sonomameringue recipe, you can substitute:

The Joy of Cookings MeringueTopping (for a9-inch pie)

Preheat oven to moderate: 325° F. to 350° F.

Whip until they are frothy:

2 egg whites

Add:

¼teaspoon cream of tartar

Whip egg white-cream of tartar mix until whites are stiff,but not dry, i.e. until they stand in peaks that lean over slightly when thebeater is removed.

Beat in, one-half teaspoonat a time, i.e. gradually:

3 tablespoons granulated sugar (or 4 tablespoons confectioners sugar)

Do not overbeat. Beatin:

½teaspoon vanilla.

Bake 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of themeringue.

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Lemon Meringue Pie

Lemon Meringue Pie

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