Key Lime Pie

I made this for a St. Patty's dinner we are having tonight with our friends. I haven't tasted the cooked product, but everything uncooked was tasty :)

4 large eggs, separated
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 tsp grated lime zest
2 - 3 drops green food coloring (optional)
1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
1/2 cup sugar

Heat oven to 350. Beat egg yolks in medium bowl on low speed of electric mixer. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk and lime juice until smooth. Blend in cream, lime peel, and food coloring, if desired. Pour into unbaked pie crust. Bake 25 minutes. Remove from oven.

Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in a very clean bowl on high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar on medium speed. Beat 4 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and stiff glossy peaks form. Spread over hot pie, carefully sealing to edge of crust to prevent meringue from shrinking.

Bake an additional 15 minutes or until meringue is lightly browned. Cool 1 hour on wire rack. Chill at least 3 hours before serving.

Perfect Pie Crust

This is a combination of a pie crust recipe from my great grandma Petersen and Pioneer Women's website:

For a nine inch, two crust pie:

2 ½ cups all purpose or pastry flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon sugar (for a fruit pie. Omit sugar for a savory pie.)
1 cup cold butter, cut into chunks
¼ cup cold water

Mix flour, salt, and sugar together. Cut in cold butter until it resembles large crumbs. Add cold water and stir (I usually use my hands) together until it all forms into dough.

Divide the dough into two balls. Roll each ball out on parchment paper with a little flour so you don't incorporate too much flour into the dough, if you roll just with flour you'll have to use more to prevent sticking. Using two pieces of parchment paper (or wax paper in a pinch) the dough can be rolled without sticking and transferred to the pie dish without tearing. Because the ratio of flour and fat has been maintained, the baked crust is tender and delicious! So you chose, but those are the results. Roll until dough is about 11" in diameter. Transfer one piece to pie dish. Pick filling (another post on that later). Put 2nd piece of dough on top in a pattern (lattice, cut out shapes, etc) or as a whole piece (but make sure to puncture holes).  Finish edges. Brush with an egg wash (1 egg + 1 Tbsp water whisked together).

  

If I'm using this for a fruit pie I brush it with an egg wash and then sprinkle course sugar on top. It makes for SUCH a nice texture when eating the pie!!!

Put pie on baking sheet. Bake at 425 for 30 minutes, then lower oven temp to 375 and bake until juices bubble, 20 - 40 minutes more.

Be patient. As long as the pie crust is covered to prevent over-browning, the pie can continue to bake.

Peanut Butter Pie

Serves 8

Prepare a Graham Cracker pie crust:
10 full graham crackers crushed
6 Tbsp butter melted
Pressed into 9" pie pan and baked 10 minutes at 350

Mix together until smooth:
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter

Whip until thick:
1 cup whipping cream
Add in:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar

Fold the whipping cream mixture into the peanut butter and cream cheese mixture until everything is well incorporated. Spread into pie crust. Refrigerate until ready to serve. May top with whipping cream and chocolate pieces or chopped up peanuts.