Title: The Ultimate Lemon Meringue Pie
Categories: Pie Fruit
Yield: 6 Servings

1		Baked 9-inch pie shell
LEMON FILLING
1 1/2	c	Sugar
1 1/2	c	Plus 1/3-cup water
1/2	ts	Salt
1/2	c	Cornstarch
4		Egg yolks, lightly beaten
2	tb	Minced lemon zest (preferably from Meyer lemons)
1/2	c	Fresh lemon juice (preferably from Meyer lemons)
1	tb	Butter
MERINGUE
4		Egg whites
	pn	Salt
1/2	c	Sugar

In the old days, desserts for rancho parties were limited to fruit and brandy. But my mother, Marie Chavarria, was an incredible pastry cook, so we ended our feasts with mama's lemon meringue pie and cousin Larry's Devil's Food Cake. INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

For the filling: Combine the sugar, 1 1/2 cups water and the salt in a saucepan. Heat to boiling.

Mix cornstarch and 1/3 cup water to a smooth paste.

Whisking constantly, add cornstarch mixture to the sugar-water mixture, cooking until very thick and clear. Remove from heat. Combine the egg yolks, lemon zest and juice. Whisk into the hot mixture; return to heat for 1 minute.

Remove from heat and stir in the butter. Set aside. For the meringue: Place a metal mixing bowl over a pot of hot water. Add the egg whites, salt and sugar; whisk just until blended and the mixture is warm to the touch.

Using a hand-held mixer, beat until soft peaks form. Fold 2 heaping tablespoons of the meringue into the warm lemon filling, then spread the filling into the pie shell.

Gently spoon little mountains of meringue on top. Use a spatula to spread meringue right up to the edges of the pastry so there will be a seal between crust and meringue.

Make billowy swirls in the meringue with the spatula. Bake for 15 minutes.

Serves 6 to 8.

PER SERVING: 390 calories, 5 g protein, 68 g carbohydrate, 12 g fat (4 g saturated), 109 mg cholesterol, 313 mg sodium, 1 g fiber.

MM format by Manny Rothstein, 9/4/98.

"SMOKY SCENTS OF THE PAST" by Jacqueline Higuera McMahan. Wednesday, September 2, 1998. (c)1998 San Francisco Chronicle

From: Manny Rothstein Date: 09-04-98 (23:29) The Once And Future Legend (1) Cooking

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