Winter-Time for Key Lime Pie!!!

Winter, if you live in the North part of the USA, then at this time of year you are probably pretty cold! Some lucky ones go to Florida, the rest of us have to make do with piece of Florida, via a piece of pie-a slice of Key Lime Pie!

It's not that hard to make. So get to it and enjoy this special treat, great in the winter, but equally great in the summer! My recipe, below, gives you the option of a graham cracker crust or regular pie crust. Topping options are whipped cream or a meringue topping.

Getting authentic Key Limes is difficult. If you have a friend coming north from Florida ask them to bring you 5-6 key limes. If this is impossible, don't despair. The store bought limes will work. No matter what, make sure you get limes and juice them yourself. Store bought limes are Persian Limes.

Here's the recipe:

Authentic Florida Key Lime Pie

Crust Option 1:
Graham Cracker Crust

11-12 cinnamon & sugar graham crackers crumbled

3 Tbsp sugar

5 Tbsp melted butter

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
Mix melted butter, sugar & crumbled graham crackers. Spread in 9 inch glass pie plate, up the sides. Firmly press into place.
Place crust into oven and bake aprox. 15 minutes. Remove from oven when the crust is slightly browned. Allow to cool.

OR

Crust option 2
Regular pie crust bottom

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
Fill glass measuring cup with cold water to 1/3 cup line
Drop lard or shortning in until the water comes up to the one cup line. Fish out the lard or shortning and put in mixing bowl. Take the left-over water and measuring cup put into refridgerator.
Add 2 level cups flour and pinch of salt. Using fork or pastry blender, cut into flour until blended together in crumbly and pea sized balls are formed.
Take water out of fridge and pour into dough blend. Gingerly toss together. Do not work too hard or the dough will be very tough!
If the crumbs do not hold together when pressed, add slightly more water, a little at a time, gently try to form into ball. (The amount of water needed is determined by the amount of moisture in the air. The more humid, the less water needed.) Once the dough holds together and forms a ball, dust with flour and place into fridge for a rest.
While dough rests, mix the filling. Once you are done mixing filling and have set aside to thicken, divide dough. Roll out and place into 9" pie plate. Pierce a few spots with a fork to vent during baking. Line with foil and place beans or pie stones into shell and bake at 375 dgrees until VERY lightly browned (about 10-15 minutes). Remove from oven and cool.
(You can roll 2nd ball of dough out, place in pie plate and cover with plastic wrap, place in zip-lock bag, press air out and freeze until you need a pie crust!)


The Key Lime Filling:

1/2 cup Key Lime juice (juice 5 limes, if not enough, juice one more.)

4 Tsp. Grated lime zest. (Wash skim of lime well before juicing and the scape with zester- after you finish, then juice!)

5 egg yolks

14 oz. can condensed milk

In a mixing bowl, whisk eggs lightly, then add lime zest. Beat until the zest colors the yolks with a greenish tint. If the color is not green enough, you can add food coloring, but that does take away from the authenticity of your pie. A "real Floridian" would not add color. Beat in condensed milk, once thorougly blended into the eggs, add juice and beat in completely.
Set mixture aside and allow to thicken. Once thickened, pour into cooled crust, bake for 15 minute at 325 degrees. The filling should still wiggle slightly when taken from oven. Place in an out of the way place and allow to cool at room temperature. Once the pie has cooled, put into refridgerator for 3-4 hours until set.

Just before serving, garnish the edge with whipped creme.

OR

Top with Meringue! YUM! This is how I top my Key Lime Pie!
The picture of the Key Lime Pie was taken at my Birthday party. I used the dough crust and Meringue topping. I make a double batch of meringue and make a Mile-high meringue topping. I will post meringue directions soon, for those that want to make their Key Lime Pie like I do.