Ann Landers Best Ever Lemon Pie And Meringue Recipes

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.

ANN LANDERS' BEST-EVER LEMON PIE AND MERINGUE

Steps:

• Mix sugar and cornstarch together in the top of a double boiler.
• Add the two cups of water. And combine the egg yolks with the lemon juice and beat until mixed well.
• Add to the rest of the sugar mix.
• Cook over boiling water until thick around 25 minutes.
• Now add the lemon extract, butter and vinegar and stir thoroughly.
• Pour mixture into a deep 9-inch pie shell, and let cool.
• Cover with meringue, and brown in oven.
• MERINGUE:.
• Mix cornstarch and water in a saucepan.
• Add the boiling water and cook stirring until thickened.
• Let sit until cold.
• With electric mixer on high speed, beat the egg whites until foamy.
• Slowly add sugar, and beat until stiff.
• Lower mixer speed then add salt and vanilla extract.
• Gradually beat in cold cornstarch mixture.
• Turn mixer back up to high and beat well. Spread meringue over cooled pie filling. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes or until top is lightly browned.

ANN LANDER'S BEST LEMON MERINGUE PIE (WITH NEVER-FAIL MERINGUE)

Steps:

• In a double boiler, or a heavy bottomed saucepan, mix sugar and cornstarch together; add in the 2 cups COLD water.
• In a small cup/bowl,combine the egg yolks with lemon juice, and the yellow food colouring; whisk until well mixed.
• Add to the sugar cornstarch mixture; whisk until mixed.
• Cook and mix/whisk until mixture thickens (about 6-7 minutes, do not over-boil mixture or it will not set properly), if you are making in a saucepan, be careful not to scorch the bottom of the pan, a double-boiler is definitely recommended for this.
• Remove from heat.
• Add/mix in the lemon extract, butter and vinegar; stir thoroughly.
• Pour the lemon mixture into cooled pie shell; set aside to make meringue.
• To make meringue:.
• Blend/whisk the cornstarch and cold water in a small saucepan.
• Add in boiling water, and cook, stirring until clear and thickened.
• Let mixture stand until COMPLETELY COLD.
• With an electric mixer at high speed, beat the egg whites until foamy.
• Gradually add in sugar, and beat until stiff but not dry.
• Turn mixer to low speed; add in pinch salt and vanilla.
• Gradually beat in the cold cornstarch mixture.
• Turn mixer again to high; beat well.
• Spread/pile meringue over cooled pie filling, making certain to seal the meringue to the baked crust.
• Set oven to 350°F, and bake for 10 minutes, or until the meringue is lightly browned.

BEST EVER LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• 1. Mix sugar and cornstarch together in the top of a double broiler. Stir in 2 cups of water.
• 2. Combine egg yolks with lemon juice and beat until well mixed; Add to sugar mixture. Cook over boiling water until thick- about 20 minutes. ( This does away with the starchy taste.)
• 3. Now add the lemon extract, butter and vinegar and stir thoroughly.
• 4. Pour mixture into 9- inch pie shell and let cool.
• 5. NEVER FAIL MERINGUE 1 tablespoon of cornstarch 2 tablespoons cold water 1/2 cup boiling water Three egg whites 6 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla Pinch of salt
• 6. Turn oven on to 350 degrees. Blend cornstarch and cold water in a sauce pan. Add boiling water and cook, stirring until clear and thickened. Let stand until completely cold.
• 7. With the electric beater at high-speed beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff but not dry. Turn mixer to low-speed and add salt and vanilla.
• 8. Gradually beat in cold cornstarch mixture. Turn mixer again to high and beat well.
• 9. Spread meringue over cooled pie filling. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until top is lightly brown.