Key Lime Pie

Warm Weather Treat

The weather is starting to get really pleasant here in the Pacific Northwest.  Taking advantage of the sunshine, my mom and I decided to break out our tennis shoes and racquets for our first match of the season.  We got a later start to the day and we hit the courts at around high noon.

My mom and I are pretty evenly matched in tennis which makes the game a lot of fun.  Usually though, one of us will decidedly win a set without any need for a tie breaker game.  As such, both of us have forgotten the tie breaker rules of tennis.  However, this day was different.  The score became tied at 5-5.  Well, both of us could only remember the old rules of how to win a set, the requirement being that the winner must win by a margin of two games.  So we played on.  At the end of two hours, after both of us going ahead by one game and the other tying the set score again, we decided to call it a draw.  We had played twenty games total, tied at 10-10.  Forget about the second set.  We were absolutely exhausted.

We both had great plans for the rest of the day such as painting and gardening, but we ended up both taking naps when we got home.  Playing a couple hours under direct sunlight apparently made us more tired than we had realized.

Key Lime Pie

I love key lime pie.  So does my mom.  In fact, it’s one of her favorite pies.  And for good reason.  It is sweet and tart and the crust has a nice crunch to it.  After making this pie, my mom came home and asked what smelled so good.  I told her to look in the freezer and as she opened the freezer door she squealed with delight, “Ooh key lime pie!”  Seeing that I had already grabbed a slice, she took a spoon and started eating it right out of the pan.  So, naturally, I joined her.  After a few bites, she announced, “Okay, I’m finished” to which I asked “Are you sure”?  “No” she said as she took a second final bite.  I began to laugh and she yelled at me accusingly, “Well, you took another bite after you said you were done!”

This pie will be equally enjoyable whether you eat it by the slice or straight from the pan like my mom and I did.  But just between you and me, I think pie always tastes better if you and a family member or friend eat it straight from the pan.

Blessings on your home and table,                                                                                                                  ~Natalie

 

Key Lime Pie

Serves 12

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup salted butter, melted
• 6 egg yolks
• 1 cup key lime juice*
• 21 oz sweetened condensed milk (one and a half 14oz cans)
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons lemon zest
• 1 Tablespoon lime zest
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Combine the first three ingredients in a bowl.
3. Press the graham cracker mixture on the bottom and up the sides of a 8″ pie plate.
4. Bake for 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool.  Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
5. Rapidly whisk the egg yolks in a bowl until they become pale yellow and have thickened slightly.  You can also use an electric mixer.
6. Whisk in the juice, sweetened condensed milk, and lemon and lime zest.
7. Pour mixture into prepared crust and bake for 25-30 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool pan is no longer hot to the touch.
8. Place pie in the fridge and chill 4-6 hours.*
9. Once the pie has chilled, beat the heavy cream on high until stiff peaks form.  Beat in the sugar and vanilla.  Arrange on the pie however you wish.

*regular lime juice works perfectly fine as well (use about 8 limes)

*I actually stuck my pie in the freezer and I think it almost tastes better that way.

For more delicious pie, check out my chocolate bourbon pecan pie!