Saturday, May 15, 2010

Lemon Pie, Lemon Pie...A Tribute to Nanny

My grandmother, Nanny, was amazing. If she had a cup of mixed beans, two slices of bread, and a slice of ham, she could turn it into something outstanding. I love Lemon Pie, who doesn't? Yet, there is one problem, bad lemon pie is a major downer. I hate to go out to eat, you see lemon pie on the menu, you think, "Great, nice place to eat, I bet it is even homemade!" Your palate starts to quiver...you grow a bit light headed, drunken by the idea of fresh pie. You order. The waiter approaches the table, heaven and all of its splendors are only 3 steps away. Then the plate is placed in front of you; the waiter grins, proud that he has upsold you a piece of pie. You look down.....
Suddenly, you realize that you have one of two items. In some places you have a piece of frozen pie. "WHY!" The voice in your head cries out. Then you become angry, you have paid $5.99 for a slice of semi-iced pie, which you could have bought at the local grocery for $3.99, of course buy one get one free, that is a whole pie, two in fact for less than you bought one slice. The other complication in pie purchases away from home is the homemade jello pie. This is an allusive creature, but once you've stared it in the face you know...it is a killer. Take the idea of lemon jello in a graham cracker crust, exciting huh? Then pull out the food service whipped cream. I have no idea what this stuff is, but I assume it is made out of some type of high fructose corn syrup and a petroleum based product. This tops the pie; yes, an oil and corn based product, which may have been created from the gulf oil disaster is the crowning top of your over priced pie. It even leaves a slimey film in the roof of your mouth.
So why did I start out speaking of my grandmother? Nanny made the best lemon pie.I have embraced this recipe and now, I offer it to you. It is simple. Yes,you can do this with three kids, a dog, four cats, and goldfish hanging from you as you struggle through the kitchen. Nanny's birthday recently passed. I still think of her often, so try this recipe tonight in her memory. Everyone will enjoy.

Nanny’s Lemon Pie
My grandmother used to make this pie when I was little, and it is truly my favorite. She always made a homemade graham cracker crust, but a store brought will work just as well.
1/3 cup Lemon juice
1 can Eagle Brand Condensed milk
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
4 tablespoons sugar
1 graham cracker pie crust

Stir lemon juice, condensed milk, and vanilla extract with 2 egg yokes; blend well. Place mixture in pie crust. Make meringue from egg white and sugar mixture beating until peaks form. Spread meringue over pie filling. Place pie in a 325 degree oven and bake 15 minutes until golden brown.

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