Lemon Meringue Pie




Ingredients

Pastry

1 cup Gold MedalŪ all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon shortening
2 to 3 tablespoons cold water

Filling

3 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 1/2 cups water
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 drops yellow food color, if desired

Meringue

3 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
6 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla


Directions

In medium bowl, mix flour and salt. Cut in shortening,
using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through
ingredients in opposite directions), until particles are
size of small peas. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tbsp at
a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened
and pastry almost cleans side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons
more water can be added if necessary). Gather pastry into
a ball. Shape into flattened round on lightly floured
surface. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 45 min
or until dough is firm and cold, yet pliable. This allows
the shortening to become slightly firm, which helps make
the baked pastry more flaky. If refrigerated longer, let
pastry soften slightly before rolling. Heat oven to 475°F.
With floured rolling pin, roll pastry into round 2 inches
larger than upside-down 9-inch glass pie plate. Fold pastry
into fourths; place in pie plate. Unfold and ease into plate,
pressing firmly against bottom and side. Trim overhanging
edge of pastry 1 inch from rim of pie plate. Fold and roll
pastry under, even with plate; flute as desired. Prick
bottom and side of pastry thoroughly with fork. Bake 8 to
10 minutes or until light brown; cool on cooling rack. Reduce
oven temperature to 400°F. In small bowl, beat egg yolks
with fork. In 2-quart saucepan, mix sugar and cornstarch;
gradually stir in water. Cook over medium heat, stirring
constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir
1 minute. Immediately stir at least half of hot mixture into
egg yolks; stir back into hot mixture in saucepan. Boil
and stir 2 minutes; remove from heat. Stir in butter, lemon
peel, lemon juice and food color. Pour into pie crust. In
medium bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar with
electric mixer on high speed until foamy. Beat in sugar, 1
tablespoon at a time; continue beating until stiff and glossy.
Do not underbeat. Beat in vanilla. Spoon onto hot pie filling.
Spread over filling, carefully sealing meringue to edge of
crust to prevent shrinking or weeping. Bake 8 to 12 minutes
or until meringue is light brown. Cool away from draft 2 hrs.
Cover and refrigerate cooled pie until serving.




Back