Source:

Judith McLaren

Serves/Makes:6

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups (350 ml) sugar
• 1/3 cup (80 ml) flour
• 4-1/2 tbsp (70 ml) cornstarch
• 1/3 tsp (2 ml) salt
• 3 cups (700 ml) water
• 4 egg yolks (beaten, save whites for meringue)
• 1-1/2 tbsp (20 ml) butter
• 1 tsp (5 ml) grated lemon peel
• 2/3 cup (150 ml) lemon juice
• Garnish:
• lemon peel slivers, optional
• Pie crust:
• 1/3 cup (80 ml) flour
• 1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) shortening
• 3 tbsp (45 ml) water
• Meringue:
• 4 egg whites (room temperature is best)
• 8 tbsp (125 ml) sugar
• 1/8 tsp (1 ml) cream of tartar

Preparation

• Bake and cool pie crust pastry (Recipe at bottom)
• In saucepan, combine 1 cup (225 ml) sugar, flour, cornstarch & salt.
• Stir in water, cook and stir until thick and clear.
• Add small amount of hot mixture to yolks and stir to mix.
• Add yolk mixture (now a little hot) to rest of hot mixture.
• Mix well.
• Cook on medium 1 minute.
• Add juice, butter, and peel.
• Cook 1 minute and pour into pie shell. Cool.
• Cover with meringue (completely sealing at edges of pie crust) and bake at 400 degrees (200 C.) until meringue barely browns.
• Garnish with lemon peel slivers, if desired.
• Directions for pie pastry crust:
• Mix 1/3 cup (80 ml) flour, 1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt 1/2 cup (125 ml) shortening and 3 tbsp (45 ml) water.
• Blend well with pastry cutter or fork. Roll dough out on floured surface.
• When big enough to fill pie plate, carefully transfer over to pie plate.
• Use fork to poke holes all over bottom of pie pan to avoid bubbling.
• Flute edges of pie pastry before baking.
• Bake 450 for 10 minutes. Cool.
• Directions for meringue:
• Beat 4 egg whites (room temperature is best) for several minutes.
• Then, slowly add 8 tbsp (125 ml) of sugar bit by bit while eggs beat.
• Add tiny bit (1/8 tsp) cream of tartar as well, while eggs beat.
• When meringue has stiff peaks (stand tall but won't fall), it's done.

Comments

My Mother's favorite dessert before she passed away. This pie is a bit more tart than some, since Mom liked it that way. Decrease lemon juice amount if tart isn't what you're going for! Delicious, still a family favorite.