Shelly's Recipe

LEMON MERINGUE PIE WITH PECAN CRUST

Category: Pies - Cream and Custard

For the Crust:
1 cup flour
2/3 cup finely chopped pecans
1/3 cup cake flour
3 tbsp packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
5 tbsp chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 tbsp chilled vegetable shortening, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 tbsp (about) ice water

For the Lemon Filling:
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
5 egg yolks
2 tbsp grated lemon peel

For the Meringue:
5 egg whites
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1/3 cup sugar

To Make Crust: Mix first 5 in large bowl; add butter and shortening. Using electric mixer, beat at low speed until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 2 tbsp ice water. Beat until dough holds together, adding more water by 1/2 tbspfuls if dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap disk in waxed paper and chill until firm enough to roll, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.

Roll out dough between sheets of waxed paper to 12-inch round. Peel off top sheet of paper. Invert dough into 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish; peel off paper. Press dough gently into dish. Trim overhang to 3/4 inch; turn under and crimp edge decoratively. Freeze crust until firm, about 30 minutes.

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375 degrees F/190 degrees C. Line crust with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake crust until golden at edge, about 15 minutes. Remove foil and beans; continue to bake until crust is pale golden, piercing with fork if crust bubbles, about 12 minutes. Cool completely on rack.

Reduce oven temperature to 325.

Make Filling and Topping: Whisk 1 3/4 cups sugar and 1/3 cup cornstarch in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups water and lemon juice, whisking until cornstarch dissolves and mixture is smooth. Add yolks and peel; whisk to blend. Cook over medium-high heat until filling thickens and boils, whisking constantly, about 8 minutes. Pour into prepared crust.

Using electric mixer, beat whites and cream of tartar in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/3 cup sugar, beating until stiff and shiny. Mound meringue atop warm lemon filling, spreading to seal to crust at edges.

Bake pie until meringue is golden, about 20 minutes. Cool pie 1 hour. Refrigerate up to 6 hours; serve cold.