Summer Nights, Lightning Bugs, and Lemon Mereingue Pie

Lanell

For anyone that ever entered the homes of Lamar's Southern bred grandma, Miss Annie Mae Payne in Louisiana or his Southern bred mama, Miss Lanell Otwell, in Arkansas, you would always smell something wonderful cooking or baking. The glorious aroma was a combination of Fried Chicken, Collard Greens, Corn Bread, Fried Okra and of coarse several choices of something sweet for after. Strawberry pie, five layer delight, carrot cake, and more, all made from scratch.  It would be your own fault if you ever left the house hungry, because there was always enough food to feed an army. They both always had meals on hand, and things that they could prepare quickly because as they would say, "You never know who will stop by".  There were not a lot of times that I didn't see Lanell, without her apron on and her towel over her shoulder.  I remember Lamar's Aunt Linda saying that her and her husband Gerry loved going to Nell's because they got home cooked meals. (Aunt Linda doesn't find her kitchen to be her favorite place). When their sister Molly visited, it was also a home cooked treat, as we didn't trust Aunt Molly in the kitchen due to the infamous Rice incident!  Lanell learned from her mama the great joy in life from feeding family and friends wonderful meals. As I have gotten older, I find myself nostalgic for those days of having the table covered with food and everyone gathering in the evening to enjoy each others company. The soft summer air, lightning bugs and lawn chairs.

My Apron from Lanell

 I treasure their collections of recipes and I cook/bake a lot of their ever coveted southern  food. Lamar loves my cooking, but sometimes instead of him coming out and saying, "honey, this is real good", he just eats several portions. When him and I were first married, it would hurt my feelings when he didn't say anything about my food and I would think that he just didn't like it. I learned quickly that "Eatin' speaks louder than words"(Briscoe Darling on Andy Griffith) in Lamar's world and when he has seconds, he is pleased! He loves Lemon Meringue Pie and Miss Annie's recipe for Old Fashioned Lemon Meringue pie has stood the test of time and is an absolute favorite dessert in our house.

In fact, when I make it, I cannot just make 1, so I always make 2.

I used this recipe religiously until 2 summers ago.

Heather N. is my partner in crime. She has been such a best friend for years and we do get laughs because we are together quite a bit. Usually when you get one, you get the other!  We both figured that having a friend by the same name makes it easier on us both, just in case we cannot remember what the other one is called. She was the one that patiently taught me how to make homemade strawberry jam after spending several hot hours in the strawberry fields on the Wapsi River, picking the fruit by hand.  2 summers ago in the midst of our aimless summer activities, we decided to have a pie contest. We both LOVE food! We both had different recipes for the Lemon Meringue Pie and decided to see who's pie would stand above the other. Our pies both turned out fabulous, but Heather's was better, and not me Heather!! My recipe is a more lemon custard and hers is more of, what I call, a lemon gel.

After the contest, 2 empty pie plates and reluctantly admitting that I took 2nd place, I started tweaking the recipe and have come up with one that I love more. I still adore Lamar's grandma's pie and still use the recipe but I have found that I go to my recipe now instead.  

Whatever your taste and texture in lemon, be it a custard or gel, they are both amazingly delicious!

 

Old Fashioned Lemon Meringue Pie

 

• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1/4 t. Salt
• 3 eggs, separated
• 1/3 Cup Lemon Juice
• 3 T. Butter
• 1/4 t. Cream of Tarter
• 1/2 t. Vanilla
• 3 T. Cornstarch
• 2 Cups Milk
• 1 t. Grated Lemon Rind
• 1 baked pie crust
• 1/4 C plus 2 T sugar

Baker's Tip: gather all of your ingredients before you begin. The process of stirring needs to be constant and you need to be able to move on to the next step quickly. Also, the heat with the constant stirring over the fire can get pretty hot so I wear an oven mitt!

 

1. Combine 1 Cup sugar, cornstarch, and salt in heavy saucepan. Gradually add milk, stirring until blended. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Boil 1 minute stirring constantly.

2. In a separate bowl beat egg yolks until thick and lemon colored. Gradually stir about 1/4 cup of hot mixture into the yolks, add to remaining hot mixture, stirring constantly, about 2 to 3 minutes.  Remove from the heat, stir in lemon rind, juice and butter. 

Pour into pie shell

3. Beat room temp egg whites and cream of tarter until foamy. Gradually add remaining sugar, 1 T at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Beat in vanilla and then spread meringue over filling, sealing to edge of pastry. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until golden brown   

 

Mrs. Heather Otwell's Lemon Meringue Pie

 

• 1 Cup Sugar
• 2 T Flour
• 3 T Cornstarch
• 1/4 t. Salt
• 1 1/2 Cup Water
• 2 Lemons, juiced and zested
• 2 T Butter
• 4 Egg Yolks, beaten
• Prebaked Pie Crust
• 6 Egg whites at room temp
• 6 T Sugar



1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2.Make lemon filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 Cup sugar, flour, cornstarch and salt. Stir in water, lemon juice and zest. Cook over medium high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil.

Stir in butter. Place egg yolks in a small bowl and gradually whisk in 1/2 Cup hot sugar mixture. Whisk egg yolk mixture back into remaining sugar mixture. Bring to a boil and continue to cook while stirring constantly until thick.  Remove from heat and pour into pastry shell.

3. Make the meringue: In a large mixing bowl, whip egg whites until foamy. Add sugar gradually and continue to whip until stiff peaks form.(this takes a while so be prepared if you have a hand mixer. If you have a stand mixer, just turn it on high and let it go on its own).

 Spread the meringue over the pie.

4. Bake 10 minutes or until the meringue is golden brown

 

What are you waiting for? Summer is Calling!