Aunt Jimmys Butterscotch Meringue Pie Recipes

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the milk and cream, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Immediately turn off the heat and set aside.
• In a large, heavy skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Stir in the brown sugar, raise the heat to medium-high, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring constantly, to caramelize the mixture. (You will smell a characteristic nutty-caramel odor when the butter browns, signaling that the mixture is ready.)
• Whisking constantly, gradually add the butter/brown sugar mixture to the hot milk/cream mixture. If the mixture is not smooth, blend for 20 seconds with a hand blender or pour through a fine sieve.
• Put the egg yolks in a medium bowl. Whisk in about 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture. Whisk in the cornstarch and salt until dissolved. Whisk the cornstarch mixture back into the hot milk mixture in the saucepan. Add the scotch and whisk in.
• Whisking constantly, cook over medium-high heat until thick and just boiling. When the mixture thickens, the whisk will leave trail marks on the bottom of the pot and the mixture will have a few large bubbles boiling up to the top.
• Turn off the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Pour into the pre-baked pie shell and chill, uncovered, at least 2 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the meringue top: Whip whites with the salt to soft peaks, then add sugar and whip until sugar is dissolved and whites are glossy. Spread meringue on top of the slightly cooled pie and bake for 5 minutes until lightly browned (cappuccino colored). Chill until ready to serve.
• In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), mix the flour, salt, and sugar for 1 minute. Add the butter and mix just until you have a crumbly, sandy mixture. You should still be able to see the pieces of butter.
• In a small bowl, stir the water and vinegar together. With the mixer running at medium speed, drizzle in the water-vinegar mixture and mix just until a dough forms. You should still see small bits of butter.
• Turn out onto a work surface, divide the dough in half, and shape into round, flat disks. Wrap separately in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before using. (Or, refrigerate up to 48 hours or freeze up to 1 month before using. If frozen, let thaw in the refrigerator overnight before rolling out.)
• When the time comes to roll out the dough, let the dough warm up for a few minutes at room temperature. Dust a work surface with just a few tablespoons of flour and keep some extra flour at hand. If you like, you can roll out the dough between two sheets of waxed paper (flouring the bottom sheet and the top of the dough before rolling), which makes it much easier to transfer to the pan later on. However, you won't be able to check the progress of the dough as easily. It's entirely up to you.
• Sprinkle a little flour on top of the dough and start rolling outward from the center with quick, light strokes. Don't worry if the edges split a bit; concentrate on getting a good circle going from the center. Lift up and rotate the dough 1/4 turn every minute or so to help ensure even rolling. The dough should feel smooth and soft; some say it should feel like the inside of your forearm. If it gets sticky, sprinkle on a bit more flour, but don't do this more than two or three times; the dough will absorb too much flour. Instead, put it back in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to firm the butter up. Keep rolling until the circle is at least 2 inches larger than your pan (for example, 11-inches wide for a 9-inch pie pan), or 3 inches larger for deep-dish pies.
• Set your pie or tart pan nearby. We always use heavy aluminum pans, because glass pans seem to bake the crust too fast. However, we know that the advantage of glass is that you can easily check the color of the crust. Again, it's up to you. Either choice will work.
• To transfer the crust to the pan, we find it easiest to roll a finished crust up onto the rolling pin, then gently unroll it in the pan. Or, you can fold it gently in quarters, lift it up, position the center point on the center of the pan, and unfold it into the pan. If using waxed paper, peel off the top layer, turn the crust gently into the pan, and peel off the remaining paper. Make sure that the dough is allowed to settle completely into the pan.
• Don't stretch and press the dough into the corners; stretched dough will likely shrink back when you bake it. Instead, lift the edges of the crust to let it settle down into the corners. If the dough tears a bit, don't be concerned; it will patch easily. Using scissors or a sharp knife, trim the dough to within 3/4-inch of the rim. Use any extra scraps to patch the crust, pressing with your fingers (wet them if necessary) or set aside.
• For a single-crust pie: Working around the rim, turn the crust under itself (not under the rim of the pan) to make a thick edge, pressing it firmly against the pan to reduce shrinkage. To decorate the rim, just press it all around with the back of a fork. For a slightly more advanced look, press the thumb and forefinger of one hand together. Use them to gently push the thick dough rim outward, while pushing inward with the forefinger of the other hand, so that they intersect in a "V" with the dough in between. Repeat all around the rim to make a wavy edge.
• Chill the finished crust or crusts for 20 to 30 minutes before filling the pie. When the bottom crust is filled, rest the top crust on top and pinch the edges together, turning them under all the way around. To decorate the rim, just press it all around with the back of a fork. For a slightly more advanced look, press the thumb and forefinger of one hand together. Use them to gently push the thick dough rim outward, while pushing inward with the forefinger of the other hand, so that they intersect in a "V" with the dough in between. Repeat all around the rim to make a wavy edge.
• For a prebaked pie or tart crust (blind baking): Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line the inside of the chilled crust with aluminum foil (don't turn it down over the rim, but leave the extra sticking up so that you have something to hold on to). Fill the foil all the way up to the top of the shell with pie weights or dried beans. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until dry and beginning to turn "blond". Lift the foil and weights out of the shell and bake another 10 to 15 minutes, checking frequently to prevent overbaking, until medium brown.
• Yield: 2 crusts
• Preparation time: 15 minutes plus rolling and shaping
• Cooking time: 30 minutes
• Ease of preparation: moderate
• Recipe courtesy Gale Gand, "Butter Sugar Flour Eggs" by Gale Gand, Rick Tramonto, Julia Moskin: Clarkson N. Potter Publishers, 1999

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Whip the egg white with a whip attachment until stiff.
• Add the sugar, cinnamon, and salt and continue whipping until stiff and glossy. Fold in the walnuts.
• Drop by spoonfuls onto a parchment lined sheet pan and bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool and remove from the pan. Store in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Make crust: Combine cracker crumbs, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, and 1/4 tsp salt. Add the melted butter and mix to moisten dry ingredients. Press onto bottom and up sides of a 9" pie pan Bake until the edges of the crust are beginning to brown, 8-10 minute.
• Make filling: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, swirl the pan until the butter begins to brown, 2-3 minutes more. Remove from heat.
• In the top half of a double boiler, combine the brown sugar, flour, cornstarch, and 1/2 tsp salt. Stir in the browned butter, milk, and egg yolks until fully incorporated. Cook mixture over simmering water, whisking until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a sppon, about 8 minutes. Pour the pudding mixture into the prepared crust. Lay a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the pie to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate while you make the meringue.
• Make the meringue: With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until frothy. Add the salt and beat until soft peaks form. Add the sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, beating until incorporated. Continue to beat until glossy peaks form, about 4 minutes. Beat in the vanilla.
• Remove the plastic from the pudding. Spoon some of the meringue onto the edge of the pudding, spreading it right up to and touching the crust to create a seal. Spoon the rest of the meringue into the center, and using the back of a spoon, spread to cover the entire top.
• Bake until the meringue is golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Let stand for at least 1 hour before serving.

Steps:

• Bake pie crust as directed.
• Cool.
• Preheat oven to 400°F Mix flour and salt together in a small bowl.
• Add 2/3 cup milk and beat until smooth.
• Melt butter in a pot over medium heat: add brown sugar and cook until thick and fluffy.
• Add 1 1/2 cups milk all at once.
• Cook over medium heat until butterscotch dissolves.
• Stir a small amount into flour mixture.
• Add to cooked mixture in pot.
• Cook over medium heat until thick.
• Cook additional 5 minutes stirring constantly.
• Stir a small amount of hot mixture into beaten egg yolks.
• Add eggs to mixture in pot and cook stirring for 1 minute longer.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
• Pour into baked, cooled shell.
• Prepare meringue and spread on filling.
• Bake for 5-7 minutes until meringue is lightly browned.
• MERINGUE: Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry.
• Gradually add sugar, while beating.
• Pile gently onto pie filling.
• Bake.

Steps:

• Make and bake a 9" single pie shell. Or use store bought.
• In saucepan combine brown sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Whisk in half & half. Whisk constantly over medium heat till mix is thick and bubbly. Cook an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Gradually whisk about 1 cup of the hot mix into the egg yolks, whisking all the time. Add this back into the rest of what is in the pan. Bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and cook and whisk for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in butter and vanilla till well mixed. Let cool a bit, whisk and pour into pie shell and set aside.
• Pre-heat oven to 350 degree's.
• Take egg whites and sugar to please you and beat to make meringue. Top pie (sealing edges) and bake till the top is the way you like it.
• Enjoy and save me a piece :O).