Easy Lemon Meringue Pie Recipe With Lemon Pudding

Steps:

• In medium bowl, mix flour and salt. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until mixture forms coarse crumbs the size of small peas. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until flour mixture is moistened and can be pressed into a ball.
• Shape into flattened round on lightly floured surface. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 45 minutes or until dough is cold.
• Heat oven to 450°F. With floured rolling pin, roll pastry on lightly floured surface into round 2 inches larger than upside-down 9-inch glass pie plate. Fold pastry into fourths; place in pie plate, or roll pastry loosely around rolling pin and transfer to pie plate. Unfold or unroll pastry 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 to prevent puffing. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until light brown; cool on cooling rack.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. In small bowl, beat egg yolks with fork. In 2-quart saucepan, mix 1 1/2 cups sugar and the cornstarch; gradually stir in 1 1/2 cups water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute.
• Immediately stir with whisk at least half of hot mixture into egg yolks; stir back into hot mixture in saucepan. Return to boiling; boil and stir constantly 2 minutes; remove from heat. Stir in butter, lemon zest and lemon juice with whisk. Cover and keep warm.
• 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; scrape side of bowl occasionally. Continue beating until stiff, glossy peaks form and sugar is completely dissolved. Beat in vanilla. Pour hot lemon filling into baked pie shell. Immediately drop spoonfuls of meringue onto hot lemon filling, and carefully spread meringue to cover top completely, spreading to edge of crust to prevent shrinkage or weeping.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until meringue is browned and temperature reaches 160°F. Cool on cooling rack 1 hour. Refrigerate about 4 hours or until filling is set. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Gradually add 3 tablespoons cold water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. , Roll out dough to fit a 9-in. pie plate. Transfer crust to pie plate. Trim to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Bake at 425° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned., Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, flour and salt. Gradually stir in water until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. , Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot filling into egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in butter and lemon zest. Gradually stir in lemon juice just until combined. Pour into the crust., For meringue, in a saucepan, combine 2 tablespoons sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in cold water. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is clear. Transfer to a bowl; cool., Beat egg whites and vanilla until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat in cornstarch mixture on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Spread evenly over hot filling, sealing edge to crust., Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until the meringue is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• 1. Thaw 2 pre-made 9" deep dish pie shells (or you can make your own crusts) and using a fork prick the shell all around, so the crust doesn't puff up during the baking time.
• 2. Bake the pie shells in a pre-heated 400° oven for 10-12 minutes until lightly browned; set aside to cool.
• 3. Divide the egg yolks and reserve the whites for the meringue, making sure there is NO egg yolk in the whites. I remove the white membrane from the reserved egg whites also. Keep the egg white at room temperature.
• 4. In a microwaveable safe glass bowl, combine the pudding mix, sugar, whipped egg yolks, 1/3 cup of lemon juice, and 2/3 cup of the water. Whisk the ingredients until all is combined.
• 5. Add the remaining 5 cups of water.
• 6. Place in the microwave on full power and cook (STIRRING EVERY 3 MINUTES) for about 16-18 minutes. Note: If you use hot water it would be less cooking time. I use cold because that's the way mom wanted it done.
• 7. The pudding will be semi-thick. The pudding will thicken more as it cools.
• 8. Fill each of the pre-baked pie crusts and set aside while you make the meringue.
• 9. In a large bowl, add the reserved egg whites and beat on high just until it starts to get foamy.
• 10. Add 1 Tbsp of the sugar at a time, beating between each addition, until all the sugar is used.
• 11. Continue to beat on high until stiff peaks form in the egg whites.
• 12. Spoon half of the firm meringue onto each pie and spread out to seal the edge of the pie.
• 13. Using your spatula or spoon, tap the top of the meringue to lift up peaks on the pie.
• 14. Bake the pie on the center oven rack for 10-12 minutes @ 350F until the meringue is a golden brown.
• 15. Note: It's best if you chill this pie before cutting into it. This meringue does weep but mom never cared because the pies never lasted that long anyway... LOL.

Steps:

• 1. MAKE PIE CRUST or use frozen/refrigerated. Cut shortening into flour in a large bowl until it looks like coarse crumbs. beat an egg, and pour over crumbs. Add water, vinegar and salt and stir gently to combine. Divide into 3 equal balls and flatten into discs. Wrap well with plastic wrap and freeze 2 for future use. Freeze one for 20 minutes, then roll out, line pie plate and flute the edges.
• 2. BLIND BAKE. Lay a sheet of parchment paper or foil(sprayed the surface that touches the crust with non stick spray) over crust-and fill with dry beans, rice or pie weights. Bake @ 425 for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, lower heat to 375. Remove the parchment/foil and weights. Moisture proof the crust by applying egg wash with a pastry brush on the bottom of the crust and about an inch up the sides. Resume baking the crust for 5-7 minutes until light golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
• 3. MAKE MERINGUE (It needs to be ready as soon as the shell is filled) If you haven't separated your eggs, do so at this time, placing the whites in a CLEAN mixing bowl and the yolks in a medium saucepan. With CLEAN BEATERS begin to mix the egg whites on medium high. Beat to soft peak stage-to check from time to time-turn off mixer and lift some whites up with the beaters, the tip should softly flop over. Begin slowly sprinkling sugar a spoonfull at a time, while beating constantly, until all sugar is incorporated. Continue beating until sugar is dissolved(not gritty when tested with thumb and forefinger) And stiff peaks are formed. Set aside. Preheat oven to 325.
• 4. PREPARE FILLING Empty pudding mix in the saucepan with yolks, add 3/4c sugar and whisk to incorporate, adding water a little at a time to avoid lumps. When all water is incorporated, place pan over medium to medium high heat and stir constantly with a wooden spoon. Cook until thickened and mixture reaches a full boil. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice and zest.
• 5. Pour immediately into prepared pie shell.
• 6. Immedately spoon or pipe meringue mixture over hot filling, completely sealing to the crust and swirl as desired. Bake @ 325 for 15-20 minutes until tips of meringue are golden. Cool to room temperature or chill before serving.