Oh Those Heavenly Lemon Meringue Pies

I've written before about my grandmother's skills when baking pies. Her recipes featured measurements such as a pinch-a dash-and a sprinkle. This time of year she'd be on overload making her pies. Many would be berry pies because of the abundance of wild berries in the fields surrounding the farm. From raspberries to blackberries and strawberries, berry pies were created and enjoyed one right after another. But one pie didn't contain any berries; no apples or pumpkins. The main ingredient in that pie was lemons. And on the days when she made her mouthwatering lemon meringue pies, my grandmother's  kitchen was bustling.

The process began with her creating the most flaky pie crust I've ever tasted. Her pie crusts were perfect every time she made them. Every pie crust offered the same consistency, the same flavor, look and smell as previous pie crusts. She'd measure the flour, salt, water and lard together. Then divide the dough into two balls if it was a two-crust pie and start rolling out the crust. Of course her lemon meringue pie was a one-crust pie. That sweet meringue was the topping.

My grandmother used lemon juice when making her lemon meringue pies. She'd gather the sugar, salt, flour and cornstarch in a saucepan .Adding water a little at a time, she'd cook the mixture in a double boiler, stirring until it thickened. Then egg yolks were stirred. Butter and lemon juice were added and then poured into a baked pie crust and cooled completely. While that was cooling, my grandmother would create her delectable meringue; beating the egg whites until they held a soft shape; then adding the sugar until the meringue was stiff enough to stand in peaks. Spreading the meringue on top of the cooled pie, it was placed in the hot oven until the meringue was lightly browned.

To taste my grandmother's lemon meringue pie was like tasting a little bit of heaven. The combination of the lemon and the fluffy, sweet meringue was proof that opposites attract. Those lemon meringue pies made with love in my grandmother's farmhouse kitchen never lasted very long. That's because those pies were favorites; enjoyed by young and old alike.