Lemon Meringue Pie

[rtebalt]

1 cup all-purpose flour
3 Tbsp each cold butter, cut in pieces, and trans-fat-free shortening
1 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice
2 to 3 Tbsp cold water
FILLING
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
Yolks from 4 large eggs
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 cups water
2 Tbsp butter, cut up
2 tsp freshly grated lemon zest
MERINGUE
Whites from 4 large eggs
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 cup sugar

PREPARATION
1. Pastry: In food processor, pulse flour with butter and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. With motor running, add lemon juice, then water, 1 tablespoon at a time, just until dough leaves sides of bowl. Remove blade, then dough.

2. Gather dough into a ball; press into a disk. Wrap with wax paper or plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll out.

3. Heat oven to 425ºF. You'll need a 9-in. pie plate. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface or between 2 sheets of wax paper to 12-in. circle. Fit dough into pie plate, pressing gently onto bottom and up sides; crimp edge and freeze 15 minutes. Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until golden. Remove pie plate to wire rack; cool while making filling. Reduce oven temperature to 350ºF.

4. Filling: Whisk sugar and cornstarch in a 2-qt saucepan. Whisk in egg yolks and lemon juice until smooth. Stir in water; continue stirring over medium heat until mixture comes to a full boil. Boil about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until filling is translucent and thick. Remove from heat. Add butter and lemon zest, stirring until butter melts. Pour hot filling into baked pie shell.

5. Meringue: Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in a medium bowl with electric mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form when beaters are lifted. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition until sugar dissolves. Beat 2 minutes longer or until stiff peaks form when beaters are lifted.

6. Spoon meringue around edge of filling; spread to edge of crust to seal. Spoon remaining meringue in center; spread and swirl with back of teaspoon to cover filling evenly.

7. Bake 20 minutes or until meringue is browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted in center of meringue registers 160ºF.

8. Cool completely on a wire rack, then refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours. To serve, cut with a long-blade knife dipped in cold water.

Active: 30 min/Total: 1 hr 15 min (plus chilling)

Plan ahead: You can make pastry dough the day before