Recipe: Blue Heaven Key Lime Pie (Blue Heaven Restaurant, Key West, FL)

BLUE HEAVEN KEY LIME PIE
(Click to see a photo)

FOR THE GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST:
(this makes enough crust for about 4 pies)
4 cups graham cracker crumbs
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
FOR THE FILLING:
2 cans (14 ounces each) Borden's Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 cup fresh key lime juice
8 egg yolks
FOR THE MERINGUE:
8 egg whites*
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/3 cup confectioner's sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

TO MAKE THE GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST:
Mix the cracker crumbs, sugar and butter together. Line a 9 inch pie tin with the cracker mix, pressing firmly to line bottom and sides.

Bake for 8 minutes at 350 degrees F.

TO MAKE THE FILLING:
Whisk the condensed milk with the lime juice and egg yolks in a stainless steel bowl. Pour the filling into the pre-baked graham cracker shell. Set aside while making the meringue.

TO MAKE THE MERINGUE:*
Beat the egg whites to a soft peak - add cream of tartar and continue to whip to a stiff peak. Continue whipping and add the sugar, whipping until the meringue forms stiff peaks. Decoratively add meringue on top of the filling.

Bake for 15-30 minutes at 350 degrees F. Cook until the meringue has good color. Check with a wooden skewer or cake tester to be sure the custard is done.

*Be sure the bowl and whisk used to beat the egg whites is very clean, otherwise the egg whites will not form a stiff peak.

Serving Ideas: Garnish with slice of lime.

Makes 1 pie, 6 servings
Source: Blue Heaven Restaurant, Key West, FL
http://www.blueheavenkw.com/