LEMON MERINGUE PIES RECIPES

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Pour immediately into prepared pie shell.
• 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.

Steps:

• To make pastry, process flour, icing sugar and butter until crumbly. Add egg yolk and cold water; process until ingredients come together. Knead dough on floured surface until smooth. Wrap pastry in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Grease a 24cm round loose-based fluted flan pan. Roll pastry between sheets of baking paper until large enough to line pan. Ease pastry into pan, press into base and side; trim edge. Cover; refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 200°C.
• Place pan on oven tray. Line pastry case with baking paper and fill with dried beans or rice. Bake 15 minutes. Remove paper and beans carefully from pastry case. Bake another 10 minutes; cool pastry case, turn oven off.
• Meanwhile, combine cornflour and 1 cup caster sugar in a medium saucepan; gradually stir in juice and the water until smooth. Cook, stirring, over high heat, until mixture boils and thickens. Reduce heat; simmer, stirring, 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in rind, butter and egg yolks. Cool 10 minutes.
• Spoon the lemon filling into the cooked, cooled pastry case; spread the filling out evenly, covering the base completely and taking it to the edge of the pastry case. Use a fork to roughen the surface of the filling. Cover; refrigerate 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 220°C.
• Beat egg whites in a small bowl with electric mixer until soft peaks form; gradually add remaining sugar, beating until sugar dissolves.
• Spread meringue mixture onto roughened surface of filling. Bake about 2 minutes or until meringue is browned lightly.