Lemon Meringue Pie with Graham Crust

Summary
Prep time	30 min
Cook time	~15 min @ 375°
Source	Epicurious.com
Yield / serves	9" pie
Rating	Very good

NOTE: Instead of the crust shown, a graham cracker crust works well too.

Ingredients

Crust:

• 1 cup whole wheat graham flour (such as Bob's Red Mill whole grain stone-ground graham flour)
• 1/2 cup unbleached all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel
• 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, cooled slightly

Filling:

• 1 cup sugar
• 6 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 6 large eggs
• 2 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel

Meringue:

• 3 large egg whites, room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 6 T sugar
• 1/2 t vanilla

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°. Butter bottom and sides of 9-inch-diameter glass pie plate. Stir first 4 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Gradually add butter, stirring until moist clumps form. Press dough evenly onto bottom and up sides of prepared pie plate. Bake crust until golden brown and firm to touch, about 20 minutes. Maintain oven temperature.

Meanwhile, whisk sugar and cornstarch in heavy medium saucepan until no lumps remain. Gradually whisk in lemon juice. Add eggs 1 at a time, whisking to blend well after each addition. Stir in finely grated lemon peel. Whisk mixture constantly over medium heat until filling thickens and boils. Remove from heat; whisk to smooth if necessary. Transfer filling to prepared crust. Smooth top.

Using electric mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl until frothy. Beat in the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue beating until stiff and glossy. Do not underbeat. Beat in the vanilla.

Spread meringue over warm filling, sealing meringue to crust at edges. Using spatula, form peaks and swirls in meringue. Bake pie until meringue is golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool pie completely on rack.

Cut pie into wedges and serve with blackberry sauce.