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Gone with the Wind Heavenly Pie

Source of Recipe


Cook's Country: Lost Recipes



List of Ingredients



• 4 large eggs, separated, room temperature
  
• ½ tsp cream of tartar
  
• ¾ tsp salt
  
• 1½ cups sugar
  
• 1 Tbsp grated lemon zest, plus 3 Tbsp juice
  
• 2 cups heavy cream, chilled
  






Instructions



1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 300° F. Grease 9-inch deep-dish pie plate.
   
   
2. In large bowl, whip egg whites, cream of tartar, and ½ tsp salt with handheld mixer on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase mixer speed to medium-high and whip whites to soft, billowy mounds, 1 to 3 minutes. Gradually whip in 1 cup sugar, about 1 minute. Continue to whip whites until glossy and very thick, 3 to 6 minutes.
   
   
3. Spread meringue into prepared pie plate and smooth into even layer. Run finger tip around inside edge of pie plate to create some gap between meringue and rim of plate. Bake meringue until golden brown and set, about 1 hour. Turn off oven and let meringue dry completely for 3 hours longer. Let meringue cool completely on wire rack, about 30 minutes. (Meringue will crack and deflate after baking to form crust.)
   
   
4. Meanwhile, whisk egg yolks, lemon zest and juice, remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, and remaining ½ cup sugar together in medium saucepan until smooth. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens slightly (about 170° on an instant-read thermometer), about 5 minutes. Strain curd through fine-mesh strainer into large bowl and press plastic wrap directly on surface. Refrigerate lemon curd until cooled completely, about 1 hour.
   
   
5. Whip cream in large bowl with handheld mixer on medium-low speed to high, and continue to whip until cream forms soft peaks, 1 to 3 minutes longer. Fold half of whipped cream into cooled lemon curd until no white streaks remain. Spread lemon mixture into cooled meringue shell and smooth into even layer. Spread remaining whipped cream attractively over top and refrigerate until filling and topping have set, about 1 hour, before serving.
   
   Serves 8
   
   






Final Comments


"We lived in Southern California in the 1950s. One spring, our Brownie troop was holding a bake sale in our front yard. Mom generously baked her own creation, a delicious lemon pie (or heavenly pie) and added it to the selection. Almost immediately, a handsome gentleman pulled up in his little sports car, climbed out, and asked to purchase the heavenly pie. Our customer was not only one of our neighbors, he was also the legendary Clark Gable! So from that day forward, her pie was always referred to as Mom's 'Gone with the Wind' Heavenly Pie!"

~ Sandy Farler (Bellevue, Washington)