Key Lime Pie

I was talking to a couple people at our Harvest Festival these past few days, and came to realize something. There is no place for good coffee or pastries in my town. And by town, I actually mean two towns (about 8 or so miles apart) where our clinics are located. From what I learned, there has been a cafe in the past, but it has long been boarded up and closed. Interesting... Light bulb clicks on in my head*

I mean I can't right now for some obvious *cough house cough* reasons, but it's good to know that maybe in the distant future I could really be onto something here. Hmmm if I save a couple pennies a day I can make it happen. I'd have fresh bread, some sweets, and some awesome coffee. Get a couple of comfy couches, and keep it simple. There's a Starbucks down the road, but it's inside of a Target. Not exactly welcoming with the cash register beeping and kids eating Cheetos in the background, know what I mean?

First thing I have to do is learn how to be a good bread baker. Giz, supreme overseer of BloggerAid View and Review, sent me a copy of Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day, so I'll have to give my hand at that real soon, but I'll save that for another post :)

Anyways, onto today. It was a friends birthday last week, and like any good friend (you've been there), I asked what she would like. And the response I received was a very non-September answer, but delicious nonetheless...

Key Lime Pie.

I've never done one of those! What is it? Is it kinda like the famous Lemon Meringue pie? Is it super limey? I had to know these questions... but more importantly, it was a good excuse to try something I wouldn't of done on my own brainstorming power :)

So, like anything else that I'm completely clueless about, I ask somebody. Except in the case of driving directions. So I searched my lists of blogs I follow, and came across this awesome recipe. It is from Cassie, Southern Talented Bakeaholic Extraordinaire, who is a fantastic creator and comedian of How to Eat a Cupcake. I mean the title has the word "Awesome" in it. Now I don't know much, but I know fate when I see it... and this is a recipe asking for me, ladies and gents.

Here it is, with a few small changes by me... because this is how we do it sometimes :)


Key Lime Pie
From How to Eat a Cupcake

1/2 cup lime juice - It's about 3 good size limes, squeezed
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup mascarpone cheese, room temperature - I used American cream cheese instead
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
Zest of 1 whole lime
5 egg yolks
whipped cream, for garnish (Beat 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1 Tbsp confectioners sugar, and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract until desired thickness; Do not overbeat or it will turn into butter!)

Crust
1 3/4 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup sweetened coconut flakes
1/3 cup sugar (I'll reduce this to 1/4 cup next time)
1/3 cup pecans
7-8 TBSP melted butter (I only used 5 Tbsp, I think next time I'll reduce it to 4)

In a food processor, blend together graham cracker crumbs, coconut, sugar and pecans. You want to make sure that none of the coconut is visible. Add about 7 TBSP melted butter. Pulse a few times. If it seems like it needs more butter add the remaining TBSP (Mixture should still be crumbly).

Pour contents into a pie pan and press to form a shell. Bake crust for 10 minutes at 400F (I only baked mine for 8 minutes, I'll reduce it to about 6 minutes next time). If you are using mini pie pans, prebaking is not necessary. (After baking my pie crust I let it cool for about 10 minutes before making the filling.)

Whisk sweetened condensed milk with the egg yolks. Whisk in mascarpone cheese. Stir in whipping cream and lime juice. Stir in lime zest. Pour into prepared graham cracker crust and bake at 325° for 15 to 20 minutes. (Filling will still be slightly wobbly; It will firm as it cools.)


So besides using lime juice of the not-key variety, and cream cheese in place of marscapone, I pretty much stuck to the recipe. It was fantastic. Very, very fantastic. It has this sweet tartness going on, and is still very light, which is perfect for dessert after a heavy meal. Like I could actually get up and move afterwards. Would I go workout? No... but at least a nice walk is possible.

Thanks everyone for all the warm house wishes and insight again. Moving is going well, and I should have some appliances moved in real soon. The power is on at least, which is a start :) Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and Happy October :)

Maybe I'll paint the kitchen key lime....