Blue Ribbon Mile High Lemon Meringue Pie - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell (with high fluted edge)
LEMON FILLING
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons flour
1 dash salt
1 1/2 cups water
6 egg yolks (slightly beaten)
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon peel, grated
6 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons butter
MERINGUE
6 egg whites (at room temperature)
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

BAKE 9-INCH FLUTED PIE SHELL:
Preheat oven to 400\u00b0F (205\u00b0C).
Fit the crust into a pie plate and flute the edge.
Prick the bottom and sides of the crust with a fork.
Bake at 400\u00b0F (205\u00b0C) for 5 minutes.
Allow to cool while preparing rest of recipe.
PREPARE LEMON FILLING:
In a medium-size heavy saucepan, mix 1-1/2 cups sugar, cornstarch, flour and salt.
Gradually add water, stirring until well blended.
Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly; cook 3 minutes.
Remove hot mixture from heat.
Slowly pour about half of mixture into slightly beaten egg yolks, stirring constantly.
Slowly pour egg yolk mixture back into hot mixture, stirring constantly.
Return saucepan to heat.
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and cook 3 minutes more.
Add lemon peel, lemon juice, and butter.
Cook about 2 minutes more, stirring with a rubber spatula in a circular motion. DO NOT LET MIXTURE STICK TO BOTTOM OF PAN. Filling will be very thick and spatula will leave a track when drawn through filling.
Cover saucepan and remove from heat; keep warm.
PREPARE MERINGUE:
Preheat oven to 350\u00b0F (175\u00b0C).
In a large bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy.
Beat in 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time.
Beat in vanilla extract with the last tablespoon of sugar.
Continue beating until egg whites hold a soft peak.
Set aside.
ASSEMBLE PIE:
If filling has cooled, reheat, stirring constantly, before spooning into baked pie shell.
Starting around the edge of pie, spoon meringue over filling, making sure meringue touches fluting on pie shell.
Bake in preheated 350\u00b0F (175\u00b0C) oven 15 minutes or until meringue is golden brown.
COOL 4 HOURS BEFORE SERVING:
Cool about 4 hours at room temperature before cutting.
Makes one 9-inch pie.