Pies, Part III - Cream

Dateline: 11/02/97

Cream pies are special. They are so rich and so thick you just want to dive right in. They are a pie of many different crusts; from a traditional pie crust to a graham cracker to a cookie crust to a no-crust, crust. They are pretty famous, too. They have been the stars of many motion pictures and television shows. You know, the proverbial "pie in the face". Of course, those pies may have been made with more shaving cream than whipped cream. Speaking of whipped cream - most cream pies are either topped with whipped cream or meringue.

Meringue
from Borden Great American P*I*E*S

I will be the first to admit that I am not a meringue person but I love it all the same. Why? Nothing can make a cream pie look prettier than being topped my a sea of white waves, tipped in brown. It's also a calorie saver. I just push the meringue aside and eat the pie underneath.

3 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
6 tablespoons sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In small mixer bowl, beat egg whites with cream of tartar to soft peaks; gradually add sugar, beating until stiff but not dry. Spread meringue on top of pie, sealing carefully to edge of pastry shell. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Chill.

Whipped Cream
There is nothing like the taste of fresh whipped cream. I'll admit it - I've used Cool Whip, in fact there's some in the refrigerator right now. (I made the Cemetery dessert that was advertised in the newspaper coupon section for a Halloween party.) But when you go to all of the trouble of making a homemade cream pie, you just have to top it with the best. I make my whipped cream in "Old Bluey" which is what I call my Kitchen Aid stand-up mixer (it's blue). It's so easy just put the ingredients in and go. If you don't have a stand-up mixer, you just have to get one. It's one of my best kitchen investments.

1 pint whipping cream (highest fat percentage you can find)
1/2 cup sugar
Put cream in mixer. Mix until it thickens slightly and then gradually add the sugar. Mix until soft peaks form.

Pie Recipes

Aunty's Pineapple Cream Cheese Pie
Cream cheese makes a cream pie more dense.

Fresh Coconut Pie
In a graham cracker crust, this pie is a must for your cream pie list.

Nellie's Original Key Lime Pie
My favorite cream pie is a Key Lime Pie. It brings back childhood memories of lunch at the Parrot Jungle in Miami. Who would better know about making a Key Lime Pie than the makers of the best lime juice: Nellie and Joe's Famous Key West Lime Juice.

Lemon Blossom Pie with Tall N' Tender Meringue
There is nothing for traditional than a Lemon Meringue Pie.

Minty Mousse Pie Au Chocolat
Ah, Chocolate Cream Pie with a kick - a minty kick that is.

My Favorite Pie Recipe Sites
Flora's Recipe Hideout
ICHEF (The Internet Chef)
My Menus
The Pie Page

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