Mimi's Lemon Meringue Pie

This is the best-ever Lemon Meringue Pie you could ask for. It is made with fresh lemons and fresh grated lemon peel. This is to die for---well not actually, but it has great lemon flavor and it is not that hard to make. Before putting the lemon filling in the pie shell, you will notice that a couple of tablespoons of the meringue go into the filling. It is wonderful. Once you make this you will not want to have any other.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Yields: 1 pie

Ingredients

• 1  baked  pie shell
• 1 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 1 1⁄2 cups water
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup cornstarch
• 1⁄3 cup water
• 4  egg yolks ((slightly beaten--save the whites)
• 1⁄2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 3  tablespoons butter
• 1  teaspoon  grated lemon peel

• MERINGUE

• 4  egg whites (saved from the yolks)
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup sugar

Directions

1. In a saucepan combine the first 1 1/2 cups water, salt, and the sugar; heat to boiling.
2. In a small bowl mix the cornstarch and 1/3 cup water to make a paste.
3. Add to the boiling mixture gradually, stirring constantly; cook till thick and clear.
4. Remove from heat.
5. Combine the egg yolks and lemon juice and mix well.
6. Stir into thickened mixture slowly, stirring all the while as you don't want to scramble the yolks (you could temper the yolks, but if you are careful about the contstant stirring, you will not need to do that).
7. Return to heat and cook, stirring constantly until mixture bubbles again; remove from heat.
8. Stir in butter and lemon peel.
9. Cover and cool to lukewarm.
10. MERINGUE:.
11. Add the salt to the egg whites and beat till frothy.
12. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, beating till glossy peaks are formed.
13. Stir 2 rounded tablespoons of the meringue into the lukewarm lemon filling and mix well.
14. Put the filling into a baked pie shell and pile the meringue on top spreading to the edge of the shell.
15. Bake in a 325-350 degree oven about 10 minutes or till golden.