Palm Springs Key Lime Pie

My first experience to taste KEY LIME PIE was in Key West, Florida. Fell in love with the flavor but did not appreciate the moist crust and the chewy filling. After much experimentation, I formulated this pie in Palm Springs, CA, and that is how I gave it the name PALM SPRINGS KEY LIME PIE. The pie has been reviewed my many newspapers and has been noted as, "A Pie to Die For".

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• PIE CRUST

• 3⁄4 cup  crushed  vanilla wafers or 3⁄4 cup  vanilla cookie crumbs
• 3⁄4 cup  crushed  graham wafers or 3⁄4 cup  graham wafer crumbs
• 1⁄2 cup  finely chopped pecans
• 1⁄4 cup margarine or 1⁄4 cup butter
•  vegetable oil cooking spray
• 1  tablespoon all-purpose flour

• FILLING

• 4  large eggs, separated
• 1⁄2 cup  freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2  teaspoons lime zest
• 10 1⁄2 fluid ounces sweetened condensed milk (Borden Eagle Brand suggested)
• 4  drops  green food coloring
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1⁄2 cup granulated sugar

• TOPPING

• 1⁄2 cup  whipping cream
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄4 cup granulated sugar

Directions

1. PIE CRUST-----------.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine vanilla wafer crumbs, graham wafer crumbs and finely chopped pecans.
3. Pecans can be processed in a food processor.
4. Reserve 1/2 cup of vanilla/graham wafer mixture to be used on top of pie.
5. Add margarine or butter to mixture and blend with a pastry blender or fork.
6. Prepare a 9 inch oven proof pie dish by spraying with a vegetable spray, then dusting lightly with flour.
7. Shake off any excess flour off pie dish and discard (This prevents the shell from sticking to the dish when baked).
8. Spoon wafer mixture into pie dish; press evenly to bottom and sides using a rounded soup spoon.
9. Place pie dish in freezer compartment for at least 30 minutes to cool and firm up.
10. FILLING-----------.
11. Place eggs in a bowl of warm water for about 15 minutes before cracking and separating.
12. Separate eggs, and make sure that the egg whites DO NOT have any yolk.
13. If any egg yolk accidentally gets into the egg whites, take a piece of bread and dip it over the yolk and this should remove it.
14. In a mixing bowl, whisk egg yolks until smooth.
15. Add lime juice, grated lime zest, condensed milk, green food coloring and whisk until well blended.
16. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until frothy; add cream of tartar and beat until egg whites form soft peaks.
17. Add sugar gradually, beating continuously until stiff peaks form.
18. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the milk mixture using a spatula until incorporated.
19. Preheat oven to 375 F degrees.
20. Pour filling mixture into cooled pie shell and level.
21. Sprinkle top with reserved wafer/pecan mixture.
22. Bake in preheated 375 F oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until top is golden brown.
23. Remove from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.
24. Refrigerate pie for at least 1 hour before serving.
25. TOPPING-----------.
26. In a medium size chilled mixing bowl or a 2 cup measure, whip 1/2 cup whipping cream until the cream just starts to thicken.
27. Add vanilla extract and beat for a few seconds.
28. Add sugar gradually, beating continously until thickened.
29. DO NOT OVERBEAT, OTHERWISE YOU WILL FORM BUTTER.
30. Just before serving, decorate pie with whipped cream to your liking.
31. For a nice presentation, slice about 4 thin slices of lime, cut one edge of the slice, twist slightly and push into pie in 4 areas.
32. Place a dollop of whipped cream in front and back of the projecting slice of lime.