3/26/09

The Perfect Lemon & Lemon Cream Pie

Isn’t it amazing the way God created the lemon?

I love the freshness, zippiness and invigorating flavor. I really love to cook with lemons, and I always keep them on hand in my kitchen fruit bowl.



I also love how vibrant lemons are. 

And someday when we remodel our kitchen, I am thinking about painting the walls yellow. There are so many beautiful shades of yellow – I can’t wait until the time to pick out the color.

But in the meantime, let me show you what’s happening
yellow-wise around my house!

Freshly clipped forsythias on my front porch



Dollar store bunch on my hutch


Daffodils picked just today


Lemons hand-picked by a special lady


When my Dad called from vacation to say my step mom was picking lemons – I begged them to bring me some. And that they did – a big brown bag full of Arizona-perfect lemons!

My first thought was to make a Lemon Cream Pie, 
just like my Aunt Lois used to make. 

I have fond memories of dipping my finger into the whipped cream at my Auntie's house.  Oh, and that would be a Sour Cream Lemon Pie, which has a mellower, creamier taste.

This pie is nice and tart, but also has the perfect 
amount of sweetness to it.


Lemon Cream Pie
1/4 cup corn starch
3 T. water
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups water
2 T. butter
9 T. lemon juice
3 egg yolks
2 T. milk
1 (8 inch) baked pie shell
1 cup sour cream
1 pint whipping cream, whipped

Dissolve cornstarch in 3 T cold water.  In a sauce pan mix sugar, water and butter.  Cook over low heat until sugar dissolves.  Add cornstarch mixture and cook until clear (about 8 minutes), stirring occasionally.  Add lemon juice and cook for 2 minutes.  Mix egg yolks with milk and add to saucepan.  Cook over low heat until mixture boils, stirring occasionally.  Cool.

Pour 1/2 mixture into pie shell and refrigerate.


Add sour cream to the other half of the mixture.  Spread over the top of the first half.  Refrigerate.
  

Top with whipped cream before serving.

Thank you Ginny, for the lemons. 

And thank you Ginny for the hugs. I appreciate my step mom a lot. She was a gift to my Dad almost 12 years ago.


(Ginny hugging my daughter at her violin performance earlier this year.)

Also, I'm curious if you've heard of Orange Limes?  

Visit my friend Linda T, here, and read all about them!

31 comments:

Stacey said...

Very pretty yellows in your post today Sandy. The pie looks wonderful. Made with real hand picked lemons. Woo hoo!

Shell in your Pocket said...

I can almost smell those lemons from the computer~ I love lemon anything..cut up in an a big glass of ice water is even perfect.

That pie would be perfect for a summer afternoon by the pool~
sandy toe

MOMSWEB said...

I can almost smell the lemons also! I'll never look at a lemon the same again. A lemony smell for cleaning is great also!

Betsy Brock said...

I'm going to have to pick up a bag of lemons while I'm out today!

Bevy @ Treasured Up and Pondered said...

Yumm! I can just taste it now...

I think I have one lemon hiding in my fridge - I should figure out a special way to use that up today. If it's any good still.

Christian - Modobject@Home said...

Lemons are so fresh and simple, just like lemon cream pie. I love your splashes of brightness!

Kimba said...

Oh major yum!!!! That looks fantastic! I love lemon cream pie and yours looks deeeeeeeevine!!!

Kimba

Lucy..♥ said...

Luscious! Just love those lemons!!

Anonymous said...

I love the bright pops of yellow. Hello Spring! I love putting lemon peels down the garbage disposal and getting that fresh lemon-y scent. I already told my husband--in our next house, we are definitely having a lemon tree.

ellen b. said...

Never heard of orange limes. Boy your blog is just glowing with all this pretty yellow! I love lemons. Growing up the only salad dressing we used was a squeezed lemon, salt and pepper...

Kirstin said...

Very pretty. I love yellow too! It's so bright and cheery. Have you checked out Sandras lemon tea cookies at Full Bellies..yummy looking.

Melanie said...

Lemons are my favorite fruit!

I have been buying them like crazy lately and making fresh lemonade w/stevia (herbal sweetener).

Melanie@Bella~Mella

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest said...

That pie looks SO good, I am definitely making that this weekend! :) I just love yellow accents right now too! I have yellow tulips on my kitchen table now, and some faux lemons in an apothecary jar on the buffet! So cheery!! Thanks for sharing with us :)
Stacey

Sarah said...

ooh, i think there's a lemon cream pie in my future :D thanks for sharing!

Christy said...

I noticed some daffodils popping up this morning when I dropped my son off at school... makes me happy and reassured that yes, Spring is here even though it's kind of chilly here in Ohio today.

Lemons are one of my favorites. They look beautiful in a bowl, taste yummy in a pie and there is nothing like a glass of lemonade on a summer day.

Once again you have given me a recipe to try... thank you:)

linda t said...

Thank you so much for linking to my post on orange-limes! We are teaching at a Marriage Retreat this weekend and we're decorating with a lemon theme. So of course, I gotta make my lemon bars. Yum!
I have made pies for years but have yet to made a lemon meringue pie. I know, shame on me! But I am going to try your recipe. Thanks Sandy!

sweetfunkyvintage said...

I, too, love lemons!
My sister grows orange limes in her yard in Florida. She likes to tease my kids with them - here taste this yummy orange - and it is a tart lime instead!
missy

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Oh - those lemons look divine! And all of the yellow around your house is gorgeous!

I love almost anything lemon. Lemon bars and Lemon Meringue pie ar emy faves. Thanks for the inspiration!

XOXOX
Jen

Unknown said...

Oh how gorgeous, all the yellow! My mother is a lemon lover and I'll have to make this just for her.
Happy Twirls,
Libby

GiBee said...

Sandy, this pie looks delicious!!! I'll have to give it a try! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

Alisa Lucas-Brown said...

Hi Sandy,
I loved reading about the lemons. I adore lemons. We keep them on hand too. I have been craving a Lemon Curd Cake so I'm off to the grocer's to pick up some ingredients. I am going to bake one tonight. :-) My mom loves lemon pies so I am going to try your recipe for Easter Brunch. Haven't heard of Orange limes. I'll check it out. Thanks!
Alisa

Anonymous said...

I just discovered your blog and it is fantastic! I will for sure be adding you to my list of favorites. That pie looks delicous!

I'll be back.

Lulu and Co. said...

My mouth is watering... Lemon Cream pie is my FaVoriTe! How I wish I had a slice right now! thanks for sharing the recipe... making it this weekend, how I hope it will turn out yummy!
LuLu

Kim said...

I recently posted about lemon sponge pie - one of my favorites!

The Bloom Girls said...

I love lemons, but not just in food, but in my lotions and soaps as well. It is so fresh and clean. I am now totally craving lemon cream pie and I'm especially excited about trying your recipe with a layer of sour cream blended in. Double YUM!

Linda C said...

I agree with Sandy Toes- it's so weird - I mean it-I got a wiff of lemons as I read this recipe! It looks so fresh and well, lemony!:)
(I swear the lemon Pledge was nowhere in sight:)

I have shied away from lemon pie because of being intimidated by making meringue like my mom made.

I can handle throwing some cool whip on top though!

I will definitely be making this:)

Bless your sweet stepMom!

Blessings,

Linda C

Becky said...

Lemon pie is one of my favorite desserts. Can't wait to try yours, it looks so easy!

Renee said...

Growing up I never liked yellow - but the older I get the more I appreciate yellow! It's a sing of new life, yummy treats and just plain down FUN!

An Adventurer in the World said...

we just finished up a lemon glazed cake, my daughter's birthday request. So tart it makes your eyes water, that's how we like it!

Lemons are the only yellow thing here, though the forsythia buds are swelling a little bit. Still have snow, but not much left.

deb m

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Hey, Sandy, that pie looks delish! I just love lemons too, all your yellow is very springy right now. i love that little bird in the first pic. Have a great weekend, friend!

grace said...

i think a yellow kitchen would look fantastic--so bright and cheery! your pie is practically neon, and i love it. :)