LEMON CURD AND LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Lemon meringue pie is one of our favourite puddings and one which I usually make at this time of the year. There are many recipes for making the lemon filling but I find them rather bland so instead I use the opportunity to make Lemon Curd, a truly delectable confection,which because it will not keep for long can only be made in small batches. I then use some of this as the pie filling and have a couple of jars left over.

LEMON CURD

Rind and juice of 4 lemons

6 eggs

1lb sugar

6 oz butter

Beat the eggs lightly in a heat proof bowl then add the butter,lemon rind and peel.

Set the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir continuously until the mixture becomes smooth and thick. Do not allow the bowl to touch the boiling water or the mixture will split.

When the mixture is ready pour in to clean jars and seal. This amount should make two jars with enough left over for your lemon meringue pie.

The jars should be stored in a refrigerator and will keep for about a ,month.

Home made lemon curd comes with a warning,once you have tried it you will never be able to eat the shop bought stuff again!!!

LEMON MERINGUE PIE

I make no bones about it ,this is a quick cheats method and is a great way of making a lovely pudding in a hurry.

6 oz Digestive biscuits crushed

4 oz butter

2 egg whites

lemon curd.

Line and eight inch shallow cake tin with foil and grease lightly. Melt the butter in a large saucepan and add the crushed digestives, Stir until all the butter is absorbed by the crumbs then empty the d crumbs in to the prepared tin and smooth to make an even thickness,allow to cool.

Spread an inch thick layer of lemon curd over the base.

Beat the egg whites until stiff and then fold in the sugar,spread over the lemon curd then sprinkle with caster sugar before baking at 190oC until the meringue is golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before serving.

Two trays of short bread completed the days baking. Dinner was a simple meal of bacon eggs,cheese,tomatoes with hot Staffordshire oatcakes and some soda farl left over from yesterday.

Tomorrow I am barred from the kitchen.....the ironing beckons......HELP!!!!!!!