Lemon Meringue Pie

You guys like pie? Of course you do, that was rhetorical.  Luckily today is the day for a paleo Lemon Meringue Pie!

I am drinking tea at a coffee shop right now, doing work for my “real” job and eavesdropping. There is a table of 5 beside me. They look to be in their late 50’s early 60’s. They are wildly entertaining. I want to stop what I’m doing and just absorb myself in this spectacle. I have to stifle my laughter when they say something funny and pretend like I’m obviously working away over here. Maybe I’ll put one ear-bud in to throw them off my trail.

It is 2 couples and a single man, and they have been discussing the cost at winery restaurants, B’n’B’s in the area, and how the couples met. Oh, it’s fantastic entertainment. One couple met in a bar. She pointed at him and pointed to the dance floor, and history was made. I love it. I really enjoy being around people, in crowds, or passively. The internet connection here is spotty and slow, but often I do my best work here. I adore chatting with the staff, listening to their music, people watching and of course eavesdropping.

It’s a good way to engage with strangers, see what is going on in the community.  And, well, I haven’t lived here long I am always looking for new friends. And cute boys. I have been single for a couple years, and have been internet dating. I never imagined I would have to.  When I was in a long-term, committed relationship (the better part of a decade) I would tell my single friends that “heck yes, I would internet date! They should TOTALLY try it!” So I had to make good on those claims a few years later when I found myself single, no longer dealing with throngs of the public, and in a new town.

Let me tell you, there are some great people out there, and many more are…  not-so-great, or not for me. I have been on more than 50 internet dates. I have stories.  Some are knee-slapping, side stitches funny, some are sad and sorrowful, some make me cringe, some are just straight up weird.  But everyone has been an experience and a lesson in myself.  I’ll tell you some of the better ones as we go along.

But again I get off topic. Pie. Who doesn’t like pie? And pie that is better for you? I was going for a nut-free crust, and the first one was… okay. But it tasted like it was healthy. You know what I mean? It’s good, but not as good as the sugar filled gluten version. I went to sleep that night thinking about what I could put together, delicious but nut free. I awoke in the morning, (if you count 5 am as morning) shortbread pastry!!! And voila, nut and grain free lemon meringue pie. I took my creation to work because it was the second pie in as many days I had made, and although I love pie, there is a limit to single girl pie eating, I’m sure, somewhere there must be. If there isn’t, well there should be. My staff made that pie disappear in about an hour, some going back for seconds. It’s a win.

Lemon Meringue Pie

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• Author: www.ThePrimalDesire.com

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Description

Classic Lemon Pie, but grain and nut free

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Shortbread Pastry

• 3/4 cup coconut flour
• 1/8 cup arrowroot powder
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 vanilla bean scraped out
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 tbsp coconut milk full fat
• 2 egg whites
• pinch of salt

Lemon filling

• 6 egg yolks
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup tapioca starch
• 1 cup water
• 2 lemons zest and juice
• 2 tbsp butter or ghee

Meringue topping

• 4 egg whites
• 1/4 cup maple syrup

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Instructions

Shortbread Pastry

1. Combine ingredients in a food processor or hand mixer until its crumbly. Press lightly into a pie pan
2. Bake at 350 F for 10 min, set aside

Lemon filling

1. Whisk the maple syrup and tapioca in a medium saucepan.
2. Whisk in cold water.
3. Have the other ingredients measured, ready to go.
4. Bring the maple/tapioca to a simmer over medium-high heat, whisking as it cooks, until the mixture thickens.
5. Add egg yolks while whisking.
6. Whisk in the lemon juice and rind stirring until the filling return to a simmer.
7. Turn off burner, whisk in the butter then immediately pour over the shortbread crust, filling will set up more once cooled, and the shortbread crust will also soften until cooled.

Meringue topping

1. Mix egg whites over low heat with a hand mixer on high for 3 min.
2. Add maple syrup and continue to beat on high for 4 more min.
3. Stiff peaks will form and it will become opaque.
4. Spoon over lemon filling, run a skewer in a circle to help attach meringue.
5. Bake 350F for 20 min or until golden.

Notes

Timing is important, if the lemon filling cools too much before you add the meringue, moisture will form and the meringue will fall off.

• Category: Dessert

If you’re like Raj, you would also enjoy some Paleo Whipped Cream (whipped coconut cream) to go with this…