Happy New Years Daring Baker's Style - Pucker up!


A new year for the Daring Baker's, with plenty of recipes ahead of us!

For this first recipe of the year, it was up to Jen from The Canadian Baker, to chose our path for us. Poor Jen. How could she have known that such a classic recipe would be controversial on the DB private blog? I mean honestly, it's Lemon Meringue Pie! How could that be controversial!

Well this recipe had its lovers and its haters among the Daring Bakers. It had it successes and its failures as well.

For me personally, I LOVED IT!!!

I loved it enough that I made it 3 times. And even though it is posting day today, I am thinking of making it again today.

Jen gave us the options of size, full pie or tarts, as well as a free form tart. I haven't done the free form yet, which is what I am thinking of making today. And as my family and neighbors enjoyed the pie as much as I did (a few of them more), how bad an idea could it be to make it again?

For my first attempt, I made 6 little, individual pies, using my mini pie pans. I was able to pile high the meringue and enjoy lots of its gooey marshmallowness over the tangy lemon curd and the buttery crust. The crust that has become my go to recipe for pie crust from now on. It came together in a flash, rolled easily and baked up beautifully. I liked it so much I may become a pie maker and make my grandmother (the pie maker in our family) proud!

The next time I made the pie, I swapped out the lemon for limes, and made a curd so flavorful we could have eaten it with a spoon! I mean look at all those flecks of lime zest in the thickened curd, doesn't it look great?

And the pie was amazingly good. The right balance of crust, curd and meringue, the sweet of the meringue against the tartness of the curd.

Sorry, this is the best I could do for a picture of that pie.

For my last attempt at the pie, I again went back to lemon, following the recipe exactly as written, and making one big pie, which I served to family and friends for a birthday dessert. One pie easily served 8 adults, with left overs. And I heard nothing but compliments on it.

I know some of my fellow DB'ers did not have as much fun with this month's challenge as I did. I know some did not have alot of luck getting the crust not to shrink, or the curd to stay thickened and set, or even the meringue to not shrink or weep. I don't know why they had those problems, which I never saw a sign of in any of my three attempts. I will make this pie again (maybe even today, as I said, but if not, in the near future.)

Thanks so much to Jen for such a wonderful recipe this month!

Don't forget to check out the other Daring Baker's, or be afraid to leave a message on a few posts. Head on over to the Blogroll for a full list of who made a pie this month.

60 comments:

Meeta K. Wolff said...

Jenny, lovely way to go with the pie. On the whole I did like it. Just was not too hot on the crust or the meringue LOL!

BC said...

It was fantastic wasn't it? I've made lime curd too and my family just devoured it.

slush said...

Im so glad it worked for you! I followed the recipe to a T, but still got a soupy pie. I ejnoyed the challenge however, and thats what its all about. Great job!

Half Baked said...

I loved it too! I thought it was a great challenge and will make it again as well! Your LMP looks lovely:) Nice job!

Gretchen Noelle said...

Three times! Wow! How great that the recipe turned out so well for you! I used lime (since we have no lemons here) and was delighted by the taste. I think your tartlettes turned out very nice!

Nikki57 said...

I'm not a big LMP fan, but I definitely had fun making this pie

Jerry said...

So many pies and all lovely!

Kelly said...

I agree, it was a great recipe. I love the flecked look of your lime curd. I will have to give it a try!

Anonymous said...

Three times? You go, Daring Baker!

These look beautiful!

Lesley said...

Youre meringue is so glossy and perfectly toasted. Looks delicious!

David T. Macknet said...

Good one on the lime! That's what we said: "next one has to be a lime pie." Beautiful!

Tiffany @ Lattes And Life said...

I so agree! These were yum-o!!!! Marshmallowness--that's it! I couldn't think of the right word to describe the meringue :-)

Dolores said...

Part of what I love about the whole DB experience is visiting the blogs after the challenge, seeing what worked and what didn't, and learning from everyone along the way. I'm glad your experience with this one was positive. :)

... said...

Great job. Looks great!
Iisha

Karen Baking Soda said...

Lime! Yes, that's what I am going to do next, love it!
Beauty pie!

Deborah said...

I didn't have any problems with the recipe, either. All three of your pies sound wonderful!! I really want to try the lime version!

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Wow Jenny, you really loved that LMP, three times! I love the first picture of the small one, I wish mine had stayed that colour. Of course had I not been writing and posting pictures of making it at the time it was in the oven then it might not have got so brown - what a twit I am! Enjoy your next LMP! ;)

Megan said...

I agree. I loved the pie. No weeping here.

Brilynn said...

It's amazing how much variation there has been in terms of results for this recipe. I'd like to give it a try with lime!

The Baker & The Curry Maker said...

I hear ya! It was an awesome pie. I will defintely be making it again. I lurvveee the idea of the lime, I will do that next time. Looks great!

Mary said...

I loved the recipe too. I think your pies are beautiful and I'm impressed you made it so many times!

Anonymous said...

Three times? Wow!

I am truly glad to hear that the recipe worked so well for you. Your pies were beautiful!

creampuff said...

Jen,

Your pie is so cute! And I'm so glad that you really enjoyed this challenge!

Unknown said...

I, too, loved this recipe. My dad prefers a traditional pie crust but I really liked this one. Love your meringue.

Chris said...

Well done! Three pies....you're the woman! You're pie peaks look just like when my mom made her pie. Yum!

Andrea said...

Your pie looks lovely! I wish I had made minis, too.

glamah16 said...

Well done . Those specs of lime look heavenly.

Jenny said...

Great looking pie! I am wishing I would have had time to make the little pies too!

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

I did really enjoy this one - shrinking crust and all. Love that meringue photo and the end! Good pie will always win them over Jenny.

Princess of the kitchen said...

Your meringue looks perfectly browned and delicious. well done!

Miss Ifi said...

Oh oh... I want to try the one that you made with limes.. that must have been wonderful.. yuuum
Congratulations !!

Big Boys Oven said...

Adorable, must be better then mine.

Unknown said...

I knew someone would do lime! I am having a huge lime craving now, shoot. Might have to try it too.

Veron said...

Wow, Jenny. I love those beautiful peaks of meringue you made.

Sheltie Girl said...

I'm so glad you had so much fun making the lemon meringue pie.

Natalie @ Gluten A Go Go

Cheryl said...

3 times! Now that is a recipe you really must love. All your versions are fantastic.

Thistlemoon said...

I enjoyed this challenge as well! That lime curd looks really really delicious! Well done!

eatme_delicious said...

Yumm looks great. I would love to try that lime curd! Your meringue is beautiful on that pie. Can't believe you made it 3 times! :)

Annemarie said...

That's a very impressive peaky meringue you have on you pie! I loved the crust too and although it shrunk on me, I'm tempted to make it my go-to crust recipe as well.

kellypea said...

I agree that this was a completely lovely recipe. I'm jealous that you are so well-planned and had time to do a lime version. We LOVE lime around here. Beautiful job, and a great write up for your experience. Maybe next time, I won't procrastinate!

Jennifer said...

oooo my! what a pretty pie! great job!

Warda said...

- Three times! You bet you loved it! It looks great!

Steph said...

Wow! Three times...you must love this pie! It looks fabulous, and I'll admit I'll probably make it three times too :) Here's to a great year of DB success!

jasmine said...

Three times? Wow.

Glad you tried it with lime. I'm thinking of trying it with grapefruit...

j

Lunch Buckets said...

You are a pie master! Nice work :)

Peabody said...

Now you are the woman that this challenge was made for. I'm glad that someone got such great pleasure out of this recipe.

Dharm said...

3 Times! What a champion! Your pie looks just great! Well done!

breadchick said...

Wow! 3X must mean you really "hated" this recipe ;-) Great job on the challenge this month Jenny!!

Helene said...

Beautiful! You are indeed the Queen of Multiples! I am thrilled everybody enjoyed them!

Sara said...

Yay for LMP! So glad it worked so well for you - 3 times, wow!

Jen Yu said...

Wow! You made it again with lime?! I think lime sounds terrific. Great job on your challenge - awesome :)

Dawn0fTime said...

Your pies look great! I'm a sucker for the smaller ones, but I love all the peaks on the big one! I'll have to try this recipe with limes some time too. That sounds good!

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

You're certainly one LMP maker with good results too. Three times!
Thanks for the welcome.

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

A great pie! It's good to hear that it worked for you! Well done!

Cheers,

Rosa

african vanielje said...

Your pie looks delicious. No wonder you loved it.

Mindy said...

Your meringue looks so glossy and sharp- like icicles!

3 times is pretty great dedication- I want to make it again as well- What a great way to get the kinks out and perfect the LMP skills...

Anonymous said...

impossible to visit everyone indeed :)
However, thanks for your comment !
Your tart looks gorgeous, I think I shouldn't have used my pastry bag for meringue, this way of shaping it is gorgeous ;)
and sorry for the spelling errors :op

Anita said...

You've got a gorgeous looking pie there! Hope you find some Meyer lemons to try - they're really a treat!

Lis said...

Three times! heheee Yay!

I only made it once, but have been craving it ever since.. I want to make another but have so many other recipes I have to try in February.. but I will.. one day, I will make it again. Hubbs would leave me if I didn't. heee!

Beautiful job as always, sweetie!

xoxo

Canadian Baker said...

Hi Jenny - I'm glad you were so successful! Your pie looks great!