August 15 National Lemon Meringue Pie Day #LemonMeringuePieDay

August 15 National Lemon Meringue Pie Day #LemonMeringuePieDay

National Lemon Meringue Pie Day is celebrated annually on August 15, so get ready to satisfy your sweet tooth. Lemons provide so much flavor to life with all of their culinary applications. You’ll never run out of ways to enjoy your lemons, from cake to ice cream and, of course, the all-time favorite: lemonade!

Lemon meringue pie is amongst the best lemon desserts. The golden shortbread pastry crust, savory lemon curd filling, and velvety meringue topping will have you floating on the clouds. So, for those who want to indulge their sweet tooth or those who haven’t tried it yet (what rock have you been hiding under?), celebrate this tasty dessert with other food lovers today.

History of National Lemon Meringue Pie Day

Lemon meringue pie is made using lemon juice and zest, egg yolks, and sometimes with sugar and starch (depending on the adopted recipe). Peak-shaped meringue is spread on top of the pie before it goes in the oven.

Pinpointing the creator of this lemon pie is difficult with several theories of its origins springing up. Lemon-based pies, puddings, and custards have been around since the Middle Ages, according to history. In the 1700s, the innovative addition of putting meringue on top of the pie was adopted. Modern-day lemon meringue pie gained popularity sometime in the 1800s.

The first mention of meringue-covered desserts dates back to France. Menon, a French cookbook author, published a book in 1739 that includes a recipe for Pommes meringuées, or meringue-covered apple butter or applesauce. Around 1869, a cookbook referenced lemon meringue pie for the first time. Lemon cream pies were the name given to the meringue-covered lemon custard pies of the time.

Similar recipes were revealed in the U.S in the 1800s, one such recipe was meringue-covered apple pie known as ‘apples meringuées’ or ‘apple a la turque.’ Elizabeth Goodfellow, the proprietor of a Philadelphia pastry business, is credited with inventing the lemon meringue pie. She was in charge of the first cooking school in the United States.

Others say that the lemon meringue pie is a Victorian-era English invention. Lemon Chester Pudding is how it’s known in certain circles. It is often recognized as one of the delicacies that introduced the world to British sweets.

How to Celebrate National Lemon Meringue Pie Day

1. Eat one!Eating a lemon meringue pie is the perfect way to commemorate National Lemon Meringue Pie Day. For a more memorable experience, remember to share with family and friends, as well as strangers.
2. Try new recipesDon’t get hung up on your habits. There are several recipes available for you to test. It’s time to break out the cookbooks and put on your apron; it’s time to try something new.
3. Teach someone how to make oneAre you already a pro at making amazing lemon meringue pies? Why don’t you teach someone else how to make it?

5 Facts About Lemons That Will Blow Your Mind

1. The British Navy love lemonsLemons are necessary onboard British Navy ships due to their healing powers arising from their high vitamin C concentration.
2. California is a lemon stateArizona and California are responsible for 95% of lemon crops found in the U.S.
3. It has antibacterial propertiesMixing lemon juice with hot water creates an effective antibacterial mouthwash.
4. Lemons are fast and consistent growersLemon trees produce fruit throughout the year; each tree can produce up to 600 pounds of lemon annually.
5. They make excellent cleaning aidsLemons have high acidic content making them effective cleaning aids.

Why We Love National Lemon Meringue Pie Day

1. Delicious treatsPies rank among the favorite desserts anywhere in the world. Is there a better way to celebrate pies than savoring one of its best adaptations? No, we don’t think so.
2. Loads of recipesThe only thing better than eating a delicious lemon meringue pie is finding a different way of making it the next time. You’ll never run out of fresh ways to enjoy this dessert, with options ranging from sugar-free to exotic seasonings.
3. Lemons are good for the bodyLemons have plenty of health benefits including preventing scurvy. Grated lemon rinds, as well as zest, are also common baking ingredients.

Recipe for Lemon Meringue Pie

Prep Time:

30 mins

Cook Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

40 mins

Servings:

8

Yield:

1 9-inch pie

Ingredients

Filling:

• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups water
• 2 lemons, juiced and zested
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 4 egg yolks, beaten
• 1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked

Meringue:

• 4 egg whites
• 1/2 cup white sugar

Directions

1. Gather all ingredients and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (162 degrees C).
2. To make the filling: Whisk 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt together in a medium saucepan; stir in water, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in butter.
3. Place egg yolks in a small bowl and gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of hot sugar mixture.
4. Whisk egg yolk mixture back into remaining sugar mixture. Bring to a boil and continue to cook while stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat; pour filling into baked pastry shell.
5. To make the meringue: Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl with an electric mixer until foamy. Gradually add sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form.
6. Spread meringue over pie filling, sealing the edges at the crust.
7. Bake in preheated oven until meringue is golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes.
8. Serve and enjoy!

Thank you,

Glenda Charlie and David Cates