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Friday, July 5, 2013

No-Bake Key Lime Pie: "Who You Callin' Green?"


Have you ever made a food faux pas?

You know, a bonafide blunder, like not knowing the proper way to eat a certain food, or asking what something is on the menu that is so common, the waitress looks at you like you're from Mars?

I don't know which is worse -- making the gaffe yourself, or being with someone who says, "excuse me, what does 'sauteed' mean?"  Either way, you want to crawl right under the table, or pretend you are with the people sitting next to you. 

I've been on both sides of the table...as the observer and the offender.

I remember going out to dinner once with Father-in-Law Goo Shoes (may he rest in peace) to a fancy restaurant. Everything on the menu was foreign to him.  That was understandable, given his age. That, and the fact that the only jaunts he frequented were those Early Bird Special places in the Borscht Belt-South.  

What cracked me up, however, was that Mr. Goo Shoes suddenly became this suave and sophisticated foodie who was explaining to his dad what things like penne and bolognese were.

I looked at Mr. Goo Shoes in disbelief...


"Excuse me, but who are you?"


All of a sudden, he became a food maven.

If you knew Mr. Goo Shoes, you would understand why I found that so hilarious cute. 

Although I am much more food-savvy than Mr. Goo Shoes, I've been guilty of a few food fluffs myself.

Like when I went to London for the very first time, and didn't know how to eat a scone.

Oh yeah, my friend and I, considering ourselves to be two young and sophisticated New Yorkers (we must have been in our late twenties), went to Harrod's for Tea. We thought the British were way too proper to eat a scone and clotted cream with their hands.  Not wanting to be crass Americans, we sat for so long waiting to see how someone else ate it, that the waitress came to ask if everything was ok. We finally picked up our forks and knives and dug in.


And by the way, they do pick them up and eat them.

Then there was the time that I ordered key lime pie, and told the waitress she brought me the wrong dessert.


"I ordered key lime pie."

"That's what I brought you."

"But it's not green."
Who you callin' green?  

Well, it was me who was green because up until I was a young adult...

I thought key lime pie was supposed to be green.


Like the color of lime jello.
And airy. 
Chiffon-like. 
Light and fluffy. 

I can hear all of you southern ladies laughing your juleps off. But what did I know? I was a kid from Joisey...

That was how the local restaurant made it when I was a kid, and it was my only point of reference.  

What did they know? They were a restaurant from Joisey.

After tasting the real deal, in all its pale yellowness, it quickly moved to the top of the my favorite desserts list.


Many years ago, while vacationing in Key West, I had key lime pie in every restaurant I went to.  I couldn't get enough of it.

So a couple of years ago, when we found ourselves back in Key West for the day, I headed right over to the Key Lime Pie Company, and got me a slice, while Junior and Mr. Goo Shoes went to rent a scooter or something.

I was so anxious to eat it, that I got halfway through before remembering to snap a picture.



Once I discovered the real key lime pie, I started collecting recipes, and whittled down my favorites to two. I do like the recipe right on the bottle of Nellie and Joe's Key Lime Juice.

But I am more likely to make this No-Bake recipe that I clipped from a magazine years ago, because, well, you don't have to bake it... 


...except for the crust, that is, but just for 20 minutes. And if you really don't want to turn on your oven in this summer heat, then you can cheat and buy a pre-made graham cracker crust. 

I can't remember the magazine this came from, but they attributed the recipe to one Jonathan W. Brown.  If you know him, or you are him, thank you very much. It's quite delicious.



When I do make my own crust, I find that there is more than enough, even for a deep dish pie, so I don't use it all. 

There is enough filling for a regular pie crust, but for a deep dish pie, I make a double batch. Whatever is left over, I either toss, eat it out of the bowl while no one is looking, or buy a package of 6 mini crusts and make some tartlets.

Sometimes, I use low fat cream cheese and sour cream, and non-fat sweetened condensed milk, and it comes out great. 



What's great about this no-bake pie is that there are no uncooked eggs...and...it is super-creamy. 


Are you ready to try it?



Key Lime Pie
(Adapted from a recipe by Jonathan W. Brown)


Crust
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons sugar
1 stick (1/2 Cup, 8 Tablespoons) butter, melted and cooled

Combine the above ingredients and press into a 9-inch pie pan.  Bake at 350F for about 20 minutes, until nicely golden brown, and set aside to cool. 



Filling

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 15-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup Key lime juice 
1/8 teaspoon lime oil (optional)
1 cup sour cream

In a medium-sized bowl, thoroughly mix together the cream cheese and condensed milk.  Blend in the Key lime juice and lime oil, if using; then beat in the sour cream and mix until smooth.  Pour the filling into the cooled crust and refrigerate at least two hours before serving. 




So please tell me...is Red Velvet cake supposed to be red? LOL!

Linking with:
Liz Marie Blog Inspire Me Please
A Little Claireifcation, Little Miss Celebration and Cooking With Curls Best of the Weekend
On Sutton Place and Debbiedoos Blitzed on Pinterest Party Saturday
Serenity Now Weekend Bloggy Reading List
Life On Lakeshore Drive A Bouquet of Talent
Jam Hands Recipe Sharing Monday
 By Stephanie Lynn The Sunday Showcase Party
Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday
Love Grows Wild Time To Sparkle
BeBetsy Brag About It Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesday
Throwback Thursday 
Simply BeBetsy Dessert Sweeties

Ms. Toody

37 comments:

  1. Well, it ain't green but I'd like to try a piece - lol! Cute... My hubby isn't much of a baker - he's the cook of the house, but he makes a mean black bottom (chocolate) key lime pie. I'll have to try your recipe. The cream cheese sounds yummy!

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    1. Now a black bottom key lime pie is something I would LOVE. I think you should post that recipe - it sounds amazing!

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  2. What a charming blog Amy! A new follower from Spain

    Marina

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Marina! I'm so glad you are following!

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  3. I've never been inspired by the bright green pies I usually see on blogs, but yours seems natural and yummy. For the first time, I think I'm going to try a key-lime pie recipe.

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    1. I hope you like it, Magali! Thanks so much for checking out my blog :)

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  4. Hi Amy - this pie looks and sounds so refreshing and delicious! I love key-lime pie! I also love your scone story! :) Thank you so much for joining us and sharing at Best of the Weekend! We love having you and hope you'll join us next week. Have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. Hi Cindy, thanks for stopping by...I appreciate that you all are hosting the Best of the Weekend. I added your link and Cooking with Curls to the post.

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  5. Yummy! I remember way back when, when you and the Mr. and me and my Mr. ate a whole Key Lime pie in one sitting. OK... it wasn't a huge pie, but nonetheless!

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    1. Hmmm...I remember us splitting quite a few cakes four ways...;)

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  6. This looks seriously delicious! I love key lime pie but have never made it so I'm definitely giving this a try. Love that you make your own crust too!

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    1. It's so easy, Ann. Even the crust takes 2 minutes to make. I hope you like it!

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  7. What a cute story! This looks like comfort in a pie shell.

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    1. Thank you, Ms. Lemon...Glad you like lime, as well as lemons!

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  8. I love key lime pie, and this looks wonderful!

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  9. Key lime pie is one of my favorite desserts especially in the summer! I'm guilty of just going to the bakery section of Publix, though and buying it there already made. There's are really good! I've never made one myself. Your recipe looks easy. I may give it a try. You could even just buy a graham cracker crust that is already made with it too. See? I'm always thinking of shortcuts. LOL! I love how yours is decorated with the lime slices and blueberries. By the way, I've been an offender at a restaurant too. I once asked what the colossal lasagna was. Of course, she just said it was the extra large portion. Duh!!!! I will never forget how embarrassed I was.

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    1. I've definitely made it with a store-bought crust, and it's good! Love your colossal lasagna story!

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  10. I loved reading this because I can appreciate what it's like to be in a new environment and trying not to make a food faux pas. Last Valentine's Day I had to sit for several minutes with my body leaning to the left so my husband could see how the tables behind me were eating their traditional Vietnamese hot pot dishes and rolls. Love the scone story and that you were able to stop to take a picture before gobbling up that piece of pie!

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    1. I am howling at your Valentine's story -- can't tell you how many times I've done stuff like that!

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  11. Oh please, don't think you are the only one that thought Key Lime Pie was green. Ummm, I'm as Southern as can be and was offended when I was served a white looking Key Lime Pie! You are such fun...love your writing style. Almost choked on the scone story...and I'm glad to know I ate it correctly the first time. You know, the more I travel, the more I find that people are alike more than they are different. Thanks for the fun read, Helen

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    1. I feel better now, that you've confessed about thinking key lime pie was green! And thank you so much for your very kind comments!

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  12. This is so delicious no matter the color...I found out a little while ago the green stuff is just food coloring and guess what else I found too...same trick goes for the banana pudding pie!!! go figure...I'm pining yours and turning it into a drink, my kids will have it faster than a pie! Will keep you posted! Following you now on gfc and subscribed by mail. Can't wait to see more of your recipes and posts. oh I came to your blog via BNOTP party! Have a great week Amy!
    Lizy@http://justdipitinchocolate.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you, Lizbeth, for following me! I really appreciate it. And I am curious to hear how your drinks turn out…please let me know!

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  13. WOW your cake is so pretty! I love the slices of lime on top. It looks delicious.

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  14. Oh boy I will be trying this for sure. This is hubbies fav!

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  15. Oh yum! These pictures are killing me! I don't care what color it is, I just want to eat it! Hugs, Leena

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    1. I'm glad you found your way over to my blog, Leena! Thanks for your comment!

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  16. This looks just wonderful.
    I will be giving this a try.

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    1. Thanks, Katie! And congratulations! I saw that your beautiful new bathroom got featured on Wow Us Wednesdays!

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  17. The first key lime pie that I had that wasn't green was in Key West. I was with you on being clueless...but that Key Lime in Key West was amazing and changed my pie making habits right away! Love that this is a no bake version!!!

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  18. DELICIOUS! Thanks Amy for sharing this on your #simplybebetsy gallery....
    Sharon and Denise

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  19. so it is yummy??? has anyone made the pie

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