Key Lime Pie

Last night I also spent the evening making a key lime pie, whilst talking on the phone. I have no time at the moment so it was major multitasking. Have you ever tried to grate 8 limes whilst holding on to a phone and having a great conversation? It was really good to catch up with friends and family and I enjoyed myself shut away in the kitchen listening to music and chatting.

This is a really simple recipe (but takes longer if you are doing two things at once!!)

 Ingredients

375g/12oz plain or sweetmeal digestive biscuits, crushed
150g/5oz unsalted butter
grated zest and juice of 8 large limes
570ml/1 pint double cream
1 x 397g/14oz can sweetened condensed milk
To Decorate:
crystalized lime zest

Method

1. Melt the butter in a small pan and stir in the crushed biscuits. Lightly press into the base of a 23cm/9in deep loosed-bottomed fluted flan tin. Chill whilst preparing the filling.
2. To prepare the filling: place the lime juice into a large bowl, add the cream and condensed milk. Whisk for 1-2 minutes. Add the lime zest and lightly stir. Pour into the prepared biscuit base. Place onto a tray and chill for 1-2 hours.
3. Decorate with crystalized lime zest and serve.

Tip:
To make the crystalized lime zest: wash and dry 2 whole limes and peel with a swivel vegetable peeler. Using a sharp knife cut the peel into thin matchstick-sized strips. Blanch in boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and refresh in cold water. Place 50g/2oz caster or granulated sugar into a small pan with enough boiling water to cover. Bring to the boil and heat until it reaches the hard crack stage at 180C/350F. Add the lime zest and remove from the heat. Stir well and pour into a metal sieve over a bowl. As the sugar cools separate the lime zest with a fork and allow to cool completely. When cool remove the lime zest from the sieve and rub off the excess hard sugar. Use as required in the key lime pie recipe.

I found it really difficult to make thecrystalized lime zest- I don't think I left the sugar on long enough- I must buy a thermometer. It was fun to try something new!