Heavenly Key Lime Pie

Hmmm....I'm dreaming of clear blue skies, warm water, white sand beaches and key lime pies. Oh, how I wish I'm in Key West right now. Isn't it supposed to be sunny and warm up here in the Northeast by now? But instead it feels like we're in the middle of a Monsoon season!

As I was doing my grocery shopping yesterday right after my workout, I saw some netted bags filled with key limes to my delight. So I just decided to take one home with me and make my husband and I a classic and fresh key lime pie...just like the best key lime pie in the Keys from the Blond Giraffe! It may not be quite the same, but I know it can come close. Sinking my teeth into that luscious, creamy and tart-like cloud dessert will definitely hit the spot this time around.

When my husband came home last night and saw the bag of key limes on the counter, he told me how he's been thinking about those key lime pies we had when we were down in Keys last. We must have been thinking about the same thing. So, I told him "don't worry, honey, I'll have a key lime pie for you by tomorrow night!"

The Keys is a memorable place for the two of us. We had such a wonderful time down there. The trip alone was well worth it and when he got down on his knees and asked my hand for marriage was surprisingly unforgettable. We couldn't forget the time we finally got down to Key West and my sinusitis acted up, followed by dreadful coughs, which led into full-blown Bronchitis by the time we came home from our little rendezvous (why my sinusitis flared up that time, I do not know?!?). So while in Key West, every night after dinner we would just end up in our hotel room while I rested and slept the night away, but Barry would go out and get us Key Lime pies from Blond Giraffe, which is only a few blocks away from La Te Da (where we stayed at). Barry would hurry back to our suite and we would enjoy those decadent key lime pies before I fell asleep again. What a guy! He nursed me back to health in no time with those Key Lime pies. I swear those key limes have some healing powers and love potions! Hihihi

After having a big salad for dinner tonight, this key lime pie is a nice treat for us. Some recipes call for a meringue topping, but I chose a fresh raspberry puree as a complement, which means less calories and a healthier option to this already sweet and dense pie. The filling can easily be doubled for a thicker pie, but for us, less is better since we're being very conscious on the food we eat. So whatever you decide to do, nothing beats this heavenly key lime pie...ever! :-) Pucker up, baby!

Ingredients:
1 pkg of graham crackers, 9-10 pieces
3/4 cup almonds
5 Tbsp Butter, melted

1/2 cup freshly squeezed key limes (or bottled if you don't have fresh ones) - no pulp, just juice okaay! About 15 key limes, nuke in the microwave for at least 20 seconds to get more juice out it :-)
1 can (14 oz) Condensed Milk
4 Egg Yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
(This pie filling can be doubled...which makes a bigger pie)

Optional (for garnishing):
Fresh raspberries, pureed

or

Homemade Whipped Cream

Directions:
In a food processor, finely grind graham crackers and almonds together. Transfer in a small bowl, then stir in melted butter until it clumps together. Spread cracker mixture evenly on a spring form pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Let it cool on a rack.

In a stand up mixer, beat egg yolks and condensed milk together. Add key lime juice slowly. Then, add vanilla extract. Beat well until slightly thickened. Pour filling into the graham cracker pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Let it cool. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours before serving.

Garnish with fresh raspberry puree. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or if you like, top it with homemade whipped cream.