Essie's Key Lime Pie

One of the desserts we included in our Traveling Tea Ladies afternoon tea was Essie's Key Lime Pie. A recipe found in Death in Dallas by Melanie O'Hara-Salyers, author of this cozy myster series that includes a delightful variety of recipes. Melanie has graciously granted permission to share a few recipes with our readers.

Melanie notes that her grandmother, Essie always made Key Lime Pie when they would visit her. Her grandmother had a key lime tree in the backyard and would make the pie with freshly squeezed juice. Oh, that sounds sublime! If you don't have access to key limes,, you may substitute bottle key lime juice, just don't use lime juice. They are not the same thing, and the end result will be different!

Essie's Key Lime Pie

One-8 oz. block cream cheese, softened

2 cans of sweetened condensed milk

1/2 c. key lime juice (fresh or bottled, Not Lime Juice)

1 graham cracker pie crust

 

Place block of cream cheese in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, whip cream cheese until smooth. Combine sweetened condensed milk and cream cheese on high speed until mixture is ultra smooth with no lumps. Add key lime juice and blend thoroughly. Pour into graham cracker crust and refrigerate for six to eight hours before serving. Garnish with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and top with a mint leaf or slivered strawberry. (I used freshly zest lime).

 

Copies of the books in the Traveling Tea Ladies cozy mystery series may be purchased by mail from the Mechanicsburg Mystery Bookstore. Tell Debbie we sent you!