Key Lime Pie
(refresh August 2024) Let me start by saying that I don’t like key lime pie. Don’t get me wrong, I love pie… just not key lime pie. Cold, custard-y pies have never been my thing. So when a good friend of mine went on a key lime pie baking binge one summer, I wasn’t thrilled. This pie changed my mind. It is as light and airy as crisp, springtime air, with a tangy, vibrant flavor reminiscent of the place where Key Limes originate – The Florida Keys. It also isn’t sickeningly sweet like so many restaurant-grade key lime pies. The luxuriously silky whipped cream topping allows you to control a bit of the sweetness as well. In short, this pie is spring and summer, Florida, and sunshine in dessert form, and it has been made, at this point, over a dozen times. And, yes, you can make it with your run-of-the-mill Persian limes if you can’t find Key Limes.
what you need
Crust
1 1/2 cups finely ground Graham crackers
2 tablespoons sugar
7 tablespoons butter, melted
salt
Filling
1 1/2 tablespoons lime zest
3 large egg yolks
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
2/3 cup fresh lime juice (from ~10-12 Key Limes or 3-5 Persian limes)
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon sugar
how to make it
Make crust. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine Grahams, sugar, and salt in bowl and mix. Mix in butter until all Grahams are thoroughly coated and press crust with fingers into the bottom of a glass or ceramic pie dish. I like to add a dash of cinnamon to my crusts. Bake crust for ~10 minutes until the Grahams begin to darken in color.
Make filling. Beat zest and egg yolks together until the yolks begin to thicken, ~5-7 minutes. Add condensed milk and continue to beat until thick, ~3 minutes. Stir in lime juice until completely combined. Pour mixture into pre-baked pie crust and bake for another ~10 minutes, or until filling is set. Place pie in fridge to cool completely before topping, ~1-2 hours.
Make topping. Whip cream with desired amount of sugar. Pile and spread cream on top of pie. It is not necessary to spread cream all the way to the edges; just do what you feel. Chill pie an additional 2-3 hours to ensure it is completely cool before slicing. Top with Graham cracker crumb sprinkles, lime zest curls, and/or lime wedges.
#saltlife
I am from Melbourne Beach, Florida. From a long, skinny barrier island that runs some 100 miles down the East Coast of the state, beginning at Cape Canaveral and the home of NASA and ending level with Lake Okeechobee. Only accessible via bridge (albeit short ones), Melbourne Beach is a magical place in Florida insofar as it is one of the last places in Florida to have escaped abrasively flamboyant tourism. Disney World does not reach there, and it is still entirely possible to find a beach without another person on it and kayak a river in the company of manatees and dolphins. One of the best things about Melbourne Beach (aside from perennial sunshine) is the width of the island itself, at times no more than 1/4 mile wide, meaning you can get from a brackish fishing oasis to the Atlantic Ocean in 5 minutes on foot. Floridians can be a little cultish when it comes to Florida identity. When you live in a place where more than 85% of the population are tourists, it really means something to be a Local.
So let’s talk about some Melbourne Beach gemstones.
Longdoggers. Longdoggers is the quintessential Melbourne establishment. The original sits right on A1A beachside, but with 6 different locations, you’re never far from killer waffle fries and house-brewed Hatteras Red beer (brewed just across the bridge at Intracoastal Brewing). Longdoggers sells a variety of LOCAL t-shirts and actually lives into that brand, sponsoring many of the local surf competitions and recreational sports teams. It also sponsors local beach cleanups and has a strong commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its establishment. As they say, “we live here.”
Sunrises. Obviously, on this side of FL, the sunrises are better than the sunsets. I’ll keep it simple. Don’t miss them. Head to the beach, consider a sunrise beach run, then over to The Blueberry Muffin for… a blueberry muffin.
German Food. Oddly enough, some of the best German food I have had outside of Germany is served in a house on the riverfront in south Melbourne Beach. Cafe Coconut Cove is local, secluded, authentic, and pretty romantic.
South Beaches. I’ve noticed that the Satellite Beach and Indialantic beaches have become more and more crowded in recent years, with expanded parking and lower speed limits on A1A due to crowds. For a more secluded beach experience, head south. Beaches such as Ponce de Leon beach will have a fraction of the folks.
Kayaking. There are about 100 places to kayak and paddleboard in Melbourne, but, again, for a more authentic and remote experience, consider heading south. To rent a kayak and head out among the dolphins, you’re looking for Honest John’s Fish Camp.
Fresh Fish. The freshest fish in Melbourne is obviously caught yourself, but if a fishing charter isn’t on the agenda, there are several places to get fresh catch. (If a fishing charter is on your list, Captain Nathaniel Lemmon’s river fishing charters are solid). Clayton’s in Rockledge or The Green Turtle on Eau Gallie both have fresh selections.
Causeway Runs. There are three main causeways leading to the Melbourne Beach: 192, Eau Gallie, and Pineda. 192 will provide the easiest run as it is the shortest of all three bridges. Pineda would be the best run as it is the tallest and crosses two rivers: both the Indian River and the Banana River. But there is no sidewalk. Epic fail Melbourne, FL city planners. Eau Gallie causeway is your ticket. At medium height and with ample sidewalk, it provides wonderful views running from mainland to beachside, then on down Riverside Drive.
Rocket Launches. Melbourne is a unique place to watch a rocket launch. If you’re up near Pineda on the beachside or at one of the Patrick Air Force Base beaches, the sonic boom will ripple the water around your waist. SpaceX is sending something up once every couple of weeks these days and also continuing to practice its re-entry and water landings, which can be fun to watch.
