Monday, January 28, 2008

Daring Bakers January Challenge - Lemon Meringue Pie

This month's Daring Baker Challenge was hosted by yours truly. In true DB form, I chose something I had never made before and was not at all certain would turn out nicely. As the host, I should have picked something awfully easy (Ha!) but instead I chose to have our baking conglomerate make a Lemon Meringue Pie.

LMP is not difficult to make. There is a crust, filling and meringue. There was a lot of chatter on the DB blog beforehand about the curd filling with some bakers vouching for its fabulousness and some for its lacklustreness. It is with all these thoughts swirling in my head that I made my pie.

I consider myself a competent baker. With the pie, the crust and meringue came out very well but my filling was a little soft. It would have made a lovely spread for crumpets and two days later it had firmed up quite a bit. I would have liked to make the pie again as some members had no problems with it but I ran out of time. I am a true believer of emotions affecting baking because almost 100% of the time it shows. It just goes to show that not all recipes are a walk in the park and that, if you're the host, you're not exempt from baking problems. Sigh. (I have taken a picture of the cut pie and when I find my USB cable I will post a picture.) I consider this challenge not have been a complete failure. I did learn a lot about cornstarch and its properties and about weepy meringue, which I didn't have. (Yeah!)

So I want to thank all the Daring Bakers who chose to participate this month. There were lots of different results - some great and some not so great. If you follow the exploits of the Daring Bakers, please check out our blogroll to see Lemon Meringue Pies from around the world.

Recipe: Lemon Meringue Pie

89 comments:

glamah16 said...

Thank You Jen.This challenge sure did get us going, thinking, and reevaluating our skills.

Jennywenny said...

Thanks very much for the recipe! It was a great challenge and I really enjoyed trying out a proper LMP to compare with the fancy french one I'd tried before.

Gabi said...

Thank you Jen, for hosting this challenge. My lemon pie averse husband ate a 4" tart all by himself- way to go!
xoxo

CB said...

This was my first DB challenge and I didn't know what to expect but even though my filling was runny (probably the "baker" and not the recipe) I had a great time! thanks for hosting! :)
-Clara
http://iheartfood4thought.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

Thanks for hosting Jen! I was so happy to have successfully navigated my first lemon meringue!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for hosting this month! Although I had some problems, I take full responsibility, and it was fun to bake something I otherwise would probably have never attempted.

DK said...

The challenge was sure a tough one for me! but then tougher the going gets, more tough you become is my motto! Thanks a heap for giving me this exp. I also got to know how to make meringue too..:) Thanks Jen

Deborah said...

I really loved your choice Jen!! And your pie looks lovely!

Barbara said...

I so wanted to join this one but we've moved and my possessions are still a week away. LMP was one of the first things I learnt to bake as a child. Thanks for hosting.

Kelly said...

Thanks for a great challenge this month Jen. I had a lot of fun making it and my friends loved eating it. I like that people had different experiences when making it - I learned so much from the DB website. Can't wait for the next challenge!

slush said...

Jen, LMP is my absolute favorite dessert. I ask for it every year on my birthday. And while this one did not turn out for me, I still think your brilliant for choosing it. I had a blast making it. And it did look damn good, until I cut 'er open. Thanks for hosting, and your pie looks beautiful!

jess said...

Very cute! Thanks for a great challenge!

Anonymous said...

Well, when you revealed the recipe to us, you sounded just the tiniest bit worried that it wouldn't be challenging enough.

So, at least you needn't have worried about that! :)

Thanks for hosting. I love lemon desserts, and now I know how much I love meringue too.

Lb said...

Thanks for hosting, and also for your choice. I'm always looking for a good lemon meringue, and while I had trouble with my filling, it tasted great and the crust was awesome.

Nemmie said...

Your pie is just lovely! I really really adore the filling, and I'm a curd hater, so there you go. Quite enjoyable, even if the filling didn't quite set up.

Thanks so much for hosting this month! Great choice :)

Dianne's Dishes said...

Mine turned out fabulously, even though I somehow forgot to add the butter to the curd!

I must thank you for putting forth this recipe. I hated LMP until this recipe. This recipe made me a convert though! It was fabulous! :) It just goes to show you should keep trying things because you never know when you'll find something you like. :)

Thanks again for hosting! :)

creampuff said...

With all the baking you do I can't believe you've never made lemon meringue pie before! But you chose very well. It was fun and I enjoyed trying a new recipe for lemon meringue pie. Great choice and job well done!

April said...

Thank you for a great challenge!

test it comm said...

This was my first time making/having a lemon meringue pie. I really enjoyed it.

monica said...

your pie looks awesome, jen! thank you for a wonderful challenge, i'm only sorry that i had to miss it due to time constraints...but i defintiely want to try this recipe soon!

Beth G. @SweetLifeKitchen said...

Thanks for an AWESOME CHALLENGE!! My husband loved eating it and I loved making it!!f

Anonymous said...

Thank you Jen! I really enjoyed this challenge!

Anonymous said...

What a lovely idea, LMP! Nothing compares with it and since it's a favourite in our home, I dared to ask to join. You can find my entry at the following URL http://gato-azul.blogspot.com/2008/01/mile-high-lemon-pie-for-daring-bakers.html Thanks for a challenge that's got everyone enthusiastic and gungho on participating!

Tracy said...

I thought this was a great challenge. I learned from it, and it made my husband VERY happy! Your pie looks beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for a great challenge, Jen. LMP is one of my favorite desserts, which is saying a lot, and I tend to use the same recipe over and over again, so it was good to try something new and learn a few things along the way.

Deeba PAB said...

Hi Jen. Thanks for the great challenge. Was my first, & it challenged the baker in me...my filling was runny, but the joy of baking won in the end. Would have enevr baked a pie had you never posted the challenge. Love the look of your pie...:0)
Deeba

Rosie said...

Jen - thanks for suggesting something I've really wanted to work on. The recipe was really great! So many great tarts - so little time!

Dolores said...

Thank you Jen, for the grace with which you hosted this month's challenge. Apologies that my post will be a bit tardy, but I *do* intend to participate.

Gretchen Noelle said...

Thanks so much for choosing a recipe that i too got to make for the very first time! Your pie looks great!

simply said...

Thank you Jen for the great challenge. I must confess that the finished product compared very favourably with the recipe I usually use.

Katie said...

This was a great challange. I adored the filling. I know everyone encountered a few problems but as the title of our group says, its sometimes meant to be challanging. Its interesting how the same recipe can produce such varied results.

eatme_delicious said...

Your pie looks great! Thanks for choosing this. :)

Peabody said...

Thanks for hosting Jen. Sorry to hear that your filling was a little on the soft side.

Susan @ SGCC said...

Your pie looks really lovely. Thanks for hosting this challenge. I really enjoyed participating.

Karen Baking Soda said...

Thanks for picking this challenge Jen, I really enjoyed it. My first LMP turned out a success!

Cakelaw said...

Thanks for hosting this month Jen - I loved the resulting pie with its scrummy high top balanced by sharp curd - yum!

Big Boys Oven said...

You are simply the best!!! xxx

Marie Rayner said...

Thanks so much for hosting this month Jan and for providing us with a tasty and delicious recipe to hone our skills on! I, for one, had no problems with any of this recipe. My filling was nice and thick and stood up very well, and I loved the addition of vanilla in the meringue which is not something I had ever done before, but will again!

Molly Loves Paris said...

It was a wonderful choice. My husband was thrilled. He's anxiously awaiting a second pie and has already purchased two lemons for me. I must confess that I won't put vanilla in the filling next time. I have been amazed a the different reactions people have to lemon meringue pie. Thanks.

Inne said...

Your pie looks great Jen. Thanks for hosting this month's challenge.

Anonymous said...

Your pie looks terrific. Thanks so much for hosting and for providing a great (for me, anyway!) recipe.

javagirlkt's cookin' said...

Thanks Jen! The LMP was challenging, but I think everyone learned a lot. It doesn't seem like many people have made one before.
Yours looks beautiful!! Great job :)

Dharm said...

Your pie looks just great! Thanks for the challenge and I must say I enjoyed making the pie although I must admit I"m not a LMP fan...

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much Jen for challenging me to make something I would not have otherwise made! :) This was a big challenge for me and I'm so happy I got through!

Also, I now feel a little bit more comfortable with egg whites...a long-time nemesis ;)

Unknown said...

I resisted the urge to make a random fruit meringue pie - I bet the recipe would work with pomegranate, or orange, or lime.... hmmm, might have to try them. Anyway, great challenge!

Unknown said...

Oh yeah, and....

Bakers named Jen unite!

Helene said...

Thank you Jen for a lovely pie! We devoured the minis and I will make it again! Yours is picture perfect!

Michelle said...

Thank you for a really great challenge this month. It made a lot of people in my family happy! Your LMP looks amazing and the crust is what I hope to be able to make one day!

Sarah said...

Thanks for hosting! It was a challenge, but a tasty challenge!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for hosting, Jen. Much appreciated :)

Suzana Parreira said...

Jen, it was a my first Daring Bakers challenge so it was a special one for me. Thanks for hosting!

Jenny said...

Jen, this was a wonderful choice for a cold, yucky January challenge, full of warmth and sunshine and reminders that we have to go through this winter ugh in order to enjoy the loveliness of summer! Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Fabulous challenge! I loved the recipe and will be making this LMP again. Yours looks great.

Hilda said...

Jen, thanks for a great challenge, I'm impressed that you didn't have a weepy meringue, mine started to get weepy after a few hours.

KayKat said...

Thanks for the recipe, Jen - the instructions were awesome. And LMP was a great pick, I had a blast working it.

P.S.: Your meringue looks lovely :)

Anonymous said...

Wonderful meringue tops, looks like snow tops..:)

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

I thought it was excellent! I chose to make it on posting day so we're still eating it today. My boys have already asked for more! I started off with trepidation as I don't like making pastry, I'd never made meringue or lemon curd before and now I know I can and that I can do it well, so THANK YOU!!!!

Thanks for being host this month too.

Megan said...

You cant please all the people all the time but you sure pleased me with this recipe. And I didnt even like LMP before this challange. With a grateful heart I say thank you!

steph- whisk/spoon said...

thanks for this challenge...it was my first taste of LMP!

... said...

Can I just say THANK YOU for challenging to make one of my all time favorite pies? I love you.
Oh, and OF COURSE you did a marvelous darling.

Simply devine.

Anonymous said...

thanks for the challenge, i enjoyed it! the pie looks nice, wonder what went wrong :(

the chocolate doctor מרת שאקאלאד said...

Thanks so much, Jen,
My parents finished the last slice of LMP this afternoon and I am going to make another one tonight, maybe with lime juice this time. Such sensual sweetness!

Anonymous said...

It looks perfect, well except for the filling but we can't see that ;)
I loved the challenge!

Pixie said...

Hi Jen, Thank You so much for hosting this event and for my very first challenge; which, fortunately was a success! We all loved the LMP and I plan to follow the recipe in years to come!!!

Anonymous said...

Great choice to challenge everyone! Your pie looks gorgeous!

Annemarie said...

Thanks for picking this challenge - I really enjoyed it, and everyone at home loved the pie!

jasmine said...

I echo all the DBer's thanks :)

T'was an adventure :)

j

Lis said...

Jen, you rock!

Thank you SO MUCH for hosting this month and for picking such a great recipe.. I was not a big fan of the LMP.. and now, now I'm CRAVING it! :)

I learned quite a bit and also struck a HUGE victory against the dreaded currddddddd! Yay!

I really did love this challenge.. thank you! :)

xoxo

Cyndi said...

Thanks for the great recipe. This was my first DB Challenge and my first LMP! It was great fun and a chance to learn something new.

Holly Dart said...

Thanks for a fun challenge! I Love that you chose such a classic for the challenge this month.

holly
www.theGlutton.blogspot.com

Elle said...

Jen, This was a great challenge...one of the best! Loved the LMP and the recipe. Thank you! Your pie looks wonderful...and no weepy meringue..woot!

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Thanks for the tough challenge! This month's recipe was very tricky ;-P!

Your pie looks very pretty! Well done!

Cheers,

Rosa

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

Jen I think this has been a memorable and real adventure of a challenge. I love it when I think I know what I'm doing and then I end up finding out how much I didn't know!!
My issues were with a crust that sank and formed pools of butter. I can't believe how we all had such different problems, successes and some of us less than what we expected!
Wonderful challenge, everything it should be! Thanks much.

cookworm said...

Thanks for the challenge, Jen; it was a good one for me as I'd never made lemon meringue pie before. Yours looks lovely with the pretty swirls and all.

~Amber~ said...

Thank you for hosting this months challenge. Making the lemon curd and the meringue were new challenges for me and I am greatful for the opportunity to give them a try.

Your pie looks awesome!!

Cheryl said...

Thanks for hosting and I think you made a great choice. I loved how it came out and how it tasted.

african vanielje said...

Jen, your pie is gorgeous. Thanks for a great challenge. I love LMP and quite liked the variation. I am a little late but my post is going up now so I hope it still counts

Half Baked said...

Thanks Jen! I had a great time with the challenge this month. I loved the results. It was fun to make and tasty!

Anonymous said...

So, how does this baking challenge work? Do people literally gather to bake and share pie or is this a 'virtual' meeting?

I'd love to know more about how it all works (I read at the LMP post but couldn't understand the rules - sorry!).

Can someone please post a link for more info on how a new person can get involved?

Laura Rebecca said...

Thank you so much for hosting! You gave us a wonderful challenge.

Thistlemoon said...

Thanks Jen for hosting! I was a great challenge!

Jennifer said...

Great challenge, and great name.

~another Jen :)

Meryl said...

The pie was awesome! Thanks for the great challenge!

Brilynn said...

Thanks for the challenge Jen, it's always fun to try something new, regardless of the results!

Sheltie Girl said...

Jen - Thank you so much for a wonderful challenge. I thoroughly enjoyed making it and eating it. Lovely job on your pie!

Natalie @ Gluten A Go go

David T. Macknet said...

Thanks for the challenge!

Laura said...

If only mine could have been as tasty-looking as yours... ^_^ It was truly a challenge. thank you for introducing me to lmp!

breadchick said...

Jen, I've been trying to get over here to leave this comment for over a week now.

I can not thank you enough for the fabulous LMP challenge and recipe. That lemon curd is just about the bet lemon curd I've ever had and I loved the pie.

Thanks for such a good challenge!

Aoife said...

My tartlets were somewhere in between fabulous and lackluster, but lemon meringue pie has always been something I'd like to try. Thanks for hosting and giving me the push I needed!