Key Lime Pie

I just ate Key lime pie.

What the hell is that? Wikipedia, my go-to resource for dubious information that I'm too lazy to fact-check, sums it up nicely: "Key lime pie is an American dessert made of Key lime juice, egg yolks, and sweetened condensed milk in a pie crust."

Though I don't generally condone fruit in, as, or around dessert (do NOT get me started on the affront that is putting raisins in anything, an abomination worthy of an independent post #triggered), I can usually handle it in custard form. I'm not a huge fan of Key lime pie, but it's one of Carl's favorites and since my friends and family love to spoil my spouse, he got a homemade Key lime pie.

Why did I eat this? In the interest of full transparency, I must note that I did not just eat this pie. I actually made (and ate) the confection many years ago with help from my junior chefs, Cassie and Ellie, but today is National Pie Day and this was the only documented example I could think of to mark the occasion. The pie was made using limes direct from Florida, sent to us by Christy and Darryl in Orlando. They had a lime tree in their yard, so when I told Christy about Carl's love of Key lime pie, she sent about five pounds of limes so we could make him one or ten (see? SPOILED!). I find it hard to justify making pie from scratch when I can always buy one that's as good or better than homemade, and I really don't eat a lot of pie. I'm Team Cake, though I may be in the minority.

I've been thinking a lot lately about Christy, the catalyst for this blog, and all the kooky gifts and food she gave our family over the years. When her limes arrived, I remember being very relieved that the box did not contain the live gecko lizards she was constantly threatening to send us. (Christy claimed it was a joke, but I have no doubt that if I had agreed to rehome the geckos, she would have found a way to get them here.) I still have a stuffed lizard Christy sent me on a shelf in my kitchen, and the rubber lizard she brought when she came to Philly with Darryl is on display in our china cabinet (because where else would it go?).

The limes, love, and laughter that went into this pie make my memories of it especially sweet, and I know that if Christy had her way, I'd be celebrating National Pie Day 2018 with a fresh batch of citrus and gecko lizards, direct from Orlando.

Satisfaction rating: 10