Arizona - State flower: Saguaro cactus flower

1. Lamb Stuffed Sweet Red Pepper
2. Pinon Nut and Mint Soup
3. Cactus Salad
4. Navajo Fry Bread
5. Lime Chiffon Pie

Lime Chiffon Pie

CRUST:
1-1/3 Cups graham cracker crumbs
4 Tbsp butter, salted

Preheat oven to 375º. Combine the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter in a 9-inch pie pan and stir until all the crumbs are moistened. Press the mixture firmly across the bottom and along the sides of the pan. TIP: Use a ramekin to push the crust material into all the corners of the pie pan...this shapes it really well and gets it evenly distributed. Bake the crust in the middle of the oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until it is slightly colored. Set aside to cool.

FILLING:
¼ Cup water
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
¾ cup plus ½ cup sugar
¾ Cup strained fresh lime juice
1 tsp finely grated lime peel
4 egg whites
4 egg yolks

Pour the water into a small bowl, pour in the gelatin and let it soften for 2 or 3 minutes. Combine ¾ cup of the sugar, the lime juice and lime peel in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat to low, pour in the gelatin mixture and continue to stir until the gelatin is dissolved. Remove pan from heat.

Whisk the egg whites in your egg whites pan until they are thick enough to form soft peaks. Add the remaining ½ cup sugar and continue to whisk until the egg whites are stiff.

In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks for 1 or 2 minutes. Whisking constantly, pour in the lime gelatin in a slow, thin stream and continue to beat until the mixture is smooth. Set the bowl into another larger bowl filled with ice and water and stir with a spoon until the mixture is quite cold and begins to thicken. Whisk thoroughly to be sure the mixture is smooth.

Scoop the beaten egg whites over the egg yolk and gelatin mixture and fold them together. Pour the filling into the cooled crust, spreading it evenly.

Put wax paper over the top and refrigerate the pie for about 3 hours until firm to the touch. Cut at time of serving.

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