Page 146 - United States of Pie

1 tablespoon turbinado or sanding sugar

Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Blanch the lemons by
submerging them in the boiling water for 30 seconds. Then remove
the lemons and rinse them under cold water until they are cool to the

touch. Trim and discard the ends of each lemon, and then cut each
lemon in half lengthwise. With a sharp knife, cut the lemon halves
crosswise into paper-thin slices, the thinner the better. (It is important
to slice the lemons as thin as possible; otherwise, they may not
break down adequately during the macerating process.) Discard any
seeds.
Place the lemon slices in a nonreactive bowl. Add the sugar and

the salt, and mix well. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest
at room temperature for 1 hour. Then stir the lemons once, cover the
bowl again, and let it sit at room temperature overnight, or for a
minimum of 8 hours.
When the lemons are ready, preheat the oven to 425°F.
In a medium-size bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Add the melted butter

and the flour, stirring to combine. Pour the egg mixture over the
lemons, mixing well to evenly disperse the lemon slices. Set aside.
On a well-floured surface, roll out one portion of the dough until it
is about /8-inch thick and will fit a 9-inch pie plate. Gently pick up the
1
dough, center it over the pie plate, and ease it into the plate. Let the
excess dough hang over the rim. Pour in the filling and spread it out
evenly.

Roll out the second portion of dough to the same size. Lay the
dough over the filling. Trim the edges of both layers of dough to
leave a 1-inch overhang. Pressing the edges together, fold them
under, and then decoratively crimp the perimeter. With a sharp knife,
cut 5 vents in the top crust.
Bake the pie for 25 minutes. Then reduce the heat to 350° and

continue baking for another 25 minutes or until the top crust is
golden brown. (If the crust begins to brown too quickly, tent it with a
piece of aluminum foil for the duration of the baking time.) Let the pie
cool to room temperature before enjoying.

Optional: