Key Lime Pie



My dad and me at Epcot Center, November 2003

 The only pie I liked when I was younger was my Granny Strickland's Cherry Pie with Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream on top.  I certainly wanted nothing to do with anything that was greenish-yellow and of a think, custard-like consistency.  Senior year, my dad and I went on a "college visit" to Disney World.  See, when I was a senior, it was considered an "excused absence" to miss school, if one was visiting a college/university.  Lucky me, there is a college associated with Walt Disney World called the Disney Institute. (For real, click the link).  My dad had a lawyers convention on the beach in Florida, so he stole me away for a week and headed to Orlando.  I mean, we went on a college visit to the Disney Institute.

Me and my dad on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride-
we started making funny faces in all of the pictures on the rides

Now, my dad has always had a way of making the most out of our Disney World vacations.  We have been five times, and each time he gets better and better at planning our adventure.  I kid you not, my dad will copy the "ideal itinerary" from the Unofficial Guide to Disney World, minimize the pages, laminate them, and provide each person in our party with a copy of the game plan.  Sometimes they have wrist straps attached to them.  When I was younger, I hated how strictly he adhered to the schedule ("We have to be at the gates when they open so we can be in the Space Mountain line by 8:04, so we can be in the Splash Mountain line by 8:52.")  Senior year, I loved our punctuality.  We did more in three days at Disney World than we had done when we'd spent seven days there in the past.  It was a whirlwind trip, but it was so fun being a kid again at 17. 

Me and Dopey at Magic Kingdom, November 2003

My dad and me on the Rockin' Roller Coaster

After our Disney visit, we went to my dad's lawyer conference on the beach.  I don't remember where we were, but I do know that I had just figured out how to text message.  I sent my mom a message saying, "I think I belong on the beach.  How about the Disney Institute instead of UT?"  It was at this conference that I tried key lime pie for the first time.  How had I never tried it before?!  It was light, tangy, and very refreshing! You mean my mom had been baking this pie for the past 10 years, and I had been leaving it up to my dad to consume the whole thing?!  Well, there would be no more of that, sorry Pop.

My dad and me at Rainforest Cafe at Disney World, November 2003
This was also the night I got a text from my mom telling me I'd received my first college admittance letter!

My mom's key lime pie is made with full-fat ingredients because desserts are made for indulgence (and my dad is picky).  I wanted, however, to find a lighter recipe for the pie.  I came across one on Weight Watchers last week, and I made it for Andy's fantasy football league draft party at my house.  I totally forgot about it during the party, so I took it to our friends, the McDaniels', house that night when we went over to watch True Blood.  Per my dessert eaters, and per myself, this lighter version is just as good as the full-fat, but without the guilt.  Guilt-free indulgence? Count me in.

Andy and his KA buddies at my house for their 2011 Fantasy Football Draft
Andy, Matt, Adam, Derek, Thomas, & Caleb

Key Lime Pie
Weight Watchers
Servings: 12, Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 5

Key Lime Pie

• 6 oz graham cracker pie crust
• 14 oz sweetened, condensed milk
• 8 oz fat-free egg substitute
• 3/4 c fresh lime juice
• 3/4 c fat-free whipped topping

1. Preheat oven to 325
2. Place crust on baking sheet, set aside
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, egg substitute and lime juice- pour into crust
4. Bake about 15 mins, until center looks set, but still shakes a little when you tap it
5. Remove to a wire rack and cool completely
6. Transfer pie to a refridgerator and chill for 1-2 hours
7. Slice into 12 slices & garnish each slice with 1 tbsp whipped topping

Key Lime Pie

Keep on cookin'!
-Katherine