Florida Key Lime Pie

Living in the sunshine state has it's benefits. It's always sunny, there's oranges as far as the eye can see, and there's sweet key lime pie! Creamy and smooth, with every bite you can taste the subtleties of lime and sunshine. Made with a graham cracker crust for a crunchy bottom, this pie is simply refreshing.

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
5 large egg yolks
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1/3 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons coarsely grated lime peel
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 small lime, sliced, optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a 9-inch pie plate combine graham cracker crumbs and 2 tablespoons sugar, stir in butter until blended. Press mixture firmly and evenly over bottom and sides of pie plate, bake 10 minutes until browned.Cool completely on wire rack.
In top of double boiler using wire whisk, beat egg yolks, lime juice, 1/3 cup sugar and salt until well blended. Set over simmering water, cook about 5 minutes, stirring constantly until mixture is thick enough to coat back of metal spoon.
Remove from heat, stir in 1 tablespoon grated lime peel. Refrigerate mixture about 45 minutes until cool.
Meanwhile in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed, beat cream until soft peaks form.
Set 1 cup whipped cream aside for garnish, fold cooled lime mixture into remaining cream. Spoon filling into prepared crust, refrigerate at least 2 hours until set.
Spoon remaining whipped cream decoratively over top of pie, sprinkle cream with remaining 1 tbsp. lime peel. Garnish with lime slices,if desired.