Lemon Meringue Pie Rules....

.....yes, it does "rule"...but there are also "rules" when it comes to my mom's lemon meringue pie and while in the past, they have been "unspoken" rules...we had to speak them this past Sunday when Michelle brought a "friend" for our Sunday evening festivities. Let me lay a bit of ground work here for ya....Mom's lemon meringue pie is the best in the country...maybe even the world and while I, myself, will not even look at a lemon meringue pie in a bakery or order it in a restaurant, my glands salivate at the thought of my mom's. You can have her recipe, try to make it like hers....not gonna happen. So, like I said...Michelle brings this "friend" and offers him some pie. Well....quite a few showed up on Sunday and there were only two pies, made special to fulfill the requests of two of the fathers in our midst... and since it was Father's Day, mom obliged them. Back to the friend who was trying the pie for the first time......we had to enforce rule #1 (and mind you, never, ever say "I'm not really a pie person" or "pie is not one of my favorites" and think you're even gonna get near a piece of our pie).

Rule #1:You may NOT partake of our pie unless you absolutely love lemon meringue pie. (You may try a piece of someone else's and if you love it, you are welcome to a small piece.)

Rule #2: Never leave any on your plate. If, perchance you took a larger piece than you could handle (I guarantee, it doesn't happen very often) then ask around; someone close will jump at the chance to finish your piece of pie.

Rule #3: Strangers....or "friends"....(let's say, "first timers") are only allowed one piece; no seconds....and we are all watching.

Rule #4: Children under the age of, um...let's say....12 are not allowed to have a piece of pie. They, too, may sample their parent's piece and if, over time, they acquire a taste for this delicacy, then they may have a "small" piece until they "come of age" to really appreciate what they are eating. (Don't judge me wrong, dear reader. There's ample amounts of ice cream and cones and also a cake. The children are not going to starve here).

Rule #5: Eat it very slowly....savor it for it may be a while before she makes another one. (However, if you're a true lover of her pies and she loves you back, you've got it made). So, the next time "life gives you lemons"...have my mom make you a lemon meringue pie. It's sure to cure what ails ya. Thanks, Mom. We know it's getting harder for you and that's why we cherish you and your pies more than ever.