As sweet and intense as the recollection of my first kiss is my memory of the first (and second) time I ever tasted Key Lime Pie.
I was attending a broadcaster’s convention at the fabulous Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. I was wasting a little time between sessions and stopped for a cup of coffee, and observed the table next to me being served a slice of green pie.
I inquired of the waitress.
“Key Lime, sir, our specialty.”
“I better try a slice.”
It came. I took a forkful, let it hang around my taste buds for a few moments. I swooned. I was in love.
Key Lime pie is a baked “custard like” confection, with a graham cracker crust, sugar, eggs, sour cream, condensed milk, and the zest and juice of Key limes.
(The Key lime is a citrus hybrid, smaller than traditional limes, with a thinner rind, native to Southeast Asia, but the name comes from its association with cuisine of the Florida Keys. It is aromatic, juicy, and much more flavorful than conventional similar citrus fruits).
I liked the pie so much that while journeying home, having a layover at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, I again found myself with time to waste, and wandered over to the airport’s Hilton, and lo and behold, there on the menu in the coffee shop, was my adored pie. I indulged.
I’m not much of a baker, and although Key lime pies are available commercially, the ones I have tried are just not very satisfying.
Then along comes inventor/entrepreneur Kim Harvey. Kim’s kitchen dream was to attempt to replicate one of her grandmother’s confectionery specialties, the “Mexican Wedding Cake” cookie. A small round sweet baked cookie, dusted in powdered sugar. People of German descent make a variation of this cookie that is anise, nutmeg, and cinnamon flavored, called “Pfeffernusse.” Kim’s desire to make the best cookie available provided her with the inspiration to make her cookies have a “Key Lime” flavor, and genius was born. Kim’s cookies, in a 7.75 oz attractive tin (which can be personalized for use as corporate or affinity gifts) are packed full of tart/sweet Key lime flavor, and are available at a number of retailers, as well as online. They are available in the dusted powder sugar recipe, or dipped in white chocolate. Buy them by the tin or in bulk.
It’s refreshing to find a confection like this, just the right amount of sweet, right size portion, where each bite gives you a burst of delicious yet cleansing citrus flavor.
Kim’s Key Lime Gourmet Cookies Review