There are only a few things in life better than Miss Betsy's Lemon Meringue Pie, and the State Fair Blue Ribbon Committee from 1998 can attest to that as well.
If you haven't experienced the excitement of a State Fair, let me paint a vivid picture for you. Once a year, a week-long celebration centered around agriculture takes place. Farmers proudly showcase their prized sheep, while spirited individuals engage in tractor drags. Children eagerly hop on rickety carnival rides, and elegant ladies like Miss Betsy enter their finest baked goods into the highly competitive state-wide pie contest. While there are no monetary rewards, the bragging rights earned from this event last a lifetime. And in the South, that is more valuable than a million in the bank.
Pies are judged somewhat on appearance but mainly on taste. Keeping in mind that the state fair crowd isn't too concerned with appearance. But for taste- it has to be spectacular. People submit a wide variety of delectable treats, ranging from cakes and crumbles to brownies and taffy. And occasionally, you'll even find the rare and under appreciated gem of a jello salad. On a delightfully warm October afternoon in 1998, Miss Betsy ascended the three steps, pie in hand, towards a line of judges who awaited her presence with patience at a table adorned with a pristine white tablecloth. She strode past the other competitors, all holding their half-eaten desserts, and as she did each looked up at Miss Betsy, they had to as she was a towering 5'10. The women judges smiled tightly and Miss Betsy laid out her lemon meringue pie atop the tasting table. The male judges gave her their best blue-ribbon-winning smiles; you see, not only was Miss Betsy a damn good cook, she was arguably the most attractive woman for miles.
Tall with tan olive skin, honey brown eyes, high cheekbones, dark hair cut into a long bob, side swept bangs, red lipstick, lean muscular build with curves, and legs that went for miles. She was wearing a starched white sundress with scallop edging. Let's just say that pie wasn't the only thing causing commotion. She delicately cut four separate pieces of pie, placing each in front of the judges. Stepped back, clasping her hands in front of her and smiled sweetly as she watched each judge take a bite of her pie. I know this pie, so I can tell you exactly what they were experiencing. First comes the creamy smooth texture of the center, equal parts cream to lemon and as you begin to chew your first bite you are surprised by the airy tang of Miss Betsy's mile-high meringue. Slightly chewy, slightly salty, slightly sweet. The best part, in my humble opinion, comes last. It's the crunch of the homemade Graham cracker crust where an explosion of salty rich butter combines with the other flavors and makes you....gasp. Yes, audible Mmmms and even a true gasp was heard from the line of judges as they chewed each bite of the pie. Some even dipped their forks back in for a second taste. A forbidden gesture seeing how they still had so many pies to taste, but that didn't stop them, they needed more. Miss Betsy, cool as ever, smiled, dipped her head, scooped up the remaining part of the pie and exited left. It was the most magical damn thing I had ever experienced in my young life. I could tell others in the crowd, traitors to their own, wanted to clap for Miss Betsy, disregarding their own kin that stood on that stage with their sad cranberry cobbler in hand. But I didn't hold back, I jumped up, let out a whoop, clapped as enthusiastically as my eleven-year-old arms could allow and felt such booming pride for my mother, Miss Betsy and her blue ribbon-winning Lemon Meringue Pie.
If you are also a lover of all things lemon look no further than this fun collection of lemon-inspired home decor, jewelry and so on.
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