Key Lime Pie and Janelle Monae

Just finished a late night walk around our neighborhood with Stewart; I needed a little brisk exercise after all the good eats I enjoyed this Sunday. Summer nights are perfect for evening strolls. By 8 or 9 p.m. the sun sets and the humidity retires, only to rise again 12 hours later the next morning.

Today we celebrated Father's Day with my Dad! He's the best. I have to say a lot of my appreciation and love for music comes from him. Growing up, he and I would go see musicals together at the Orpheum Theatre and spend hours sampling music at Borders; afterwards he'd always let me walk away with a new CD in hand.

So for today's festivities, Mama bear mom cooked chicken spaghetti, and I baked key lime pie for dessert. We've decided to call our teamwork in the kitchen "Shake and Bake"...like Ricky Bobby and Cal Naughton Jr. from Talladega Nights. Now we just have to figure out who will play the role of "shake" and who will be the "bake" in our duo. Filled with pasta and pie, I changed into my bathing suit and quickly wrapped myself in a beach towel, disrobing right before jumping in the pool. And for two hours, I swam and soaked up the sun. A Southern girl can never get enough sun; we need our Vitamin D!

This is the best key lime pie you will ever put to your lips. And I don't say that just because it's my mama's. No one has ever tried this key lime pie that didn't LOVE it, unless you just don't like key lime pies. But how could you not? It's such a refreshing dessert! The fresh squeezed lime juice gives you that mouth puckering tartness, and the crust...the crust is the best part!

Now all I need to do is muster up some self discipline, so that I don't eat all pie in 24-hours. It happens. Not something I'm proud of; but it happens.

Today I want to feature one of my new favorite artists, Janelle Monae and her song "Tightrope". This girl is fabulous. The fitted tuxedos and bow ties are classic, and she rocks the outfit. I wouldn't mind having her dance moves either with the way Janelle glides across the floor. She reminds me of a young, female version of James Brown. I'm loving this song and the music video; it's full of soul and style - two of my favorite accessories.



I continue to read a few chapters of Eat Pray Love each night before I fall asleep, and I'm really enjoying this book. Elizabeth Gilbert has a great talent for storytelling. And this story is certainly a page-turner.

Have a wonderful week!
Julia 

Key Lime Pie:
Crust -
1 1/4 Cups Nilla Wafers (crushed, but still with some chunks of cookie) *You can use a food processor
3 Tbsp sugar
5 Tbsp melted butter

Combine crushed wafers and sugar; mix in melted butter until absorbed by wafers. Press firmly into pie pan to form crust. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes. Let cool for 15-20 minutes. If the crust puffs up after you take it out of the oven, press it back down with the back of a spoon or measuring cup.

Key Lime Filling -
2 (14 oz) cans sweetened condensed milk
4 egg yolks, beaten
3/4 Cup lime juice
1 Tbsp grated lime peel (1-2 limes)

Mix all ingredients together with a whisk until blended. Pour into pie crust and bake at 325 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Refrigerate for an hour.