Gourmet Cakes

You may not be able to have your cake and eat it too, but you can certainly learn how to make one!

Gone are the days when cakes were considered a luxury. These days cakes are part and parcel of every day life, finding their way into Sunday dinner, church socials, and birthdays. Most of us think that gourmet cakes are hard to make, but that notion is incorrect. Gourmet cakes are one of the easiest deserts to make.

Just go to a search-engine like Google or Yahoo, and type in “elegant Gourmet cake recipes.” Click the button and you’ll find numerous sites offering recipes like ice cream cakes, walnut mud-cake, pear and raspberry cake, Sydney mud-cake, Russian cheesecake, Bailey’s marbled cheesecake, chocolate peanut-butter cheesecake, just to name a few.

I think most of us know that by using crock-pots, you can make quick and easy dishes in the morning that are ready for you when you get home from work. How mundane. But for something truly sublime, you should try one of the great recipes for ice-cream cakes.

Ice cream cakes are considered a gourmet cakes since they are something special. They are a perfectly blended rich ice-cream with smooth frosting and moist cake. You cake make one of these masterpieces with just a little bit of imagination and some store-bought ingredients.

When you go for shopping for the ingredients for this cake, pick up fresh chocolate as garnish, fresh fruit, frozen whipped topping, your favorite flavor of ice-cream, and some angel food cake.

After getting all of your ingredients, put the ice cream and cake in the freezer for about two hours. You should thaw the frozen whipped topping on the counter for at least 30 minutes just prior to starting. Now slice the fresh fruit and shave the chocolate into attractive pieces to garnish the top of the cake. Remove the ice cream from the freezer and thaw it for thirty minutes. Now remove the cake from the freezer and slice it into three pieces, horizontally.

To produce your wonderful gourmet ice-cream cake, stir the ice cream with a wooden spoon until it becomes smooth and creamy. Now spread the ice cream between the layers of cake. Once you have finished the assembling the layers, frost the exterior and top of the layers with the whipped topping. Now garnish the cake with the fruit slices and/or chocolate.

Put the cake back into the freezer until you are ready for your dinner. This recipe for gourmet ice-cream cake is sure to please your friends and family, and makes for the perfect finish for dinner.

Do You Know What Bottled Water Has In It?

Bottled drinking water is pure, right? Not necessarily. Bottled water can be less pure than municipal tap water in some parts of the United States. In fact, bottled water can actually be municipal tap water. Two examples are Coca Cola’s Dasani brand and Pepsi Cola’s Aquafina brand.

What is bottled water?

“Description. Bottled water is water that is intended for human consumption and that is sealed in bottles or other containers with no added ingredients except that it may optionally contain safe and suitable antimicrobial agents. Fluoride may be optionally added within the limitations established.” The United States FDA

Who regulates what bottled water has in it?

The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled drinking water, which is classified as a “food”. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates tap water. Amazingly, the EPA guidelines for municipal water are stricter than the FDA restrictions for bottled drinking water! You might buy bottled drinking water that is acceptable to the FDA but is not acceptable for use as ordinary bathroom tap water.

The FDA’s specific regulations for bottled water are found in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR).

What are FDA standards?

Under the standard of quality (21 CFR, 165.110[b]), FDA allows certain levels of contaminants in bottled water.

Contaminants bottled water has in it.

1. Coliform. Coliform are rod-shaped bacteria, such as E. coli, that are normally present in the human intestine. The FDA says that bottled water may have up to 9.2 coliform organisms per 100 milliliters. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

2. Arsenic. Arsenic is a poison. The FDA says that bottled water may have up to 0.05 milligrams per liter of arsenic. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

3. Chloride. Chloride is a compound of chlorine, a substance used to disinfect tap water. The FDA allows up to 250.0 milligrams per liter of chloride in bottled water. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

4. Iron. Iron is a metallic element. Your body needs some iron, but not too much. The FDA permits bottled water to contain up to 0.3 milligrams per liter of iron. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

5. Manganese. Manganese resembles iron and is used in fertilizers. Bottled water may contain up to 0.05 milligrams per liter of manganese. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

6. Phenols. Phenols are corrosive, poisonous acidic compounds. Your bottled water may contain up to 0.001 milligrams per liter of phenols. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

7. Dissolved solids. “Dissolved solids” is a catch-all phrase. The FDA allows bottled water to contain up to 500 milligrams per liter of dissolved solids, of whatever type. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

8. Zinc. Zinc is a metallic element. Your body needs some zinc, but not too much. The FDA permits bottled water to contain up to 5.0 milligrams per liter of zinc. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

9. Fluoride. Fluoride is purposely added to some bottled water. If so, the label should say so. In addition, bottled water that is not labeled as containing fluoride may contain up to 2.4 milligrams per liter of fluoride. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

Chemical contaminants bottled water has in it.

The FDA allows set levels of the following chemical contaminants in all bottled water. Amounts vary, but some are shocking, such as Barium. FDA regulations permit up to 2.0 milligrams per liter of barium. That is nearly the same as natural fluorides, even though barium is a toxic metallic element. Cyanide, another poison, is permitted in bottled water. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

Here is a sampling of chemical contaminants bottled water has in it, along with the permitted milligrams per liter.

* Barium……………………………… 2.0
* Chromium……………………………. 0.1
* Copper……………………………… 1.0
* Cyanide…………………………….. 0.2
* Nickel……………………………… 0.1
* Ethylbenzene (100-41-4)………………. 0.7
* Monochlorobenzene (108-90-7)………….. 0.1
* Styrene (100-42-5)…………………… 0.1
* Toluene (108-88-3)…………………… 1.0
* Xylenes (1330-20-7)………………….. 10.0

Pesticides bottled water has in it.

The FDA allows set levels of pesticides in bottled water. There are set limits for each of 29 different pesticides. People who purchase bottled water believe, normally, that they are avoiding pesticides by doing so. For a listing of these pesticides, see 21 CFR 165.110[b].

Disinfectants bottled water has in it.

The FDA allows bottled water to contain set levels of residual disinfectants and disinfection byproducts. Examples from 21 CFR 165.110[b]:

* Disinfection byproducts ……………….
Bromate…………………………… 0.010
Chlorite………………………….. 1.0
Haloacetic acids (five) (HAA5)………. 0.060
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM)………… 0.080
* Residual disinfectants ……………….
Chloramine………………………… 4.0 (as Cl2)
Chlorine………………………….. 4.0 (as Cl2)
Chlorine dioxide…………………… 0.8 (as ClO2)

Radioactive materials bottled water has in it.

The FDA allows bottled water to contain set levels of radioactive material. See 21 CFR 165.110[b]. Three examples:

* “The bottled water shall not contain a combined radium-226 and radium-228 activity in excess of 5 picocuries per liter of water.”

* “The bottled water shall not contain a gross alpha particle activity in excess of 15 picocuries per liter of water.”

* “The bottled water shall not contain uranium in excess of 30 micrograms per liter of water.”

Bottled water has in it more than regulations allow.

When bottled water does not meet the standards set out by the FDA, it might still be sold. By law, it should bear a suitable label.

Examples:

1. “Contains Excessive Bacteria”

2. “Contains Excessive Arsenic”

3. “Excessively Radioactive”

What You Can Do

* Take time to know what bottled water has in it.
* Look for bottlers’ web sites and compare information.
* Write to bottlers with specific questions.
* Remember that bottled water does not mean absolute purity.
* Be sure yours is healthy drinking water.

Tea: What Are Good White Tea Blends

One of the most recent trends in Western tea drinking is white tea. Though white tea has been around for centuries, it has only recently become popular outside of the Asian world. And, even in China and Japan, where most white tea is grown, it was traditionally reserved for special occasions because of its rarity. Today, however, tea drinkers all over the world are enjoying white tea more and more.

White tea comes from the same plant as other teas, the camellia sinensis. But, it is harvested before the leaves are fully open and while the buds are still covered with fine white hair. This makes the tea leaves much mellower, resulting in a much milder tea than black and green teas. In addition to being harvested at a different time than other teas white tea undergoes very little processing, and is not fermented.

The leaves are simply steamed and then dried. Sometimes the leaves are even steamed and dried right in the tea fields and dried in the sun to protect the delicate flavor.

White tea’s flavor is much milder than black or green tea and it has a very delicate aroma as well. It brews to a very pale color and has a hint of sweetness. This mild flavor and aroma appeals to tea drinkers who might find black tea too heavy or green tea to have a bit of a grassy flavor.

Because of this, white tea has opened tea drinking to a whole new group of drinkers who may not have enjoyed tea before.

In addition to being delicious to drink, white tea is also very healthy. In fact, while few studies have been performed on white tea, it is believed to be even healthier than green tea. In the past, many studies have been done on green tea and its ability to slow the aging process and prevent serious diseases like cancer and heart disease.

The reason that green tea has been shown to prevent disease and slow down aging is because of its powerful anti-oxidant levels. Anti-oxidants are present in high levels in natural tea leaves, but the fermentation process changes these anti-oxidants, reducing their effectiveness.

Because green tea, like white, is not fermented it retains more of its natural anti-oxidants.
Therefore, if green tea is a disease preventer, white tea should be just as effective; perhaps even more effective.

In addition, some studies that have been performed on white tea indicate that it is extremely effective in improving the immune system. In particular, white tea seems to have the ability fight off bacteria and viruses. And, white tea is high in fluoride, so that it prevents tooth decay and inhibits the formation of plaque.

If you’ve never tried white tea, you should certainly purchase some for yourself and see if it appeals to you. White tea is much rarer than black or green; far fewer gardens grow it, and typically just one crop is grown each year.

However, particularly if you shop online, you can find very high quality white tea. Sample some Silver Needles or White Peony to get a good idea of what unadulterated white tea tastes like. It’s likely that you’ll find it a very refreshing beverage both cold and hot.

But, for even more variety, scope out the white tea blends. These teas offer a bit more flavor than a plain white tea because additional flavors are added to the tea. The addition of these flavors through the use of natural herbs can also make white tea even healthier. Consider these varieties:

Ginger White Tea – This tea combines rare white tea with the spicy flavor of ginger. White tea provides an incredible boost to the immune system, and ginger has long been heralded for its ability to calm the stomach. Ginger is effective for easing the nausea of morning sickness, motion sickness and the nausea that can be a side effect of chemotherapy.

The combination of immune boosting properties and nausea relief makes this a great gift for a friend who is pregnant or under chemotherapy for cancer.

White Licorice Tea – Another delicious white tea blend, this combination also offers the immune boosting quality of white tea with licorice, which is renowned for its ability to soothe coughs and act as an expectorant. Licorice also is soothing to the stomach. Licorice flavor is a wonderful complement to the delicate flavor of the white tea. When choosing white licorice tea, it’s important to choose a tea that has whole pieces of star anise to ensure the best and boldest licorice flavor.

White Persian melon Tea – This is one of the most refreshing white tea blends. The melon flavor makes the flavor of the tea a bit bolder and fruitier and complements the natural sweetness of the white tea. This is one of the best white tea blends for making iced tea.

As you shop around, you may find other delicious blends of white tea to further broaden your white tea experience. Be certain to choose only the highest quality teas with flavorful herbs to ensure that you get the best flavor in each and every cup.

Exploring The Benefit Of Organic Food

In today’s society – with an ever vigilant eye towards health consciousness – we are forever in search of those factors that will give us the edge in achieving maximum health. As we’ve learned, a healthy diet, a consistent regime of physical activity, and plenty of rest all has a profound impact on our overall vitality. Subsequently, there has been an overwhelming group of people that swear by the benefit of organic food.

Produced by organic farms, organic food is grown under strict government supervision. Under these guidelines, organic produce is grown and packaged without the use of any chemicals or pesticides. Traditionally grown, non-organic produce is subjected to a myriad of chemicals – most of which are have not been studied thoroughly enough to understand or contemplate their long-term effects on the human body. Researchers are still undecided as to whether or not these chemicals can be linked to everything from food allergies to certain types of cancer. The benefit of organic food is that they are not subjected to these unreliable substances.

Meat and dairy produced under organic guidelines are also chemical free. Traditional agricultural farmers often subject livestock to a bevy of chemical supplements designed to speed their growth and weight. Further, dairy cows are often given chemicals to increase their milk production. The benefit of organic food is that livestock is given only organic feed that is chemical and supplement free.

Another benefit of organic food is its advantage to the environment. Traditionally grown produce are treated with chemicals; naturally the chemicals are then in the soil, changing the landscape and contaminating the ground and surrounding water supplies. The benefit of organic food is the ground in which it is grown is left unchanged.

Making a commitment to organic food means making a commitment to your health; the benefit of organic food lies in the chemical free enjoyment of natural whole food. Further, the benefits to the environment are varied and long lasting. The decision to go organic is a healthy and responsible one.

Enjoy Florida’s Culturally Diverse Food

The local cuisine is sometimes called Floribbean. Thanks to a strong Caribbean and Latin American influence, Floridian food is culturally diverse – and thanks to the huge coastline, you can enjoy fresh fish and seafood wherever you are.

Florida’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts and its inland waters serve up a mouth-watering menu of marine cuisine. Depending on the time of year and where you are, you can dine on Apalachicola oysters, Fernandina Beach shrimp, St. Johns River blue crabs, Florida Bay lobsters, and Cedar Key clams, Grouper, mahi-mahi, largemouth bass, speckled perch, and trout.

For Starters – here are a few

Conch Chowder – a creamy soup made with conch (a giant sea snail). Conch live in those shells that some of you buy in souvenir shops, take back home, put it to your ear and think that you can hear the ocean.

The two most common ways conch is prepared is in chowder or fried.

U-Peel-Shrimp

This is a dish consisting of shrimp cooked in a spicy broth.

Some Main Course dishes

Seared Tuna may be served with a mango salsa and grilled chayote (a type of squash). For the mango salsa; Fresh mangoes are blended with herbs, spices and scotch bonnet peppers for mild heat.

Chicken Tropicana This is a chicken dish with tropical fruit sauce, coconut and cashews.
Dessert.

Key Lime Pie – you cannot mention Florida desserts without mentioning this Florida Signature dessert.

Key Lime Pie is filled with a tangy custard made from Key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and sugar. The pie is named after the small Key limes that are found throughout the Florida Keys.

Key lime juice is yellow, not green – so if it is green it is not authentic. To sample a day’s worth of Cuban delights (Cuban cuisine is a fusion of Spanish, African and Caribbean cuisine), begin at breakfast with a wedge of hot, buttered, Cuban bread with a cup of caf้ con leche — this is strong coffee with a some milk.

Other choices include frijoles negros (black beans), arroz con pollo (chicken and yellow rice), boliche (a beef roast, stuffed with chorizo sausage), Cuban mojo-roast pork, arroz salteado (salted rice), and deviled crab with hot sauce. Feast your eyes and stomach on a heaping dish of paella — rice mixed with a profuse amount of delights that may include mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops, lobster, oysters, stone-crab claws, chicken, and/or pork.

To finish off, try flan, egg custard oozing with caramel sauce. Then go back to your Florida Vacation Rental Home and have a well earned rest.

Discover The Power Of Living Foods!

There is definitely an advantage to eating a huge amount of living plant food each and everyday! These foods contain the life force necessary to help keep you healthy and free of disease. The living energy found in these foods will help you grow older with clearer skin, nails that are much stronger and hair that is less likely to fall out. The problem is that we have been trained to eat an unhealthy diet and becoming untrained can be tough.

Undoing a lifetime of habit can be quite a challenge. We began learning things as small children and build upon this knowledge as we get older. As we get comfortable with these learned habits, the thought of sudden change becomes less and less of a possibility. This is why we should teach our young children to eat an abundance of living veggies and fruits. Establishing a habit among your children of eating lots of living vegetables and fruits is one of the best things you could ever teach another human being. In the U.S., most adults and children don’t even come close to the minimum recommended daily servings of 2-4 fruits and 3-5 vegetables.  And if you’re getting your fruits and vegetables from the market, more than likely you aren’t getting an adequate dose of maturely present phytochemicals.

Phytochemicals are chemicals found in plant food that serve particular functions in the human body, depending on which of the several thousands of phytochemicals you are discussing. Different plant foods have different phytochemicals and you should eat a variety everyday to ensure you get plenty of them. The more of these living enzymes you get over time, the better you will feel and the better you health will be. A true nutritional role for phytochemicals is becoming more probable every day as research uncovers more of their remarkable benefits. One of the cutting edge subjects on phytochemicals is their role in anti aging.

As we moved away from eating the way our ancestors did, we began to develop diseases that now kill millions of people a year. Signs of these epidemics are not seen in rural parts of the world where people eat much more of a plant based diet.. These people have been reported to live long, healthy lives that are free of such illnesses as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. People on such diets seem to have an anti aging quality in relation to their physical health. According to the American Cancer Society- “eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day as part of a healthy diet can help reduce your risk of cancer.” This must be taken far more seriously than it is.

On the basis of modern research, biochemical researchers have identified certain phytochemicals that aid the body in keeping your immune strong and combating disease at all times. As an overall guideline, health authorities recommend that we consume diets rich in whole grains, raw fruits and vegetables as well as greatly reduce animal fat consumption. Eating beans, raw nuts and unheated vegetable oils will enhance your immune system to provide optimal protection from disease.

Bbq Ideas – Have A Fantastic BBQ After Dark

It’s a no-brainer. Great food, warm weather, cold drinks, and the people you love. Maybe that’s what adds so much appeal to the great BBQ Ideas you will find.

However, you will always find the same kinds of BBQ’s, and the same kinds of food. Toss it up a bit, people! Here are two great BBQ ideas that are unique, fun, and are still great BBQ’s.

BBQ After Dark

This is one of the greatest BBQ ideas, whether you’re entertaining a crowd, or it’s just you and your sweetheart. Start by getting your food items together earlier in the day.

Have everything ready to go on the grill by sunset. Hook up a bright light close to the grill so that you’re able to cook the food without giving your guests Salmonella or something like that. Then, you want to set up the actual eating area in the yard, away from the lights.

Get a great fire pit, and place chairs around it. You can find these anywhere, or you can learn how to make them on your own.

Light a whole bunch of citronella candles so that no buzzing blood suckers will pester you and your guests. You can add some Tiki torches as well.

Place some twinkling lights in the bushes nearby, or make a walkway from the grill to the seating area with tea light candles placed in white paper bags. This is truly a breathtaking sight.

For a few added details, you can place a bucket next to the fire pit with some pre-selected long sticks and a couple of bags of marshmallows.

This way your guests can roast marshmallows while you shoot the breeze and watch for lightning bugs. No amount of boring BBQ ideas can top the feeling of being under the stars, and enjoying great food, cold drinks, and the company of your family or friends.

Other great BBQ ideas can be found at http://www.bbqideas.net

BBQ Ideas That Will Have Your Kids Jumping For Joy

It’s nice to have a BBQ and enjoy the adult talk while the children play. However, if the children grow bored, they’re going to let you know pretty quickly.

Stop the whines and moans by giving the kids some great things to do while you enjoy adult conversation and have fun watching the kids play. Here are some great BBQ ideas that are kid-friendly.

1. Place a big basket of outdoor toys that are age related outside near the BBQ area. This will help keep your children occupied so that they will also be having a great time.

You can choose toys like dump trucks, little cars, shovels, or other things that your kids will enjoy.

2. Encourage your friends or family to bring their children. The kids will love getting a chance to play together while the adults converse.

It is also a great excuse to get the extended family together to let the cousins play with each other.

3. Set up the sprinkler a good ways from the BBQ area, but still in sight. Let the kids put on their swimsuits and splash around in the water.

This is a great thing for a summer day, and one of the greatest kid-friendly BBQ ideas. If the weather is not warm enough, you may want to skip this little idea.

4. By adding some soft plastic on the ground, your kids can run and slip and slide across the plastic. You can use a commercial one if you want, but it’s just as easy to make on out of house plastic or a very soft tarp.

I hope you enjoyed these unique BBQ ideas to make your outdoor get-together that much more fun. There are many more great BBQ Ideas at http://www.bbqideas.net/

Catering your BBQ theme to children lets you enjoy the same fun atmosphere, but you get to keep things interesting and fresh. Enjoy.

‘Waitress’ Bakes Up Pie To Die For

Waitress is about a woman named Jenna who is depressed from her marriage to a terrible husband, as well as her lifelong loneliness. Again and again, she finds herself trapped in the abusive relationship, partly due to financial struggles. To her further dismay, she finds out she is pregnant with her husband’s child. The only outlet through which she feels comfortable sharing her emotions is by baking pies. She even names pies after her feelings while inventing them. After a series of life-changing events, she eventually finds exactly what she has been looking for in the baby she resented all along. She cuts off ties from everything in her old life and “starts fresh,” keeping only one thing the same: her love and passion for making pies.

Here are five of her wonderful pie recipes:

Marshmallow Mermaid Pie

9 graham crackers
1/2 C. sweetened, flaked coconut, toasted
5 Tbs. butter or margarine, melted
34 lg. marshmallows (8 oz.)
1/2 C. whole milk
1 1/2 C. heavy or whipping cream
1 oz. unsweetened chocolate, grated

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine coconut and graham crackers in food processor until coarse crumbs form. Combine crumbs and butter with fork. Press to bottom and side of 9-inch pie plate. Bake 10 minutes and cool on wire rack. Heat marshmallows and milk in 3-qt. saucepan over low heat until smooth, stirring constantly. Remove saucepan from heat. Cool completely (30 minutes.) In large bowl with mixer at medium speed, beat cream until stiff peaks form. Fold marshmallow mixture into whipped cream with grated chocolate. Spoon filling into cooled crust. Refrigerate pie at least 3 hours or overnight. Top with mini marshmallows, maraschino cherries and rainbow sprinkles.

Falling in Love Chocolate Mousse Pie

9-inch baked pastry shell
1 14-oz. can condensed milk (not evaporated)
2/3 C. water
1 (4 serving) pkg. chocolate pudding mix (not instant)
1 1-oz. square unsweetened chocolate
2 C. (1 pt.) whipping cream, stiffly whipped

In large saucepan, combine condensed milk, water and pudding mix; mix well. Add chocolate. Over medium heat, cook and stir rapidly until chocolate melts and mixture thickens. Remove from heat; beat until smooth. Cool. Chill thoroughly; stir. Fold in whipped cream. Pour into prepared pastry shell. Chill 4 hours until set.

I Don’t Want Earl’s Baby Pie

1 pie crust
4 Tbs. butter
3 slices ham
8 green onions
1 C. brie cheese
1 C. parmesan cheese, grated
4 eggs
2 C. heavy cream
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cover pie crust with foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove foil and bake 5 minutes more. Remove crust and reduce heat to 325 degrees. Julienne ham. Chop green onions. In skillet, saute ham until brown. Remove and set aside. Saute onion until tender. Remove with slotted spoon and combine with ham. Spread on bottom of pie crust. Spread brie over ham mixture and sprinkle with parmesan. Combine eggs, cream and nutmeg; pour over cheese. Bake 30 minutes or until set. Cool slightly, cut into wedges and serve.

Baby Screamin’ Its Head Off In The Middle of the Night & Ruinin’ My Life Pie

4 8-oz. cream cheese, softened
1 C. unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 C. sour cream
1/2 C heavy whipping cream
1 3/4 C. white sugar
1/8 . cornstarch
1 fl. oz. amaretto liqueur
1 tsp. vanilla extract
5 eggs
1 egg yolk
1 C. chopped pecans
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Bring all ingredients to room temperature. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Wrap outside of 9-inch springform pan with foil. Generously butter inside of pan. In large bowl,beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in sugar and cornstarch. Blend in sour cream and whipping cream. Add amaretto and vanilla. Stir in eggs and egg yolk one at a time, mixing thoroughly between each addition. Pour batter into pan. Place pan in another pan at least 1 inch wider and add water to outside pan (prevents cracks). Bake on center rack for 70 minutes. Turn oven off and let cool with door open for 1 hour. Remove cake from water and chill at least 3 hours before removing cake from pan. Top with crushed pecans and dust with nutmeg.

I Can’t Have No Affair Because It’s Wrong & I Don’t Want Earl to Kill Me Pie

2 1/2 C. graham cracker crumbs
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. melted butter
2 large eggs
1/3 C. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 C. milk, scalded
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 egg whites
1/2 C. white sugar

Mix crumbs, brown sugar and butter until well-blended. Press mixture into a 9-inch pan. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Beat eggs slightly in a large bowl. Add sugar and salt. Slowly stir in hot, scalded milk. Add vanilla. Strain mixture into pie crust. Sprinkle top with cinnamon. Bake on lower shelf 25-30 minutes, or until custard is firm. In larger glass mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add 1/4 C. white sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pie after custard is set, return to oven until meringue is slightly brown. Cool 15 minutes.