Day 131 - Luscious Lemon Bars

I am LOVING that my kids are home for the summer.
And no, this time I'm not being sarcastic.
As I was baking today, I was just listening to them interact and it's wonderful to see how they relate to one another.  Yes, they have their moments, but as they've gotten older it's different.
Of course it's different, they use their words now instead of smacking or biting each other - haha.
I have to admit there was a tinge of jealousy inside me today as I stood there listening and watching.
I wanted want a brother or sister.
I have NO idea what it's like.  As a child I was always asking my parents for a sibling, but now, as an adult I especially wish I had one.
I'd like to just call my sister up and talk for a few hours about the kids or bust my brother up about the way his wife dresses him.
Maybe I'll have an imaginary sibling.
No, I'm ok.  I was kidding.   Don't want anyone calling the hospital to have me committed.

Lynne made Laura's luscious lemon bars today.
I couldn't resist the alliteration with this post.
My good friend, Laura gave me this recipe.
She must know that I love anything lemon.
Thank you, Laura!!

Lemon Bars
Crust
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup confectioners' sugar, plus extra for topping
1/4 cup cornstarch
3/4 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing pan

Lightly butter a 9 X 13" baking dish and line the pan with a sheet of parchment paper.
Lightly butter parchment and lay a second sheet of parchment across it, so that they are in two different directions.

In a medium bowl, combine flour confectioners' sugar, cornstarch, and salt.  Slice butter into small pieces and then cut into flour mixture using a pastry cutter or two knives.  Work until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Pour mixture into pan and press firmly into pan so that there is about 1/4 inch thickness on the bottom and crust goes up sides about 1/2 inch.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Place rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350F.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Filling
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
3 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
2/3 cup fresh, strained lemon juice
1/3 cup whole milk
1/8 teaspoon salt

In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, and flour.

Add lemon zest, lemon juice, milk, and salt and mix to combine well.







Reduce oven temperature to 325F.
Stir filling mixture to reblend and pour into warm crust.

Bake about 25 minutes until the filling feels firm when touched.

 



Cool completely on wire rack about 30 minutes. Remove bars from pan and place on cutting board.






Peel paper down and cut into bars.  Wipe knife or pizza wheel off between each cut as necessary.
Sift confectioners' sugar over bars.

The finished product!

By now, if you've been reading my blog for a while you must know that I LOVE anything lemon!!
The smell, the taste...YUM!
And lemon bars are a weakness.

So it's a good thing this happened...

Yes, I had another mishap in the kitchen.
It's been quite a while since that last one (I don't even remember what it was - think it had something to do with the flour and the mixer), so I guess I was due.
I was preparing a plate to take to my hair salon and it wasn't completely on the counter as I was putting the bars on.
So, I prepared another plate.
It's less I'll be eating which is good.
My son was standing nearby when it happened, and offered to clean up MY mess immediately.  I think it was because in these situations before he's seen me lose it and start crying out of complete frustration.  I wasn't at that point, but I'm sure it was something he was hoping to avoid.
Whatever the reason, I gladly accepted his offer.
Man, I love my kids!
I rate everything that I bake on a scale of 1-4 with 4 being the absolute bomb and these Luscious Lemon Bars earned 3 1/2 rolling pins!
The crust was very good, but a little crumbly.  I think next time I'll work it more with my hands before putting it into the baking dish so that it's more like a dough instead of patting it down when it's coarse.
Happy baking!