Pucker Up! Lemon Bars, Flavor of the Month, Round 1

Yes, I have found another baking theme for me to participate in! Lucky for my rear end this baking theme hosted by Bake at 350 is only once a month. :)  The neat thing is she picks the challenge and then we all scurry off to see what we can bake up to fit the bill pan.  I missed out on the first challenge which was pie, I did however bake her Texas Peach Pie and it was good!! (I have pictures and I promise I'll blog about it soon)

This month the challenge is Pucker Up! The very first thing that came to mind was lemon bars.  So that is what I made and am sharing with you this month.

I've made these lemon bars many times.  They are a summer favorite here.  Next to the ice cream cake this is the dessert I make the most in the summer.  I mean really nothing tastes more like summer than lemon bars, don't you agree?

Last night the process wasn't so easy.  I'm not sure if it was being under pressure to get it done for today's challenge or if it was baking after a full day of cleaning, laundry and dealing with children.  Whatever it was, I am surprised these turned out. ;)

First thing I recommend is putting your ipod on when measuring ingredients.  I started mixing the dough for the base and once my hands were coated in it, I began to wonder if I added all the flour to the mixture.Between the kids running through the house, the baby standing at the gate saying "up, up", the TV blaring...I was a little distracted to say the least.  I just continued on, pressed it in the pan and shoved it in the oven, hoping for the best.

Then I started gathering my ingredients for the lemon part of the bars and I discover, at 9:30 at night, I only have 2 eggs and the recipe calls for 4.  At this point I just want to call it a night, but my hubby said he would go get eggs.  What a guy!

Finally get that done, bake them and let them cool...a bit.  I was very impatient and just wanted too get it done so tried to cut them and get them out of the pan.  Yeah, don't do that.  Let them cool completely. I thought I really had messed up on the base.  This morning when I went to see what they looked like they were fine! Thank you baking gods! :)

So enough of my chatter here is the recipe so you can go make your own!

Ingredients:

For the base:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups sifted flour
1 cup butter

For the top:
4 large eggs
2 cups white sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon rind {This is optional, but I definately recommend adding it for full lemon flavor}
4-5 drops yellow food coloring {optional}

Directions:
For the base:
Mix the butter into the flour and sugar. Mix with hands until it clings together.
Press into a 13 x 9 inch pan, sprayed with Pam or greased.
Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.

For the filling:
beat the eggs with electric mixer for 7 minutes, add the sugar and lemon juice.
Sift together flour and baking powder.
Stir into egg mixture.
Pour over baked crust.
Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes.
Cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into bars.

 

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