Teaspoon |

April 2024
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30

Tag Archive for Teaspoon

Luscious Lemon Squares

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Renee Spindle

Since it’s January, and my lemon tree is over loaded with lemons, it’s about time I share a lemony, delicious recipe with you. Lemon squares are one of my Mom’s favorite desserts. She’s been asking me when we’re going baking these yummy little goodies. I think it’s high time we gather some lemons and get to work.

2016-01-21 13.58.25

This is my favorite recipe for lemon squares from The Betty Crocker Ultimate Cookie Book. I think I got this book from my Mom a few years ago. Thanks Mom!

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup butter, softened
¼ cup powdered sugar
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 eggs

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350°.
Mix flour, butter and powered sugar.
Press into ungreased square pan 8x8x2 or 9x9x2, building up a ½ edge to form a small crust.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Beat the remaining ingredients together on high-speed until light and fluffy.
Pour this mixture over the baked layer, and bake again for 25-30 minutes.
There should be almost no indentation remaining when lightly touched in the center. A thin crust will form over the top of the bars.
While the pan is still warm sprinkle the top with powdered sugar.

Cool the pan completely, and then sprinkle with a second layer of powdered sugar.

I cut the 8×8 size pan into small little squares, and remember the lemon flavor gets better with age. If you can stand to let these little beauties sit around for a few days they taste better and better each day. This batch was particularly yummy, and the lemony middle just melted in your mouth. I have to admit they did not last long, and I made a second batch a few days later.

My next lemony adventure will most likely be a lemony sorbet, lemon poppy seed cake, or maybe a lemon-ricotta cheesecake. Looking forward to trying the cheesecake this weekend. Happy baking everyone. What’s your favorite lemony recipe?

6 comments Posted in Food, Recipes

Lemon Poppy-Seed Cookies

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Renee Spindle

Since we have a plethora of lemons around here, from our lemon/lime tree, I have been searching for new cookie recipes to try out on the cookie lovers at my house. Last week I tried out this easy recipe for lemon poppy-seed cookies, from the Martha Stewart website. I did add an additional cup of flour from the original recipe, as the dough was extremely sticky. This was a trial run for this recipe, and they turned out ever so delicious. I will definitely be adding these to my cookie recipe arsenal.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
3 ½ teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest (2 to 3 lemons)
8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 ½cups sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon poppy seeds, plus more for sprinkling

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bring lemon juice to a simmer in a small saucepan medium heat; cook until reduced by half. Add 1 stick butter; stir until melted.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

3. Cream remaining stick butter and 1 cup sugar. Mix in egg and lemon butter. Mix until pale, about 3 minutes.

4. Mix in vanilla and 2 teaspoons zest. Mix in flour mixture and poppy seeds.

5. In a small bowl, stir together remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 1½ teaspoons zest.

6. Roll spoonfuls of dough into 1½-inch balls or use your favorite cookie scoop; roll them in sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheets.

7. Press each with the flat end of a glass dipped in sugar mixture until ¼ inch thick. Sprinkle with extra poppy seeds.(This is optional)

8. Bake until just browned around bottom edges, 10 to 11 minutes. Transfer to wire racks; let cool completely. Makes about 30 cookies. Store in an airtight container up to 1 week.

This cookie is like a little, lemon shortbread. It has definitely gotten better with age, and oddly enough we still have a few left in the cookie container. Amazing! This is a great recipe to make to send to long distance loved ones, or for your favorite Travel Guy to take with him on his next trip. Come on over and pick some lemons from our tree and try out the recipe. Next on my lemon cookie list will be good ‘ol Lemon Squares. Happy baking everyone!