Food Photo Friday--Lemon Lust

This recipe came from a California bakery.  They had been making lemon bars for several years and they had always sold well.  During a trip to Europe they saw a pastry in a bakery called 'Lemon Lust'.  They loved the name.  When they returned to their own bakery, they renamed their lemon bars 'Lemon Lust'. Their sales tripled! The kind of marketing that I'm a sucker for!  I've made these many times and can't imagine anything yummier!

Lemon Lust:

Crust:

1 cup (8 oz. ) cold butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

2 cups all-purpose flour

Filling:

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

4 large eggs

2 cups granulated sugar

1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 Tbsp grated lemon zest (about two lemons)

Powdered sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In food processor:

Cut the cold butter into 1" pieces--return to refrigerator

In the bowl of the food processor fitted with the metal chopping blade, place the powdered sugar, salt, and flour.  Pulse until well blended.  Add the chilled butter and toss with your hands to coat the pieces with flour.  Process the mixture until it looks like fine meal,  about 15 seconds.  (Can be made in a bowl with a pastry cutter)

Transfer crust dough to  a 15x10* inch glass baking pan and press firmly into the bottom.  Place pan on center rack in a 350 degree oven and bake for 15 minutes.

While the crust bakes, make the filling. Combine the baking powder and flour.  In a separate medium bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk until they are well mixed.  Add the sugar and beat until it is fully incorporated.  Add the baking powder and flour in small amounts, beating after each addition.  Whisk in the lemon juice and zest.  

Pour filling over hot crust and return to oven for 15-20 additional minutes or until filling has set and top is golden brown.  Let bars cool in the pan on a wire rack.  When completely cool, dust with powdered sugar.

*I don't have this size pan.  I use a 9x13 and bake it for 5 minutes or so longer.  The center will be slightly jiggly.  And yes, calling them 'Lemon Lust' does make them taste better.

C is for "cookie"

I had a request for the recipe for these cookies. I haven't had a cookie this good in at least ten years. It's the frosting. You brown the butter before you mix it with the sugar and it makes it taste soooooo carmely delicious! I suggest you make a double batch of both cookies and frosting so that you'll have plenty.........of leftover frosting! That way you can eat it with your fingers to your hearts content!!


Pumpkin Cookies with Browned Butter Frosting
2/3 cup white sugar 2/3 cup packed brown sugar 3/4 cup butter, softened 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 cup pumpkin puree 2 eggs 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. salt

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Beat sugars, butter & vanilla. Beat in pumpkin & eggs till well mixed. Add dry ing. Drop by rounded Tbsp. onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until almost no indentation remains when touched in center. Remove to rack and cool completely.

Browned Butter Frosting 3 cups powdered sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 3-4 Tbsp. milk 1/3 cup butter

In med. bowl, place powd. sugar, vanilla, & 3 Tbsp. milk. In saucepan, heat butter over med. heat, stirring constantly, until medium brown. Pour butter over powd. sugar mixture. Beat 1 min. or until smooth. Add remaining milk, if necessary. Generously frost cookies

four squared

At first I didn't even understand the tag.  I think I read it too fast.  So Sidney explained that you look in your fourth picture file and take your fourth picture and post about it.  Well, on my PC 

I don't even have four picture files, and my mac doesn't exactly store pictures in that way, or at least  I'm not organized enough to store them that way!  So I modified my criteria:  I entered a search for any picture labeled with a 44, and then counted to the 44th photo in that batch.  This is what I got:

Holy Sweet Snuggle Bunny!  It's a good thing (i guess...) that I don't sit down and look at past pictures more often or I'd get even less done than I do now!  I just want to climb into my computer screen, bury my nose into his neck and take a huge sniff!  And then nibble the fuzz on his earlobes! 

Okay, so I need to tag some people.  BTW, I'm cutting the number down to four.  My pool of blogger friends has been previously pilfered.  

1. Peggy

2. Erin

3. Luke  (Dang it!!  I just checked Megan's blog and she already had you on her tag list!!)

4. Cecilia

5. Amber W. 

OH YEAH!

6. and Wendy V.

Rule is: If you get tagged you ABSOLUTELY HAVE to respond!  Or you will have seven years of bad luck!   **Totally kidding here**   This is actually the one and only tag I have ever participated in.   I  have always said "pfftt! yeah RIGHT!" and walked on.  I give you full absolution if you decide to disregard this tag.  I would never expect anyone to follow through on such a thing.  Unless they wanted to.  Then I would love to see what you have!  

Just For Luke

I love how life works. Y'know, you're just crusin' through each day, trying to make something nice out of it, and before you know it--you've just made a new friend without even trying! Such is the story of Luke. Now I've never been to England. Only been to Tiajuana for about 15 minutes. I just don't get out much! (time for that later, I suppose!) So how does one become acquainted with a pretty amazing ENGLISHKID? Well....suffice it to say, it's a pretty random, round-about story that involves Sidney and Megan, and it's really their experience, so I won't elaborate--unless you ask me personal-like, and then, maybe... for now I'll just sit back and reap the benefits of their social butterfly-ness and be glad the world is really a pretty small place when it comes right down to it!

Luke is sixteen, and, I quote Sidney here because I am not about to get myself into trouble, is quite "fit-as", which I do not recommend you looking up on a British slang page as it lies in close proximity to some not-so-nice colloquialisms...(baaad mental pictures folks! Take my word for it....) "Fit-as" would be the equivalent of very good looking, or "hot" if you will. Again, Sidney's words people....I'm just repeating them to help you visualize...My point is, any self respecting teenage girl would OF COURSE follow him around at EFY......(love ya! Megs!) Luke also has a ton of interests, especially music and movies, spending quality time with his friends, attending concerts, or "gigs" as he would say, and obvioulsy has an appreciation for life and being a teenager. I've totally enjoyed parusing his blog and gaining insight to the life of a clean living, teenage boy from another country!

I bring Luke up because as the snow came pounding down yesterday and today....I thought to myself how much I would miss it if I lived somewhere where it doesn't snow like it does here. That made me think of people I know who live in such places, and that made me think of Luke, my newfound English friend! I swear I read somewhere that he had never experienced snow like ours so I thought I would snap some photos and post them in hopes that someday he is able to visit Utah during one of our amazing snowstorms. They really shouldn't be missed. And neither should opportunities to meet new people! Am I happy when strange (in the acquainted sense...) young, foreign boys randomly call up my daughter on Sunday afternoons and let her talk their ear off? Actually, if they are as nice, "fit-as", head-on-straight, well-rounded, interesting and smoothly-accented as Luke, then YES! And in a reciprocal move, I give a shoutout to Luke and his blog. As soon as (if) he gives me permission, I'll link up to it from HERE and you all can get to know him too!

So back to the snow....If I somehow just imagined your comment about our snow, Luke, you'll have to forgive me and know that I hope you get to experience it someday anyway! I appreciate the excuse to post some cool winter pics! For you, Luke, of course......

Haha!! Megan, this is the bike you left here months ago!!

Sid loves snow too! Don'tcha, Sid?

Ski Utah People!! Greatest Snow On Earth!!

Oh my goodness.....I love this shot!

Our roofline....

Our picnic table.

The view out our front door.

Sid & the softly falling snow...

Sweet Shelby



Me, myself, and I by: Me, Myself, & I.

A couple of laughs for the day....

Here are a couple of Awww.......cute video clips for your viewing pleasure!






Aren't dad's great?  


*****The video that was previously posted here was removed by the author when she realized that it had some quite scuzzy links attached to the end of the clip. They were questionable enough to make even the author herself blush.....a little. For those interested in viewing the original clip of the "I'm her....daddy" video...here is the link to it on youtube, where you are on your own.....*****

Sidney's Sweet Sixteen

Exactly 16 years ago today I was experiencing the most exciting moment of my life.  I was at the hospital giving birth to Sidney.  I had been waiting for this moment since I was 14 (ok--let me clarify....I wasn't hoping to give birth at 14.....eww......that was just when my mom explained to me in clinical terms just why we would not be having any more children in our family, thus beginning in my mind the anticipation of having my own children.)  Sidney was everything I could have hoped for, and still is the most amazing young woman I know.  I scoured my very organized photo collection (pfffttt!)  and amassed a compilation of Sidney from birth to now.  Mostly in the form of school photos 'cause who doesn't love those, with a few snapshots and fun portraits thrown in.  Let us (me) reminisce....

Sidney at 2 weeks old

six weeks old

six months old

one year old

two years old

three years old

four years old

five years old

kindergarten

first grade

second grade

third grade

fourth grade

fifth grade

sixth grade

7th grade

8th grade

9th grade

10th grade

Erin photos

('cause if you've got 'em, you should flaunt 'em!)

So that's my Sid.  Sometimes I wonder how she came from me, but I'm certainly not complaining!!   In celebration of her 16th, I made a list:

To Sid:

Sixteen Things I Love About You

1. You are smart--not only academically, but you just have a ton of common sense, which usually counts for more than book smarts.

2. You are responsible--don't think I don't appreciate how you wake up yourself, get ready for school, and keep up on all your homework.  That is so cool!

3.  You are hilarious!  Watching you be you is so entertaining--I love, love love your wit!

4.  You are picky about your friends--People, if Sidney chooses you as a friend, just know that it's for real.  And that you must be a good person, 'cause she's just not interested in anything but!

5.  You are loyal--Again people, Sidney picks her friends for good, you can count on the fact that she will not give up on you unless you break her heart.

6.  You have an appreciation for babies and children.  I watch you with kids and love that you are going to appreciate being a mom.

7.  You are confidant--I know you will probably say "what is she thinking?"  because I hear you profess your lack of this trait, but then I see you move right on in scary situations and usually conquer, so I say your actions speak louder than your words sometimes!

8.  You let me in your life.  I know this is a rare thing, and I am so grateful for it.  Watching you grow and experience your life and getting to be a part of it means more than I can say.  Once again I refer to your hilarious approach to things.  I really get a kick out of watching you and your friends.  

9. You are not afraid of work.  Wether homework, housework, or job opportunities, you just plow right in.  I hope you realize how valuable this is!

10.  You are about as far from a brat as it gets.  You just don't have bratty qualities.  Or whiny ones.  Thank You!!

11. You have good values and a sense of justice.  The things you think are important are very worthwhile things: Family, friends, school, team, church (yeah, I know that you know that even when it isn't fun, it is still important!) your faith and your future.  You really have your head on pretty straight!

12.  You are creative and talented.  You can make anything look good, and you appreciate beauty.  You play beautiful violin and are really conquering the swimming!

13.  You are frugal.  Yeah, this I totally appreciate.  I am always amazed at how you can stretch a buck!  And you understand the realities of life in this economy.  Thanks for not making us feel like we deprive you of the "necessities" of life!  I know you appreciate what you have!

14.  Frugal, yet generous.  You aren't afraid to invest in what you feel is important.  

15. You are honest.  You exhibit this trait in many ways and expect this from people around you.  It's a valuable thing!

16.  Part of me hesitates to put this last one:  You can date.  Aside from the fact that this phrase still gives me a little heart attack, I really am looking forward to watching you have all that fun!  Considering all the above qualities, I'm not super worried about all the pitfalls of this next adventure because I trust you.  You hear me?!  I. Trust. You.  So have fun!  Be Good.  And tell me all about it when you get home!

Okay.  So there are just sixteen of the things I find wonderful about you.  Truthfully, I could go on and on, but we'll save that for another time.  I hope you have a fabulous birthday, Sidney.  I've had a blast watching you grow to this point, and will continue to, I'm sure.  I love you tons, my beautiful daughter.  

Love, Mom

mmmmm.......

Yeah.....If this photo does not keep you from hoppin' to the next blog on your stalker list, there is something seriously WRONG with you! These bad boys were brought into my home last night by my favorite footballer, Bryce, along with about 8 other perfect pastries that did not make it 'till morning.....apparently, homemade doughnuts are a tradition at the Viking Football Linemen parties. Somebody's blessed mother makes several dozen for the boys to feast on. We have been the beneficiaries of said doughnuts before, but since the doughnut-makers son is a senior, and the football season is over, you are looking at the tail end of a soon to be extinct species of dessert. Sad, huh? Let's take a closer look....Since you are there, and the doughnuts are here, you will have to just take my word for it that these are the best doughnuts I have ever tasted. And if such a thing is possible, I dare say that they are even better the next morning. I should know because I ate two.....okay, five. I ate five. I'm not even going to pretend that I ate less than that and I am NOT ashamed! It went a little something like this:MMMMM.....CHOMP......OOHHHH.......YUMMM

OOOPS! I knocked them over....here Kellie, have one. No, have TWO so I can have another one!! MUNCH,MUNCH......SMACK........NUM, NUM, NUM........

OH MY GOSH......IT'S ALMOST GONE!!! MUST...SLOW...DOWN........


FOR THE LOVE OF PETE GIRL, STOP!! THIS IS THE LAST LINEMAN DOUGHNUT YOU WILL EVER EAT!!! WHY DIDN"T YOU FREEZE THEM OR SOMETHING??!?


GULP.
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.
.
.
.
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I apologize for that gluttonous display of gastronomic engorgement. Just like I had to apologize to Sidney for eating 47% of the doughnuts. Sorry Sidney. I hope all the examples of onomatopoeia made up for it........