These are one of my favorite things to make; they are easy, yet always a big hit! They are great all year, but I prefer them in the summer...they are the perfect finish to a light summer meal. I have also listed some of my variations. I hope you enjoy! :)

Lemon Squares

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar (the "normal" kind :) )
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
Additional powdered sugar for sprinkling on top

Directions:
1) Heat oven to 350 degrees (Fahrenheit).
2) Mix flour and powdered sugar. Add butter, work into consistent mixture (yes, you will get messy hands!). Press into ungreased square pan, 8x8x2, or 9x9x2, building up 1/2 inch edges.
3) Bake crust 20 minutes.
4) While crust is baking, beat granulated sugar, lemon juice, baking powder, salt, and eggs with electric mixer on high speed about 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Pour over hot crust.
5) Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until no indentation remains when touched lightly in center. Cool; dust with powdered sugar.

Variations:

If you want lemon squares that are more tart, add an additional tablespoon of lemon juice.

If you want them to look bright and vibrant (like the cheap kind you get in a box that never measure up ;) ) add a few squirts of yellow food coloring.

Lime Juice can be used instead of lemon juice, in the same amounts, for a nice change.

Both lemon squares and lime squares taste great with a strawberry sauce. In order to make the sauce, cut up 12-15 strawberries, add 2 spoons of sugar, and some water, and mash with a fork; you want the sugar to dissolve, but make sure there are still chunks of strawberry. Spoon over the top of the lemon squares before serving.

If you want to get fancy with the final dusting of powdered sugar, place paper doilies over the lemon squares before sprinkling. Sprinkle the powdered sugar, then carefully lift the doilies straight up (if you tilt to the sides, the sugar will come off!). Look how pretty that is ;)

Labels: delicioso, food, recipes, sharing

So for those of you who don't know, I had a dream that I was cooking this...I could see everything in precise detail. When I woke up, I wrote down the ingredients and made it. Every one who has tried it loves it. :)


Ingredients
• Some unsalted butter
• 8 to 10 cloves garlic, chopped
• 4 cups (1 qt.) homemade or low salt chicken broth
• 10 oz. fresh or frozen cheese tortellini
• 12 or so tomatoes, cut over a bowl (you need the liquid)
• 2 or 3 handfuls spinach, washed &stemmed; coarsely chopped
• 8 to 10 leaves basil, coarsely chopped
• Grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Directions
1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
3. Add the broth and bring to boil.
4. Add the tortellini and cook halfway, about 5 minutes for frozen, less for fresh.
5. Add the tomatoes and their liquid, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook just until the pasta is tender.
6. Stir in the spinach and basil and cook until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve sprinkled with the grated cheese.

Labels: delicioso, food, recipes, sharing