Old Fashioned Lemon Bars

I happen to be a big lover of lemon. I think it's one of those things though, that either you really like lemon or you don't.  However, things like lemonade I can't overdue as it's too acidic for me - so maybe that's why some folks don't like lemon?

Well one of my favorite lemon dishes is lemon bars. I think they're just perfect for this time of year and sing Spring to me. Maybe it's all that lovely yellow goodness? Lemons just make me smile, but I'm weird that way. Anyway, back to the bars:

beginning to gather ingredients

squeezing my lemons for my fresh lemon juice

One of my favorite lemon bar recipes is this one that my Mom-in-law gave me long ago for old fashioned lemon bars. Just one of those tried and true ones.

Full recipe will follow but here's the basic steps. First of all you blend some flour, powdered (confectioner) sugar, and butter with a pastry blender until blended then pat down into your pan. Bake for about 25 minutes.

Then take eggs (slightly beaten), granulated sugar, and fresh lemon juice and mix in bowl. Then gently fold in a little flour and baking powder. The photo on the left is folding the flour and baking powder in  - and the photo on the right is after it's mixed in.

Pour that mixture over your crust and then bake about another 20-25 minutes until set.

Then make it rain Baby! Lol With powdered sugar that is...and isn't that one of the best parts of a lemon bar?

Then cut a piece. Light your 'fresh picked flowers' scented soy candle. Now dig in to enjoy a blissful moment to yourself (if at all possible).

Old Fashioned Lemon Bars:

*this is the full recipe - I halved the recipe in the photos above in my 8x8 pan. Full recipe in 9x13 pan.

2 c. flour

1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 c. butter

Blend these ingredients together with a pastry blender or fork until fully combined and pat down into lightly greased 9x13 pan.  Bake for 25 mins in 350* oven - or until light golden brown.

4 eggs slightly beaten

2 c. sugar

6 Tbsp. lemon juice

Beat these ingredients together. Then gently fold in 4 Tbsp flour and 1/2 tsp baking powder.  Bake for an additional 20 -25 minutes until bars are set (don't wiggle in pan).

Let cool slightly and dust with powdered sugar.

**When I make these bars I actually decrease the sugar slightly and increase the lemon juice a little as I like mine a little more lemony but make to your preference. So when I halved this recipe instead of 1 cup I used about 3/4 c. sugar and instead of 3 Tbsp I used about 4 Tbsp or so lemon juice.