My great Aunt Mary was a marvelous woman. She never married so she always had time for her favorite niece (my mother) and her favorite niece’s children (that would be my sisters and me!). I have so many wonderful memories of Aunt Mary – sleepovers at her house, the kitchen cupboard of toys at the ready for when we came to visit, her endless humorous quips and words of profound wisdom.
Aunt Mary herself would not claim to be the best of cooks (or a great singer, or seamstress, or gardener -- my was she modest!), but there are a few recipes handed down to her that would melt in our mouths. Even the faintest whiff of her savory pot roast, her unique sausage stuffing, or her sweetly simple lemon bars would bring an instant smile to our faces as we crossed the threshold of her century-old home (no joke, there was still a post out front to tie your horse).
The lemon bars in particular speak to me today because I can make them for any occasion, even just for a treat for the kids after school. I’ve tinkered with the idea of getting “cute” with this recipe, but since Aunt Mary’s passing last May, at 99 years young, I think I ought to leave it just as it is. They are perfectly down to earth and quick to make me smile – just like Auntie.
Aunt Mary’s Lemon Bars
1st layer:2 cups flour
½ cup powdered sugar
1 cup softened butter (I microwave 2 sticks for 1 minute at 30% power)
Preheat oven to 350.
Cream 1st layer ingredients together and press into a 9x13” pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes. (Do not overcook!)2nd layer:
4 eggs4 TBSP lemon juice (or the juice of 2 lemons)
2 cups sugar
4 TBSP flour
½ tsp. salt
Beat ingredients for 2nd layer. Pour over crust and bake 25 minute longer. Sprinkle generously with powdered sugar while still warm. Allow pan to cool before cutting. Makes 12 large square bars or 24 smaller rectangles (I cut them smaller.)
No comments:
Post a Comment