Lemon Bars

I have to admit that 99.99% of my baking is usually for someone else. One of my favorite people to bake for is my brother Snorlax. My brother used to be a sane Chocoholic like myself but in recent years it seems that his love for chocolate has waned. As it turns out his sweet tooth is delighted by tart! Lemon, lemon, lemon!

So after raiding my mother's cookbook shelf I came upon Luscious Lemon Desserts, a collection of tartly delicious lemon recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup plus 2 tablespoons All-purpose flour
• 1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup chilled unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 large eggs
• 1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8x8 baking pan
2. Whisk 1 cup of the flour, 1/4 cup of the confectioners' sugar, the zest, and the salt.
3. Cut the the butter into tiny cubes. The cookbook calls for a pastry blender or 2 knives used in scissors-fashion, but I cut the butter into tiny tiny pieces and it made no difference.
   
4. Mix with your best tool-a pair of clean hands!-until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs and then keep kneading the mixture until the dough comes together.
   
5. Transfer the dough to the baking pan and press it evenly into the bottom. Bake for 25 minutes and allow it to cool while you make the filling
6. Whisk together the remaining confectioners' sugar (1 1/2 cups), the remaining flour (2 tablespoons) and the baking powder in a small bowl.
7. Beat the eggs on high for about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low, add the sugar mixture, and beat just until blended, scraping down the side bowl.
   
8. Add the lemon juice and keep blending!
9. Pour the lemon mixture over the crust and bake for 18-20 minutes.
10. Let cool in the pan.

Cut and enjoy after they've cooled. Just before serving sprinkle with more confectioners' sugar.

A sure delight for anyone that likes lemon. I had a bite and could not believe the tartness. I feared that they might have been too tart but my brother loved them. I think next time I want to use the same recipe but instead of using a square baking pan I want to use tartlet pans. How amazing would mini lemon tarts be?