Lemon Bars

This is a really easy Lemon Bar recipe. It can be made in 45 min. or less and makes 24 bars. I made these for the Dr. and hospital staff when I had my firstborn son Elisha. It was a BIG hit :)


Ingredients::

4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar ( you could sub with Xylitol)
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
hot shortbread base
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a bowl whisk together eggs and granulated sugar until combined well and stir in lemon juice and flour. Pour lemon mixture over hot shortbread. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. and bake confection in middle of oven until set, about 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan and cut into 24 bars. Bar cookies keep, covered and chilled, 3 days. Sift confectioners' sugar over bars before serving.

Shortbread base::

1 1/2 sticks
(3/4 cup) unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Cut butter into 1/2-inch pieces. In a food processor process all ingredients until mixture begins to form small lumps. Sprinkle mixture into a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan and with a metal spatula press evenly onto bottom. Bake shortbread in middle of oven until golden, about 20 minutes. While shortbread is baking, prepare topping.

* Recipe from Epicurious.com

Cranberry Banana Oat Bread

I just love this bread! It is really easy to make and really good!

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup quick oats
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups ripe mashed banana pulp (about 3 bananas)
2 large eggs
1/3 cup butter, melted, cooled
1/2 cup granulated sugar ( you can also use honey )
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice


Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Lightly grease an 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 by 2 1/2-inch loaf pan with a small amount of oil or butter. Combine the flour, oats, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Mix together with a whisk and set aside. Whisk the bananas, eggs and butter together in a bowl. Add the sugar, cranberries, and lemon juice; mix until blended. Gently stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture until just combined. Do not over mix the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake until lightly browned, 45 to 50 minutes. Allow the bread to cool completely in the pan, about 1 hour. Turn the bread out onto a cutting board and, using a serrated bread knife slice the bread into 3/4-inch thick pieces. Arrange on a platter and serve.

( I found this recipe on wholefoodsmarket.com )