Tag: lemons

Easy Lemon Curd

You’re getting kind of a half-assed post this week.

This  was supposed to be about an intensely delicious-sounding lemon coffee cake with lemon curd and lemon crumble.

Sadly, in execution, the whole affair was a flop.  It was heavy, the crumble didn’t brown properly and tasted (at least I thought) like raw flour.

I’m going to continue tinkering with the recipe.  Because really, if I can get it to work, this combo could change the world.

What couldn’t wait was the insanely easy recipe for lemon curd included in the recipe.  I’ve spent my share of time with lemon curd and while not difficult from a technical standpoint, it does take time, patience and some wrist muscles.

This recipe?  In the microwave.  I was skeptical at first.  At our house, the microwave generally only gets used to heat those little bags of brown rice from Trader Joes.  I never actually cook anything in it.  But this, I had to try.

The result was gorgeous.  Shiny, lemony and not a lump to be found.  I’m a little nervous about having a lemon curd recipe so easily at my fingertips.  In my book, lemon curd is nearly as dangerous as Nutella.

Quick Lemon Curd

Southern Living

Ingredients

  • 6 lemons
  • 1/2 C butter, softened
  • 2 C granulated sugar
  • 4 eggs

Directions

  1.  Wash, dry and zest the lemons (you should get about 2 TBS zest).
  2. Cut and squeeze lemons to equal 1 C juice.
  3. Beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended.
  4. Gradually add lemon juice to butter mixture, beating at low speed.  Stir-in zest.  Mixture may look curdled.  That’s okay.
  5. Transfer to a medium microwave-safe bowl.
  6. Microwave at high for 5 minutes, stirring at 1-minute intervals.
  7. Microwave 1-2 more minutes, stirring at 30 second intervals until mixture thickens, coats the back of a spoon and starts to mound slightly when stirred.
  8. Place heavy-duty plastic wrap directly on warm curd (to prevent a skin) and chill 4 hours, or until firm.
  9. Store in an airtight container in fridge for up to 2 weeks.
  10. Beat-in eggs one-at-a-time until just blended.

 

 

Love child, definitely meant to be

Have you ever wondered what would happen if a raspberry bar was set up with  a lemon bar on a blind date?  What if they hit-it-off and shared a night of passionate abandon?  You know what I mean…made a dessert bar love sandwich.

What?  I’m the only one who has ever thought of this?  Really?

Well, let me tell you, it would definitely be something the Supremes would want to sing about. Or at the very least, something you’d want to eat.

We’ll start with a combination of flour and almond meal.

Then add in a little butter.  You know, for lubrication.

Press the dough (note, this is different from the crust to my raspberry bars but you could use that as well) into a 9X13 pan.

Bake until just golden.

While the base is doing its thing, it’s lemon time.

Lemon juice, flour, eggs, sugar and of course, zest (aren’t you glad I didn’t include a picture of zest…for once) get whisked together.

Then is slow jam time.  I mean, raspberry jam time.

Once the base is cooled a bit, add a nice layer of jam.

Top this with the lemon filling.

Into the oven.  Word of warning here–you want to almost over-bake the bars. Not quite, but, don’t worry if the top begins to turn a goldish-hue.  Let the bars cool, dust with confectioner’s sugar and you have got yourself a lemon and raspberry love child.

Yeah.  Definitely not misunderstood.  Definitely meant to be.

Raspberry Lemon Bars

inspired by Ina Garten’s Lemon Bars

Ingredients

for base

  • 14 TBS (1 stick plus 6 TBS) unsalted butter, at room temp
  • 2/3 C granulated sugar
  • 1 C all purpose flour
  • 1 C almond flour, almond meal or ground almonds
  • 1/8 tsp kosher salt

for filling

  • 4-6 ounces raspberry (or other favorite jam)
  • 6 extra large eggs at room temp
  • 3 C granulated sugar (I like superfine)
  • 3 TBS lemon zest (6-8 lemons)
  • 1 C lemon juice
  • 1 C flour
  • Confectioner’s sugar for dusting

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees, place rack in middle slot in oven, cut parchment to fit bottom of 9X13 inch pan
  • For the crust, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  • With mixer on low, add in flour and salt until just mixed.  Dough will be soft, not crumbly.
  • Press dough into pan building up the sides.  Bake 15-20 minutes until lightly browned.
  • Let cool on a wire rack 15 minutes.
  • For the filling, whisk together eggs, sugar, zest, juice and flour.
  • Gently spread thin layer of jam over crust.  Crust will still be quite soft.
  • Pour filling over jam layer.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes until filling is set.
  • Let cool at room temp, dust with confectioner’s sugar and cut as desired.