Lemon Squares

click to enlarge

I am the tenth, and youngest, child in my family. When I got married, the women in my family gave me a gift of a binder filled with their favourite recipes; each one is handwritten on a card, and separated into categories like "Casseroles" and "Cakes/Cookies/Pies". They are of the tried-and-true variety and part of my earliest memories. Deviled eggs at cookouts, Parker House rolls for Thanksgiving, Congo Bars after school, Baked Eggs for Easter brunch...it's impossible to separate the memories from the menus.

Some of the recipes are named for their creators (Boozie's Apple Cake), some are remnants of dinner parties past (English Muffin Appetizers), and some are imbedded in the history of New England (Anadama bread), but all are part of the very fabric of our family life. The binder took up residence on my "favourites" shelf that year (in fact, is was my very first favourite cookbook), and has never sat there for longer than a week without being used.

It's been a part of seven different homes and has crossed a couple of oceans; it started out by teaching two newlyweds how to cook and graduated to keeping a family well-fed. It was made with love, and a little bit of that love has gone into every dish and meal we've made from it ever since.

My oldest brother's only child is getting married in September. She is a wonderful woman, intelligent and talented, and her fiance is a gem as well. He is in the military, and after the wedding they will head for the first of many posts to come. Incredible adventures await, to be sure, but I know from experience that there will be tough times as well. I'm going to put together a cookbook for her to take with her on her journeys, one that has its roots in that binder that I received so many years ago. It will be printed and bound, and will include food photos, family photos and anecdotes in additional to the recipes. My hope is that it will be a warm reminder of the love and thoughts that are with her always- from so many people- across generations, time and distance. If she learns a little bit about cooking and baking along the way, well I guess that's good, too.

Lemon Squares were the first up on my list to make and photograph for the book, which thrilled my husband as they are his all-time favourites. This is my mum's recipe, and a perennial favourite at family get-togethers. The crust is tender and rich, quite similar to shortbread in texture, but holds up well without crumbling. The filling has a vibrant lemon taste with just the right amount of sweetness to balance it. It will be the first entry in the chapter on desserts, to my niece from her Nana.

LEMON SQUARES

CRUST

2 cups FLOUR
1/2 cup sifted CONFECTIONERS' SUGAR
1 cup (2 sticks) BUTTER, frozen


FILLING
4 EGGS, beaten
2 cups SUGAR
1/3 cup LEMON JUICE
2 teaspoons LEMON ZEST
1/4 cup FLOUR
1/2 teaspoon BAKING POWDER

CONFECTIONERS' SUGAR, for dusting

FOR THE CRUST:

Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and line with parchment paper.

Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Grate the frozen butter (using the large holes of a box grater) into the dry mixture. Toss the butter pieces to coat, then rub the pieces between your fingers for a minute, until the flour turns coarse. Pour the mixture into the lined pan and press firmly with your fingers to form an even crust. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

FOR THE FILLING:

Whisk eggs, sugar, flour and baking powder together in a medium bowl. Add the lemon juice and zest and stir well. Pour mixture into the pan on top of the warm crust.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until the filling feels firm when touched lightly. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool for 30 minutes. Grasp the parchment and carefully lift the bars onto a cutting board. Cut into serving size squares or bars, wiping your knife clean between cuts if necessary. Sieve confectioners' sugar over bars and serve.

Comments

[Alice]

Oh my goodness! I LOVE lemon squares and your photos are absolutely gorgeous! I am SO craving a lemon square right this very minute.

[Jessica]

Interesting use of a grater for the frozen butter! I bet the super cold butter is the secret to the crust.

[Michele]

Okay, now I must go make a cup of tea and yearn for lemon squares. Such a lovely post.

Stopping by to say "Hello, Michele sent me." Yes, Moira, TAG you are it. Now, back to my drooling.

[Giao]

Ms Moi, what a simply splendid, gorgeous gorgeous story. Really wonderful! What a heartfelt gift to make and give!

And! I love lemon squares too. Your pic has me droooooling.

[Les]

What an absolutely wonderful gift! If they had done that for me, I wouldn't have had to call so much for recipes (and since I write them down, now they call me when they lose them!!) The lemon squares look mouth wateringly fabulous!!

Hello, Michele sent me! Have a wonderful day... I'll be back!!

[Frally]

Hi there, Michele sent me

Oh, and *droooooooooolll*

[Kimberly]

Moira, you might want to whip up a couple more pans of those beautiful lemon squares, as you are in for a lot of wonderful company today!

And while I usually come here to drool all on my own, today Michele sent me.

[tommy]

hi there Michele sent me.

more please

[Zinnia Cyclamen]

Hello, Michele sent me. Great foodie blog, and a wonderful idea in this post! I'm not much of a one for sweet things, but I'll check back now and again to keep an eye on your savoury options. (I already checked out the 'roasted root vegetables' - I love that with couscous and tsatsiki too!)

[Melody]

Oh gees, do you know how absolutely beautiful your lemon squares look? Your photography is brilliant!!! BTW, Hello, Michele sent me.... I will be back - great blog!!

[Moira]

Oh, my gosh- what a wonderful bunch of comments to wake up to! I *do* wish I could have all of you over for a warm cup of something and a lemon square (or two)...it would be divine.

Hello and hugs to those of you I know, and a warm welcome to my new friends that have popped by via Michele- pleased to meet you!

[Reid]

Hi Moira,

Your lemon squares look so delicious. I'm almost tempted to make some myself. Maybe this weekend. Have you tried to make this with lime juice? I've used key limes in a similar recipe with great success. In fact, I've been almost tempted to try this with blood oranges just to see what it would taste like. Maybe I'll do that instead. =) Will let you know how it turns out.

[Marie]

Yum yum YUM!

What a thoughtful gift you're giving to your niece... sounds like you have some wonderful traditions.

I like to cook & bake (& eat) so I'll be looking around some more!

Oh, and hello, Michele sent me!

And what a pleasure to visit you...

[Sol]

Oh my what a way to start a day! Hope your day is good. Michele sent me.

[ejm]

What a great idea for a wedding present!

Lemon squares... I adore lemon squares... those look fantastic.

[rowena]

Hmmm...are we thinking on the same wavelength here? I just made a lemon tart this morning...in fact I was holed up in the kitchen ALL morning baking all sorts of goodies for my husband to take to work tomorrow.

I seem to be flying through butter, sugar, and flour these days....just so many recipes to try!!!

P.S. You'll never guess (!) what I found in Milan over the weekend.

[panthergirl]

Yum!!!! Those look absolutely delicious! I'm here via Michele, and I'll be back!

[songstress7]

The recipe sounds delicious, and the photos are WONDERFUL!

Oh, and Michele sent me! :)

[celiaK]

That's a great idea for a wedding gift.
And thanks ever for sharing this heirloom recipe. This is the reason why I love getting recipes from blogs and previously in rec.food.cooking. The fact that they are tried and tested family recipes, they have very little chances of failing! cheers Moira!

[Erin]

Mmmm....that looks so yummy!!
My grandma did something like that for Christmas for me one year. I have a HUGE recipe book that has all these handwritten recipes from all my great aunts, grandma's cousins, and great-anybody related to me. I love it. I just wish I could cook (I'm in college living in a dorm = no place to actually cook).

Michele sent me, so I hope you don't mind me stopping in once in a while!!

[Paul]

Nice weblog and though I am not a big lemon pastry fan I am sharing this with others. Look forward to more recipes ..

cheers.
P.

[MommaK]

Wow and Yum! You are a triple threat- you can cook , write and are a talented photographer....Lucky you and lucky us. Thanks for sharing. Michele sent me:-)

[Tammy]

Ok, those lemon squares look to die for! I can see what I'll be making this weekend.

Oh, and Hello, Michele sent me!

[myniza]

yum, i can't wait to try this recipe, thanks. oh btw, michele sent me. i will be back.

[Megan]

What an amazing gift! I'm not big on lemon, but those lemon squares look gorgeous. I can feel my ass getting fatter just looking at them.

Oh, Michele sent me - I think she's sweet on you!