The lemon bars in Aunt Dimity Digs In run a close second to the butterscotch brownies, as far as my favorite recipes go, because they're ever-so-slightly more complicated to assemble. It's worth the extra effort, though. The end result is scrumptious.
Lilian's Lemon Bars
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Makes 20 bars.
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
powdered sugar (optional)
Beat margarine with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30
seconds. Add 1/4 cup of the sugar. Beat until combined. Beat in the 1 cup
flour until crumbly. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 8x8x2-inch
baking pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven to 15 to 18 minutes or just until
golden.
Meanwhile, combine eggs, the remaining sugar, the 2 tablespoons flour,
lemon peel, juice, and baking powder. Beat for 2 minutes or until
thoroughly combined. Pour over hot baked layer.
Bake in a 350 degree oven about 20 minutes more or till lightly browned
around the edges and center is set. Cool on a wire rack. If desired, sift
powdered sugar over the top. Cut into bars.
Reprinted from AUNT DIMITY DIGS IN by Nancy Atherton by permission of Penguin Books, a member of Penguin Putnam Inc. Copyright 1998 by Nancy T. Atherton. All rights reserved. This excerpt, or any parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.