When life gives you lemons...

Lately I've been obsessed with lemons. They are just so bright and happy and when I eat them I'm taken straight to summer. Here are a few of my favorite lemon recipes to help you beat this funky not-quite-winter-not-quite-spring season:

Tanning By the Lake Lemon Bars:

Crust:

2 Cups white flour

1/2 Cup powdered sugar

1 Cup butter

Filling:

4 eggs

2 Cups sugar

1/2 Cup lemon juice

1/4 Cup flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

For crust, mix flour, powdered sugar and butter with hands until it all sticks together. Press mixture into a greased 13"X9" pan. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Meanwhile, beat eggs until foamy. Add sugar and lemon juice. Mix well. Beat in flour and baking powder. Pour over newly baked crust. Put back into oven for 25 minutes.
\Sprinkle with powdered sugar!

Riding Bikes in the Park Lemon Bread

Bread:

1/2 Cup shortening

3/4 Cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 Cups flour

1 1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 Cup milk

Glaze:

1/2 Cup powdered sugar

2 tsp. lemon peel

2-3 Tblsp. lemon juice

Cream shortening and sugar (I know it's hard, but just close your eyes and add the shortening- think about calories later...). Add eggs, one at a time. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Pour into greased 9"X5"X3" pan. Bake at 350 for 40-45 min.

Meanwhile, combine glaze ingredients, warm on low heat, and pour over the warm bread.

Dry off by the Pool Summer Cake

1 pkg. white or yellow cake mix

1 pkg. Jell-o brand lime flavor gelatin (4 serving size)

1 pkg. Jell-o brand lemon flavor gelatin (4 serving size)

2 Tubs (80z each) Cool Whip

Heat oven to 350. Prepare cake mix as directed on package. Divide batter into two bowls. Add lime gelatin to one bowl, lemon to the other. Stir thoroughly. Pour each into separate greased 9" round cake pans. Bake 28-30 minutes. Cool 15 minutes in pans. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks. Place lime cake layer on your serving plate and spread with 1/2 tub of Cool Whip. Top with lemon layer and frost cake with remaining Cool Whip. Store it in the fridge for a refreshing snack!

Fresh Lemon Water to go With That Summer Novel

(The Syrup)

1 Quart Water

Dissolve 1 Tblsp. Citric Acid (this is pretty cheap at Winco)

Dissolve 1 Tblsp. Lemon Extract

Dissolve 2 1/2 Cups sugar

Mix syrup 1 to 4: For every one cup of syrup, add 4 cups of water. This is AMAZING with Sonic ice.

I love these treat while I look up cruises online in March! Hope you enjoy!