"When Life Gives You Lemon" Bars

I came home from my weekend away to a giant box of Meyer Lemons from a dear California friend with a tree in her front yard.  What's a girl to do when life gives her a box of lemons?

The first thing I had to make was my family's favorite Lemon Bars.  I use my mom's friends recipe that I've been eating since I was a babe... with some modifications, of course!

LEMON BARS

adapted from Betty Siegal

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

SHORTBREAD
In a 9 x 13 pan mix together by hand:
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cuper powered sugar
2 cups flour

Press crumbly mixture until flat.
Bake 15 min or until slightly brown.

FILLING
Beat together in a medium bowl:
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
zest of one lemon (I use this for zesting, my FAV kitchen tool!)

Mix together in another medium bowl:
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Pour liquid mixture slowly into dry ingredients whisking as you pour! (This will help avoid lumps.)
Pour onto crust.

Bake 25 min, then turn down heat to 325 F and bake another 10 minutes.  This step is KEY as it helps to caramelize the sugar, especially around the edges, which are ALL.MINE!

Remove from oven, sprinkle with powered sugar (if desired, I don't do this), allow to cool and cut into bars.

There are still TONS of lemons left... I've got a jar of Moroccan Preserved Lemons started, they won't be ready for a month, and I look forward to finding ways of incorporating them into our fall dinners!

Later in the week I am making Shaker Lemon Pie for our weekend guests! What would you make if life (or a dear friend) sent you 10 pounds of lemons?