Lemon Bars

Everyone has a recipe for Lemon Bars, I'm sure.  This happens to be our family's recipe, handed down from my Aunt Barb on my dad's side.  They can either be sprinkled with powdered sugar, or they can be frosted with this frosting.  The only change I've made to make these bars extra lemony, is to use lemon extract in the frosting, as opposed to vanilla extract.  You can make the judgment call as to what to use, but they're awfully good with the lemon extract.  That is what I used for our last family gathering.  I doubled the recipe.  These should freeze well.

Printable Recipe

Crust
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup flour

Combine the above in a small bowl and mix well.  Pat into an 8" square pan that has been sprayed with Pam.  If desired, you can line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes, or until very lightly browned.

Filling
2 eggs, beaten
2 tbsp grated lemon zest and fresh lemon juice  *Note: You will get about 1 tbsp of zest and juice out of a good-sized lemon
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp baking powder

Combine all of the filling ingredients in a large bowl and beat well.  Our over the partially baked crust and bake an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the filling has set.  During the baking time, turn the pan around a couple of times to ensure even baking.  Do not over bake.  Cool and frost.

Frosting
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp butter, softened
1 tbsp milk, or more to reach desired spreading consistency (I added more, and I used whole milk)
1 tsp vanilla extract (I used lemon extract)

Combine all of the frosting ingredients in a small bowl and beat until smooth, spread on the cooled bars.  Cut the bars small, and store in the refrigerator.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Printable Recipe

I found this recipe on Go Bold with Butter.

Even though it is a somewhat putzy recipe, it really is quite good - very moist.

Crumb Topping 
1/4 cup butter, softened and cut into small pieces
1/3 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp  cinnamon
pinch salt

Cream Cheese Swirl
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Coffee Cake
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups sour cream

To make the Crumb Topping
Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix with a fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Set aside.

To make the Cream Cheese Swirl
In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese and brown sugar until fluffy.  Mix in the vanilla and cinnamon until well combined.  Set aside.

To make the Cake
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9x13" pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating just until combined after each addition.  Mix in the vanilla.

Gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined.  Stir in the sour cream and mix just until combined.

Spoon into the prepared pan and spread evenly.  Top with spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture.  Use an up and down motion with a knife to marbelize.   Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the top of the cake.  Bake 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Printable Recipe

These cookies are soft and chewy, and stay that way for several days.  They're very good!

1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup sugar, plus 1 tbsp for sprinkling*
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup peanut butter chips (I did not add)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
     In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and the salt.  Set aside.
In another large bowl, cream the butter, and the peanut butter, until light and fluffy.  Add the sugars, and beat until smooth.  Add the egg, and mix well.  Add the milk and the vanilla.  Add the flour mixture and beat thoroughly.  Stir in the peanut butter chips.  Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets, leaving several inches between for expansion.  Using a fork, lightly indent with a crisscross pattern, but do not overly flatten cookies.  Lightly sprinkle cookies with sugar.  Bake 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  Do not over bake.  Cookies may appear to be underdone, but they are not. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes on the cookie sheets before removing and the cool thoroughly on a wire rack.  Store the cookies in an air-tight container, and they will keep for several days.

*I use a clean salt shaker filled with granulated sugar to sprinkle the sugar on the cookies before baking, and it works real well.  (Just be sure to label the shaker.) You can lightly tap the edge of the pan over the sink to remove the excess sugar if you wish, but it is not necessary.

Caramel Rolls

This is a recipe that comes from a very good friend of my sister, who got it from this blog; and I have it on good authority that these are excellent caramel rolls!

This is one of those recipes that use Rhodes frozen bread dough for the cinnamon/caramel rolls.  However, one ingredient that is different from all the rest that I've seen is the addition of vanilla ice cream in the caramel sauce.  Sounds good, doesn't it?

I haven't had the chance to make these yet, so until I do, I am just posting the link to them without a photo and once I have the chance to make them, I will post a photo and type out the recipe.

http://thefarmersbetterhalf.blogspot.com/2013/02/caramel-cinnamon-rolls.html