Lemon Bars

This is usually considered a summer dessert. It is freezing outside, and a perfect day for the chili cook-off at work. The lemon bars offered a nice contrast to the spicy, hot chili.

Lemon Bars
2 cups all purpose flour, sifted
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 cup butter, melted
4 eggs
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ cup all purpose flour
⅝ cup lemon juice
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan

In a medium bowl, stir together 2 cups flour and the powdered sugar. Blend in the melted butter. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs until light. Combine the sugar, baking powder, and 1/4 cup flour so there will be no flour lumps. Stir the sugar mixture into the eggs. Finally, stir in the lemon juice. Pour over the prepared crust and return to the oven.

Bake for an additional 30 minutes or until the bars are set. Allow to cool completely before cutting. Can be sprinkled with powdered sugar after cutting.

Notes:
The tartness of the bars will depend on the tartness of the lemons. It is not recommended that Meyer lemons be used as they are not tart. There are so many recipes around for these bars. This recipe is most like the oldest one I had. A little lemon extract can be added to the egg/sugar/lemon mixture if the lemons are not quite flavorful enough.