Gooey Sweet Tart Lemon Bars

This is likely my most sought after recipe, and I can't even take full credit for it.  Like most thing, it evolved from something I found online, based on what sounded like something my mom made that one time, and became what everyone asks me to bring to a party.

This, and bread.  I make a LOT of bread.

Lemon Bars.

Gooey, tart, sweet, yellow lemon bars.

I top them with lemon ginger sugar.  (if you're not allergic, try it some time)

Ingredients:
cookie base:
1 cup of butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
2 cups all purpose flour

lemon goo:
4 eggs
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vanilla sugar
1/4 cup all purpose flour
3 lemons, juiced
1 tablespoon lemon zest

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup sugar. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.

3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden. In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Whisk in the eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Pour over the baked crust.

4. Bake for an additional 20 minutes in the preheated oven. 

5. Remove and top with powdered sugar, lemon ginger sugar, vanilla sugar or nothing! The bars will firm up as they cool.

And you know I don't leave it at that.  Oh, not a chance!  

Onto what is basically shortbread I draw runes, symbols, etc to help along whatever party I'm going too.  While I'm mixing and whisking I'm whispering my intent, my wishes, and my will.  The heat of the oven and the yellow of the bars - I invoke the heat of the Sun to bring warmth and light into the lives of all those who eat it.  

I make these a lot!