Little T's Lemonade

Quigley, the fluffy dog, and Rosco the small dog posing with Little T and his yellow tote he filled with lemons from the tree. They seem to think he has some really good, tasty people food in there.



Little T experimenting with 'sour' and 'sweet'. We " cut em open and squished the juice out of the lemons" to use Little T's words, added some water and sugar. He has decided the lemonade is much better than lemons. Everyone in Arizona has a lemonade recipe, but here is mine:

Fresh Lemonade Base

2 1/2 cups water
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon finely shredded lemon or lime peel
1 1/4 cups lemon or lime juice

For lemonade (or limeade) base, in a saucepan over medium heat, heat water and sugar until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool 20 minutes. Add peel and juice to mixture. Pour into a closed jar and refrigerate up to 3 days.

For lemonade, pour equal amounts of lemonade base and cold water into ice cube filled glasses. Makes 4 cups of base and around 8 glasses of lemonade. Sometimes I like to add a little red food coloring and slice up some fresh strawberries and add to the top of the lemonade for Toughie and Kristi's favorite: pink lemonade.

(Another lemon favorite for those who made it 'down under' the blog. It will be our little secret.) Little T and I made these to share at our Sewing for Babies luncheon on Tuesday. After they went into the oven he asked, "Are we going to make meatballs and lemons now, grandma? He has talked about meatballs and lemons for two days now. I don't usually put lemon juice in my meatballs, so that is new to me. I do use sliced lemons on top of my barbecued spare ribs.

Lemon Bars

1/3 cup butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup flour
2 eggs
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
Powdered sugar (optional)

Beat butter with electric mixer on high speed for 30 seconds. Add the 1/4 cup granulated sugar; beat until combined. Bea in the 1 cup flour till crumbly. Press mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 8 x 8 x 2 baking pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 15 to 18 minutes until it is just golden.

Filling: In a small mixing bowl, combine eggs, the 3/4 cup granulated sugar, the 2 tablespoons flour, lemon peel, lemon juice, and baking powder. Beat two minutes or until combined.

Pour filling over baked layer. Bake 20 minutes more or till lightly browned around edges and center is set. Cool on a wire rack. If desired, sift powdered sugar on top. Cut into 20 bars. 97 Calories per bar.