Coconut Lemon Squares

 There has been very little time for baking at my house the past couple of months.  However, I came across this recipe from my mother's box of recipes recently and when it was my turn to bring the goodies for after church coffee hour a couple of weeks ago, I decided to give them a try.

My grandmother loved to bake and this was one of her cookies. You can see that this recipe was well used and well loved.   Seeing it in my mom's recipe box brought back some wonderful memories.  My mom loves to bake too and since she has been staying here with us she was able to walk me through my first time making them for myself.  

Coconut Lemon Squares

First Layer:

1 1/2 cups flour            1 cup brown sugar         1/2 cup soft butter

Mix together and pat down firmly in a 9x13 pan. Bake at 275 degrees for 10 min. Remove from oven and top with filling.

Filling: 

2 eggs      1 cup brown sugar     1 1/2 cup coconut     1 cup chopped walnuts

2 tbsp flour     1/2 tsp baking powder     1/4 tsp salt     1 tsp vanilla

Beat the eggs in a large bowl.  Then add all the rest of the ingredients and mix well.  Spread evenly over the baked bottom mixture and return to the oven.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool slightly,  While still warm spread lemon glaze over the top.

Lemon Glaze:

1 cup confectioner's sugar     1tbsp melted butter     juice from one lemon  (3 tbsp)

Cool completely before cutting into squares.

They were as delicious as I remembered! When I brought them to church not a crumb was left.  By the way, I baked up the Amish Sugar Cookies above as well.  That's another scrumptious recipe,  If you have never baked them you can probably find the recipe for those on line.  If you like coconut and lemon, give these squares a try. I don't think you will be disappointed. 

Adieu!

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Cookies and China

Everyone knows that one of the big anticipations of any holiday is eating all the special and traditional foods that make up part of the fun.  At our house that means homemade Christmas cookies.  This year I decided to try a couple of new recipes I discovered on Pinterest.

These are called Cranberry Shortbread.  I really liked the idea of refrigerator cookies, just mix the dough, form into rolls, chill and then slice and bake, so easy.   They were delicious too.

 

This was another new recipe, Toffee Butter Ice Box Cookies, so yummy and again so easy to make.

But the star attractions when it comes to cookies are the cut out sugar cookies.  As far as the whole family is concerned, it isn't Christmas Day without them.  This has been the family recipe since I was a little girl baking with my mom  here.

 Outside the snow was falling and The Inspector stepped out back to catch this photo of a deer out under one of the apple trees.

Inside was the warmth of the kitchen and the smell of freshly baked cookies, heavenly!

One pan going into the oven and one pan coming out.

This was a plate of finished Christmas Cookies all ready for dessert on Christmas Day.  Didn't they look scrumptious? They certainly didn't last long!

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Over the years to save time in the kitchen on Christmas day I have started using paper plates and cups for serving. It certainly keeps things casual and easy throughout the holidays.  But this year I was encouraged by a sister blogger to bring out the china and make the holiday meals more festive and special for my family and guests.  

I did still use plastic cups and paper for the snack table.

There were only five of us on Christmas Eve.  I used the stoneware for that.  However, I must admit to paper plates for breakfast on Christmas morning. 

Everyone enjoyed the annual Christmas morning egg casserole, fruit and homemade cinnamon rolls, baked by my daughter.


For Christmas dinner all the lovely china and crystal stemware came out.  The beautiful hand crochet lace table runner was a gift from a dear family friend who was like an aunt to me growing up.  The china was chosen by The Inspector and myself when we were married almost 43 years ago. I must admit, it certainly made the meal feel so much more festive and special.  I really should use it more often. 

 As we continue to enjoy celebrating the 12 days of Christmas I am looking forward to having a dear cousin come to spend the New Year with us.  I also remember going to an Epiphany Breakfast with an aunt & uncle in Texas a few years ago.  Perhaps I will consider hosting something like that next year.  We shall see.  Meanwhile, let's not walk away from Christmas just yet, let's just keep savoring the season.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given

and the government shall be upon his shoulders

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

Prince of Peace

Isaiah 9:6

Bunny Sugar Cookies

It was about 60 years ago when my mother received a little metal cookie cutter shaped like a bunny.  With it was a cookie recipe that was going to become a family classic from then on.  Every year since then we have looked forward to a taste of Mom's bunny sugar cookies at Easter.  The recipe followed me as I left home to start my own family and I extended it to other holidays, especially Christmas time when it becomes stars, bells and Christmas trees but the taste is the same and my children still know it as the Bunny Cookie Recipe. 

This year, with my mother out of town for Easter, it was up to me to see that Bunny Cookies were on the table on Easter Sunday.  


I started with just a few basic ingredients, flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and shortening, as well as vanilla, soda and cream of tarter.

First, I mix the butter, shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla together.

 

 After sifting together, the dry ingredients, I add it to the butter mixture.

  Everyone measures differently, so if the dough seems a bit too soft you can add a little more flour, but not too much.  Then chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes

After it's chilled, roll out the dough and then cut your shapes. I use my own little bunny cookie cutter which I have had for about 40 years. 

 The cookies will bake for just a few minutes and when they come out of the oven you will have a soft, tender yet flaky cookie that is not too sweet and perfect for frosting.

 Finally, I frost with butter cream frosting and decorate.  The original recipe calls for coconut that has been tinted green but a couple of kids prefer them plain so I do some of both.  

And there you have it, a perfect cookie for any season of the year.

Easter is over so I will just wish you a joyful celebration of Spring.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Bunny Sugar Recipe

1/2 cup butter                                            3 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup butter shortening                            1 tsp baking soda

1 cup sugar                                                2 tsp cream of tarter

3 eggs                                                       1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Cream together sugar, butter, shortening and eggs and vanilla.  Blend well.  Sift together flour, soda and cream of tartar.  Add to batter and mix well.  Chill 30 minutes.  Roll out on a floured board to about 1/4 inch.  Cut with cookie cutter shapes.  Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 5- 6 minutes  at 425 degrees.  Cool and frost with butter cream frosting.

Butter Cream Frosting

1/2 cup butter

4 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla 

5-6 TBSP milk

Blend Well

Rasberry Almond Cookies

I was raised in that American era when middle class dads went off to work and most moms worked at home taking responsibility for raising the family. Meals were usually home cooked and lots of home baking took place.  And boy, did I ever have a mom who loved to bake.  She was constantly mixing something together; pies, cakes, breads and pastries and a vast array of cookies.  There was almost always a plate of cookies ready to be eaten with a glass of milk after school. One of my favorite snacks was a wonderful sugar type cookie with Jam in the middle called "Split Seconds."  I couldn't get enough of them when I was growing up.  So when I found a recipe for these raspberry shortbread bars I just had to try them.  I was not disappointed.  Not only are they absolutely delicious but they are pretty to look at too.  I loved the red jeweled look of the jam and the sliced almonds piled on top. 

My mom still loves to bake  So whenever I stop by for a visit there is sure to be some baked treat waiting for me to enjoy with a cup of tea.  Now I have something new to share with her too.