When Life (Or A Friend) Gives You Lemons...

For my birthday, my friend LeAnn gave me a basket filled with fun summer things. (She's crafty/creative like that.) For a splash of color, she threw in some lemons. I figured I would slice them and add them to the water I faithfully drink each day but... somehow I never did.

There the lemons sat on the counter by the sink, growing more puckered and softer each day. Finally today I almost scooped them up and threw them away. Just then I had a fleeting thought: what if I could find a recipe to use these lemons for and not toss them? I thought that there was little to no chance of me having all the ingredients for something like that, but lo and behold, not only did I find a recipe, I also had everything in the house to make it!

And so tonight when Curt walked in from work, there were not one, but two desserts cooling on the counter. (I had made blonde brownies earlier.) He smiled broadly and I could tell he was glad to be home. Not only that, but I had made his favorite dinner: spaghetti and homemade yeast rolls. (Yes, I was in the kitchen all afternoon.) But as my family gobbled up the special desserts I had made and ooohed and aaahed over them, I was glad I didn't toss the lemons. When life (or a friend) gives you lemons, I highly recommend making these lemon bars. I know I am glad I did!

When Life Gives You Lemons Bars

Crust:

1.5 sticks margarine

1.5 cups flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Filling:

3 eggs, slightly beaten

1.5 cups granulated sugar

3 Tbsp. flour

4 Tbsp. lemon juice

1/4 tsp. baking powder

Mix crust ingredients until crumbly. Pat into 9X13 inch pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, mix filling. Pour over hot crust when it is done baking. Bake again for 20-25 minutes. Cut while warm. Sprinkle with powdered sugar when cool.