Marriage Proposal worthy "Lemon Coconut Bars"

Oh yeesssss.... these bars so amazing, they're worthy of a marriage proposal. 

At one my boyfriend's recent VW Car Shows,  I sent him with a few batches of these sweet treats to share. Let's just say I received several thank you emails and a good, old fashioned proposal! Nope, not from the boyfriend, but from a happily married man!  That is one of the sweetest compliments a baker can receive, someone loving your desserts as much as you do and wanting to marry you for it...

So I'll keep the desserts coming to these guys and girls.  They really know how to make a baker feel special. Now back to these Lemon Coconut Bars... they are the perfect combination of sweet and tart. One flavor doesn't over power the other. The coconut shortbread crust is the perfect compliment to the citrus filling.

 I hope you give these "Lemon Coconut Bars" a try for your next event. You just might wind up engaged!

Happy Cooking Everyone!

Lemon Coconut Shortbread Bars

Ingredients:
2 cups All purpose Flour
1 cup Unsalted Butter, Softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup of sweetened shredded coconut
4 large eggs, lightly whisked
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup powdered sugar


Directions:

Prepwork-
Preheat oven 350 degree
Juice the lemon then zest set aside

Line a 9"x13" baking pan with foil and then parchment paper (makes for much easier clean up).
 
1. Mix together Flour, Butter, Sugar and Coconut until well combined. Form into a ball.

2. Put the dough ball into the prepared baking dish.  Gently press down till the dough evenly covers the bottom of the prepared pan.

3. Bake approx 18-20 minutes


While the crust is baking, start on the filling.

1.Mix together 1 1/2 cups sugar, salt, 1/4 cup flour and baking powder.  
2. Mix together whisked eggs, lemon juice with zest and vanilla.
3. Add the sugar mixture to the egg-lemon mixture until it is blended to a smooth batter.

Remove crust from oven

1. Pour egg mixture over the hot crust making sure you have covered all the surface.

2. Bake for an additional 20-25 minutes
3. Cool completely.
4. Cut into 20 squares.
5. Sprinkle with powder sugar
ENJOY!

The Perfect Toffee Bars

The Perfect Toffee Bar’s (adaption from better home and garden)

This is the type of recipe that is perfect for a gift and super easy to make. I needed something to make last week for a house warming party. Once again I looked at what I had in my pantry and found that I had ½ a bag of toffee bits. Hmmmm..what to make…what to make! I did a little searching and found a recipe for Toffee bars in a old cook book I had.  I have now made the recipe twice and I think this new and improved recipe is amazing.  Added a bit more toffee , a bit more pecans and a more CHOCOLATE of course!  I hope you enjoy These PERFECT TOFFEE BARS.  Perfect for a holiday treat for your friends and family or yourself of couse!
Happy cooking!

½ cup unsalted butter softened
¾ packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup pecans
½ cup toffee pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees


1. Mix together with electric mixer soften butter.

2. Add brown sugar, egg and vanilla to butter.  Beat until will combined.

3. Add flour and salt to egg mixture till all combined.

4. Pull out a 13x9x2 in glass baking dish , ungreased and
 spread the cookie mixture on the pan in a even layer. (two things, do not spray oil or put wax paper,tried both and it makes it hard to to them out, experience talking here )
5. Bake for 15 minutes. The sides will be come a light brown and the top will be dry.
6. Once your remove from oven, immediately sprinkle the cup of chocolate chips evenly over baked cookie. Wait about 3-5 minutes.  The chocolate chips will melt. Using a spatula, spread the chocolate evenly over the cookie until the chocolate completely cookie.

7. Mix together the ½ cup of chopped pecans and ½ cup toffee pieces and
Sprinkle over the chocolate. Using your hand, gently press the pecan and toffees into the chocolate.

8. Cut into bars and put on a baking rack to cool. Chocolate will be come hard.  If you need them faster for a party , like I did. I popped them into the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
ENJOY