Sunday Cook: Coconut Lemon Squares

A bit of a delay with the Sunday Cook post - sorry! It was either the post this afternoon or a nap - and well the nap won out. We have had a few crazy days around here with sleep in short supply.

Today is the day for -----

BUT FIRST the really BIG news is that we had a forest fire here at the park on Friday.

Thanks to the quick thinking of our camp hosts who live up in the park (we live at the bottom of the hill) who called in to 911 when they saw smoke just outside the border of the campground. 

It wasn't long before the fire became a concern but with the fire crew on hand and then later the helicopters picking up water from the Thompson River just below us - it all turned out well.

We ended up closing the gates of the park from 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm as a precaution - plus there was A LOT of smoke. 

Derek, while up talking to the forestry crew, took a few pictures of the fire.

So, that was Friday for us. It was actually last week that I made today's recipe - Coconut Lemon Squares. A few weeks ago I purchased a bag of lemons - they were a good price - and I LOVE having citrus on hand. Actually, I try to always have lemons, limes and oranges around - they are so multifunctional and I seem to use at least one of them every day.

I was glad that I photographed the squares because I wasn't actually planning on using them for a Sunday Cook. This week I had homemade Beef Jerky in mind.

Wrong.

Oh, I made the jerky alright and all went well until I took them out of the oven after 12 hours, only to find stiff crunchy and not very good tasting pieces of beef. Have you made homemade beef jerky before? Do you know what went wrong? Why there are crunchy and not chewy? I would appreciate knowing because I would like to try again....more research required.

For those of you who love a good lemon bar - this one is for you. I was surprised how well they turned out - a little TOO well - they are going fast - I think another batch is on the horizon.

So - here we go!

COCONUT LEMON SQUARES

from allrecipes
preheat oven at 350F

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup confectioner's (icing) sugar
3/4 cup cold butter

4 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice (the REAL thing please)
1 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup flaked coconut (I used 1/2 sweetened and 1/2 unsweetened)

In a bowl, combine flour and confectioner's sugar, add butter

cut in the butter until crumbly - I've had all the fancy cutting gadgets in the past but now just use my fingers - works just as well -  or better!

Press onto the bottom of a lightly greased 13 x 9 baking pan. I lined mine with foil. Bake at 350F for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, lemon juice and baking powder until well mixed.

I have a variety of juicers but like how this one works.

Pour the mixture over the HOT crust.

Sprinkle the coconut evenly over the top. Bake at 350F for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. 

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.......................

Addictive? you bet!

I have one more GREAT picture to share. One of the main hiking trails here at the park is the historic Caribou Wagon Trail - a very old trail from the early settlers. Very fascinating history. Boy would I love to be standing on the trail and be able to time travel back to the days it was being used - just to see the wagons and horses!

Anyway, just up the Caribou trail is where the forestry workers have been taking down some pine beetle infected trees. It was nice to see that the crews taped off an area with a Robin's nest. We are surprised that she located it so close to the ground. 

Derek snuck in for a quick picture, of course not wanting to upset mama Robin too much.

How beautiful!

Well, that's it for me. Feet UP time....

I hope you all had a nice weekend. It looks like the weather is on the up swing - warm and sunny days ahead here at Skihist.

Teresa

Today's Interesting Link: Being a homemaker (and proud of it) myself I surround myself with homemaking blogs! The Prudent Homemaker is a blog I just found - it looks to have an endless amount of information - I can't wait to have a little time to take a more complete tour.

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