{Meyer} Lemon Bars a winter birthday treat

2012 seems to have come and went.  I don't do the whole resolution thing on New Years.  I really don't think about New Years as a holiday; to me it's always been my brother Michael's birthday.  I've heard friends lament that they are robbed of their birthdays when their big day collides with the holidays.  I wanted to be sure Michael's birthday didn't get lost in the holiday shuffle this year, so I asked him what his birthday dessert request was and then quickly went about whipping it up.

He requested lemon bars and luckily for him I replaced my beloved dwarf Meyer lemon tree that I had to leave behind back in March when we moved.  I planted this tree in April and was surprised by the nice little crop of lemons I got.

Meyer Lemon Bars

Crust:
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into 1/2" pieces
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Zest from one Meyer lemon

Filling:
4 large eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice
Zest from one Meyer lemon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Add butter, sugar, flour, salt, and lemon zest to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until still slightly crumbly but starting to come together.  You can also use a pastry cutter to do the same thing.

Spray a 9" x 13" pan with no-stick spray (for even easier removal of the bars cut a piece of parchment paper to fit on the bottom of the pan).  Spread the crust mixture over the bottom of the pan and press it down with your fingers.

Bake the crust for 15 minutes.

In a large bowl whisk together eggs, sugar, flour, lemon juice, zest, baking powder, and salt and pour over hot crust.  Bake for 25-30 more minutes or until the filling is set and no longer wobbly.

When completely cooled dust top with powdered sugar and cut into squares.

Meyer lemons are sweeter and milder than regular lemons.  I think they make the bars a touch sweeter and less tart, but feel free to substitute regular lemons if you can't find the Meyer ones in your area.

I know I can't get enough of these when they are in season here.  Matter of fact if you can't find them; maybe you should head over my way.  Besides you'd be just in time to enjoy the pig we will be grubbing on this Sunday.

My apologies for not returning comments and e-mails promptly the last few weeks.  Besides all the craziness of Christmas and another one right around the corner, I had to spend my precious free minutes fawning over my newest nephew my brother Michael and his wife gave me.

Don't be alarmed if you hear a loud crash and some crazy snoring.  It will just be me crashed out on the couch taking a long overdue winter nap.

Happy New Years!!!

Gina