Lemon Bars

Ingredients:
For the Crust:
1/2 lb Unsalted Butter - Room Temp
1/2 Cup White Sugar
2 Cups Flour
1/8 tsp Kosher Salt

For the Filling:
6 Extra Large Eggs
3 Cups White Sugar
2 tbsp Grated Lemon Zest
1 tbsp Grated Lime Zest
1 Cup Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
1/2 Cup Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
1 Cup Flour
Confectioners' Sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, using a hand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Gradually add in the flour and salt.  Mix until combined.  Pour dough into a 9x12 pan and press evenly forming the bottom crust.  It's ok if the crust goes slightly up the sides of the pan. Chill in fridge for about 20 minutes.

Bake crust for about 15 - 20 minutes or until it's lightly golden brown.  Remove from oven and cool.

For the filling, in a large bowl add the eggs.  Using a hand mixer, mix until light and frothy.  Add in the sugar and mix to combine.  Add in the zest, juice, salt and flour and mix until light and frothy again.

Pour batter into crust and bake for about 20 minutes.  Lower oven to 325 and bake for another 10 -15 minutes or until the center of the filling is set.
*Most recipes say to bake it at 350 for 30 - 35 minutes but in my oven the top of the filling got too browned before it set so I chose to lower the temp at the end. Your oven may vary.

Let cool and cut into squares. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and enjoy.  Would also be delicious topped w/ a dollop of blueberry compote.

Enjoy.
#cheftainment #fromscratch #homemade #dessert #lemonbars

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake

Ingredients:
2 Sticks Unsalted Butter - Room Temp.
2 1/4 Cups Flour
3/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
1/2 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
1 1/2 Cups White Sugar
4 Large Eggs - Room Temp.
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
3 tbsp Brewed & Cooled Coffee
1 tsp Espresso Powder
1 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips - Dusted in flour.

Glaze:
3 oz. Dark Chocolate Chips
1/2 Cup Heavy Cream
2 tbsp Unsalted Butter
1 tbsp Brewed & Cooled Coffee
Pinch Salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a bundt pan generously.

In a large bowl whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt.  Mix milk & sour cream in a separate bowl.

In another bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the butter & sugar until pale and flurry (about 3-5 minutes).  Add the eggs one at a time.  Add vanilla, coffee, espresso powder.  Mix throughly.  Add in the flour in 3 batches alternating with the milk mixture. Fold in chocolate chips.

Pour mixture into the bundt pan and bake about 55 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

For the glaze, add the chocolate chips & coffee to a bowl.  In a pan, bring the cream to a simmer and pour over the chips. Let stand for about 2 minutes.  Add butter and salt and mix until smooth.  Let sit to thicken for about 1-2 minutes stirring occasionally.  Pour over cake.

Can be served by itself or with a strawberry fruit compote and vanilla whipped cream.

Enjoy.
#cheftainment