Ever since I can remember, I have loved lemon bars. My mother used to make them as a special treat when we were growing up. They were a dessert that she made for my sister, who we lovingly called, a “lemonhead.” Lemonheads are people that love everything lemon. Although I was not necessarily one of those people growing up, I have increasingly grown to appreciate the versatile citrus and incorporate it into my home and cooking whenever possible. Using a microplane, we regularly add lemon zest to recipes to bring extra brightness to a dish. A few years ago, I was on a mission to create a lemon bar that could be easily transported. I love the flavor of my mother’s recipe, her bars are absolutely delicious, but they were too fragile for my needs. I wanted a lemon dessert that I could make and take to my sister’s house, serve at parties, wrap as gifts and hold up at tailgating events. I am not a professional baker and I don’t have access to a commercial kitchen. In order to create the perfect bar, I did what any other home cook would do. I relied on my family and friends to become my test subjects. Let me be clear, by the time I modified my recipe into one that I liked, my family and friends needed a break from my baking! If you are looking for a delicious lemon dessert recipe to try, I highly recommend this one! After many minor modifications, we think it’s perfection!
Cooking
Pumpkin Pasta…
When October rolls around, we are ready for cooler weather in the Carolinas. This means it’s time for some of my favorite cooler weather meals. This always includes a variety of soups, heartier meals like roasts and one of our favorites – pumpkin pasta. This dish is not only a family favorite but an easy crowd pleaser. Our friends and family always request this meal when the weather gets cooler and the days start getting shorter. We typically serve this for dinner with a side of roasted vegetables and a fresh spinach salad. Not only do we prepare this dish for family dinners, but we have also brought it to other family’s for dinner, offered it at tailgating events, and made it for parties. Our version of this recipe has been modified from the original to make it slightly healthier. We use brown rice penne pasta (Trader Joe’s organic brown rice penne pasta is the brand that we prefer) and substitute evaporated milk for the cream. We do like the bacon flavor in this dish, but it could easily be removed and made vegetarian style. This is a very versatile meal that can be prepared ahead of time and is easily heated right before serving. If you are looking for something different to serve your family, try this pumpkin pasta. We encourage you to try this family favorite this fall. You never know, it might just become one of your favorites too!