Lemon Love Notes

Happy Memorial Day!

It is HOT out today, which is partly why I abandoned my plans of making a red, white and blue dessert (I will make this for the Fourth of July holiday instead) and opted for something a little more refreshing - Lemon Love Notes!

Although this dessert does not represent the colors of our flag, it is yellow; and yellow is the color of the yellow awareness ribbon meaning "Armed forces return". Since Memorial Day exists as a day to honor those who have died while serving this country, I feel it is fitting that while we are honoring those lost, it is also fitting to honor those currently serving and to hope that they return safely.

If you love lemon, you will love these. If you love coconut you will love these. Aaand, since I know there are soo many of you who do not like coconut... I have a version of these summer delights that even you will love!! Everyone happy now?

Lemon Love Notes

Ingredients:

1-3/4 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter

3 cup confectioners sugar

1 egg

1-1/3 cup coconut*

1 tablespoon grated lemon peel ...or... 2-1/2 teaspoons lemon concentrate

1/4 cup lemon concentrate

3 drops yellow food coloring (optional)

*This recipe is very tasty without coconut too, so feel free to leave this ingredient out - no substitutions or modifications need to be made if you omit the coconut.

How-To:

(Base)

1. Grease one 8x10 inch pan and preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Beat in a bowl: salt, butter, and 1 cup sugar.

3. Add egg to butter mixture, then add flour.

4. Stir in 1 cup coconut and 1 tablespoon lemon peel (or 2-1/2 teaspoons concentrate).

5. Spread on pan, bake 30-35 minutes (until golden brown).

(Glaze)

1. Beat together: 2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup lemon concentrate, and food dye (optional).

2. Spread sugar and lemon mixture on top, then sprinkle 1/3 cup coconut on top of glaze.

3. Cool completely. Enjoy!

Meet my Snowman Family!

When I wake up to a thermostat of negative fifteen, I know it's a good day to put off my run for the sake of baking. The snow looks oh so pretty outside, so I have decided that is how I would like to keep it... outside, where I won't have to touch it. I love making snowmen and this is simply a warmer way of doing it...

This cute little family comes from the genius book, Hello, Cupcake! Check it out if you haven't yet, you'll be happy you did.

Meet papa snowman, like his tie? I do. I was given a hard time by some family members who were watching these guys come alive though... I bought a whole bag of regular Oreo and a whole bag of mini Oreo only to use one from each bag for his top hat... but I personally love having leftovers!

This is mama snowman... well, snow-woman. I loove her apron and ear-muffs, they turned out so well (the apron is even tied in a bow on the back!). I used fruity tootsie rolls for everything except the strawberry Runt for the heart-shaped broach on her chest and a grape runt split in half for the ear-muffs. Love it!

My favorite one of them all... baby snowman, or snowboy. Yes, he has a pink scarf. That too is made of fruity tootsie rolls. The hat was by far my biggest struggle with this little family. I fussed over it way too much and ended up with nothing more than a sticky situation. I finally mastered it though, five fruit tootsies later.