Pecan Sandies

This recipe is listed on Marvelous Mondays

This recipe is easy and quick.  Pecan sandies are literally shortbread cookies with pecans.  YUM!

When my father was diagnosed as a diabetic, he had to watch what he ate.  Instead of pies and cakes, he would eat pecan sandies.  Yes, I know, those aren't the best for you either, but if you knew my father, you would know that he would NEVER give up on the sweets!

Nonnu, with two his granddaughters:  Sierra and Maria

(Sierra - look at that great knit hat!  Who made that?)

Confession Time:  Mom, when you traveled for work, Dad always had pies and cakes...............Did I just tattle on my Dad?

Anyway, back to the recipe.  Here are the ingredients for easy, quick pecan sandies.

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup flour

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1/8 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup pecans

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

In a mixer, cream together the butter and sugar.  Add the vanilla, baking soda and salt.  Slowly add the flour, then the pecans.

Roll the cookies into a ball, placing them on a baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  Remove them before they start to brown.

Enjoy!



Lemon Bars

This recipe is listed on Marvelous Mondays

My sister Karrie is a great cook and we share an affinity for lemon!  Recently, we were able to share a few weeks together while she was here for our father's funeral.

Karrie, Me and Tonette - Thanksgiving, 2012

One of the great traits that my father had was his love for his family.  My sister Karrie personifies this in every part of her being.  Karrie has raised 4 beautiful children.  They are so lucky to have a mom like her.  Tonette, Laura, and I are so lucky to have a sister like her...........I miss her very much.  California is too far away.

Here are the ingredients for her lemon bars:

2 1/4 cups flour

2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into pieces

2/3 cup powdered sugar

4 eggs

2/3 cup lemon juice

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 tablespoons lemon zest

1 teaspoon baking powder

Pinch of salt

In your food processor, add 2 cups flour, the powdered sugar and the butter.  Pulse until the mixture is crumbly.  Press that into a 9x13 pan that has been buttered.

Bake this shortbread crust on 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Remove from oven and reduce the heat to 325 degrees.

While the crust is baking, start assembling the other ingredients.  I have a handy, dandy juicer which made getting fresh lemon juice extra easy!



In your mixer, add the eggs and sugar.  Mix until frothy.  Add the flour, lemon juice, zest, baking powder and salt. 

Pour over the shortbread crust and bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until set.

Cool on a wire rack.  When the bars are cool, dust with powdered sugar and cut into squares.

When Karrie is in town I love cooking together and sharing ideas for food.  She has a passion for cooking as well.  At this point, I must tell everyone that although Karrie is a great cook, I did beat her in our cooking challenge last summer............here is the proof:

Here Dad is pointing to the winner - MY peach crumble bars

Karrie lives life to the fullest - she reminds me of our father in that way.  I have learned many things from her and I consider myself lucky to have her in my life.

Mom and Karrie - Summer 2012



Apple Pie Bars

Last week my husband and I took the grand kids to the apple orchard.  I made homemade applesauce (http://rediscovermom.blogspot.com/2012/10/applesauce.html) and homemade apple butter (http://rediscovermom.blogspot.com/2012/09/apple-butter.html).  With the leftover apples, I decided to make apple pie bars!

The ingredients for the crust:

1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ginger

Put all ingredients in the mixer and mix (use a dough hook).  Take the dough out and press it into the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 pan.  Refrigerate until ready to assemble the bars.

The ingredients for the apple filling:

6-8 apples, peeled, cored, and diced into small pieces
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 tablespoon flour

Mix the ingredients and refrigerate until ready to assemble

The ingredients for the topping:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup oats
1/2 cup flour
1 cup pecan pieces
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown sugar

Mix the ingredients together.

To assemble the apple pie bars:  Take the 9 x 13 pan out of the refrigerator.  Put the apples on top of the crust and put the topping on top of the apples.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until browned.  Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool.

Icing:

1 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice

Mix the lemon juice into the powdered sugar until it is the consistency that you can drizzle it on top of the apple bars.

These bars should be refrigerated.  Enjoy!  This recipe is listed on Foodie Friends Friday!