Blueberry Lemon Bars

I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again,
but I love pretty much anything with lemon in it.
Savory eats, sweet treats and drinks with lemon are all my jam.
So when I found this recipe, it quickly went on my list of things to make.

Not only did it sound amazing,
but it seemed like a cinch to make too.
I don't think a week went by before I whipped one up,
and it was completely devoured in just two days!!!

Keep reading to see how I made these yummy Blueberry Lemon Bars!

The Goods:

Graham Crackers

Butter

Granulated Sugar

Lemons

Eggs

Sweetened Condensed Milk

Blueberries

Put your graham crackers in a large zipper bag

and then begin to crush them to make crumbs.

I used an entire pack and had more than enough.

In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar and lemon zest.

Mix with a fork until everything is combined and crumbs are moistened. 

Press the mixture into a greased 8x8 pan and bake for about 10 minutes.

It make take a little longer depending on your oven.

Remove from oven and cool completely.

While the crust is cooling, it's time to make the filling!

In a large bowl, add the entire can of sweetened condensed milk and 2 egg yolks.

Whisk those together until combined. 

Next add the lemon zest and lemon juice.

Stir the mixture to incorporate the zest and juice.

Finally, add the blueberries to the lemon filling...

And gently fold in your fresh blueberries.

Pour the filling over the cooled crust and bake at 350 for about 15 minutes.

Filling should be set and not jiggle at all.  

Remove from the oven and let cool for at least an hour.

Do your best to be patient because this helps the bars set.

Finally, cut the bars into squares to be devoured by your friends!

You can tell I was a little inpatient and did cut the bars a bit too early.

Don't be like me and wait until the bars are fully set!

They still tasted absolutely amazing, 

but weren't as pretty as I'd like if I'm being honest.

Lemon Blueberry Bars

Inspired by Moms Need To Know

For the Crust:

1 1/2 Cup Graham Cracker Crumbs

8 Tablespoons Butter, Melted

1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar

3 Teaspoons Lemon Zest

For the Filling:

2 Egg Yolks

1 (14 Ounce) Can Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/2 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice

1 Teaspoon Lemon Zest

1 Cup Fresh Blueberries

1. Put your graham crackers in a large zipper bag and begin to crush them to make crumbs.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar and lemon zest. Mix with a fork until everything is combined and crumbs are moistened. 
3. Press the mixture into a greased 8X8 pan and bake at 350 for about 10 minutes. It make take a little longer depending on your oven. Remove from oven and cool completely.
4. In a large bowl, add the entire can of sweetened condensed milk and 2 egg yolks. Whisk until combined.
5. Next add the lemon zest and lemon juice and then stir to incorporate both.
6. Finally, add the blueberries to the lemon filling and gently fold them in.
7. Pour the filling over the cooled crust and bake for about 15 minutes. The filling should be set and not giggle at all.  
8. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least an hour. Do your best to be patient because this helps the bars set.
9. Finally, cut the bars into squares to be devoured by your friends

Lemonade Popsicles!

With Spring officially here and the temperature warming up,

I'm guessing many of us will be eating popsicles quite often.

Personally, I like to make them myself to control the ingredients.

And one of my favorite kinds is to use simple lemonade!

You can use whatever lemonade you'd like,

be it homemade or store bought - both kinds will work.

I tend to make my own using this recipe

then simply use molds to make my popsicles!

The Goods:

Lemons

Sugar

Water

Popsicle Molds

Popsicle Sticks

Lemon Juicer

Cut your lemons in half and start juicing...

Squeeze the juice out of ALL your lemons. 

I did a total of a dozen.

Measure out the amount of lemon juice you need.

And toss all the discarded lemons.

Of if you have a compost throw them in there!

Measure out your sugar and make your simple syrup.

Get your lemon juice, simple syrup and water ready to combine.

Then mix it all up in a big pitcher.

Fill your popsicle molds almost all the way full.

If you're using the tops that came with them, add them now.

If you're using popsicle sticks, freeze for about an hour 

and then insert the sticks so they stay upright.

Freeze overnight to make sure they're completely solid.

Package them up and give to family and friends.

And of course enjoy one yourself!

Whiskey Wednesday: Bourbon Spiked Apple Cider

Happy Wednesday everyone!!!

A few months ago, I started a fun new blog series - 

Whiskey Wednesday!!!

If you missed them, here are the last few:
Irish Mule
 Mint Julep
Bourbon & Sparkling Lemonade
Irish Redhead
Old Fashion
Jameson Coke Floats
Bourbon Cherry Coke

Make sure to check back each month for a new recipe!

Whiskey Wednesday will happen every first Wednesday of the month.

While shopping at Trader Joe's recently,
I saw Sparkling Apple Cider at the check out.
A lightbulb went off in my head immediately,
and that's how this month's whiskey drink was created!

It's was quite simple to make,
tasted oh sooooooooo good,
but you could easily get yourself in trouble!!
You can hardly taste the bourbon in these babies!

Let me show to make these yummy drinks!

The Goods:

Bourbon

Sparkling Apple Cider

Sugar

Cinnamon

Apple

Get everything prepped and laid out.

Mix your cinnamon and sugar in ramekin.

Pour a tiny bit of apple cider in another ramekin.

Slightly wet the rim of the glass with the apple cider.

Then place in cinnamon sugar mix and cover glass rim.

Place one slice of apple in each glass.

Add two ounces of whiskey to each glass.

Fill with chilled sparkling apple cider

and garnish with another apple slice.

Cheers to a good night with one of your best friends.

Then take a sip, sit back and relax!!!

Baked Donut Monday: Gluten Free Pumpkin Donuts!

Happy Monday you guys!!!
I'm back again for another Baked Donut Monday post

and today I'm going to tell you about some super tasty

GLUTEN FREE PUMPKIN DONUTS!!!

When thinking about the next donut to make,
I knew I wanted it to be something different
and when a friend suggested gluten free,
I knew I had to find one to try.

After very little searching,
I found a pumpkin one that sounded AMAZING.
While I don't need to eat gluten free myself,
I know enough people that do so I decided to give it a go!

The Goods:

Vegetable Oil

Eggs

Sugar

Pumpkin Puree

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Salt

Baking Powder

Gluten Free Flour

Cinnamon

In a large bowl, beat together the oil, eggs and sugar.

Add the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spices, salt 

and baking powder, then beat until mixture is smooth.

Next add the flour and mix until incorporated.

 Transfer donut batter to a large zipper bag.

Cut off the end of the zipper bag 

and fill your donut pan until 1/2 to 3/4 full.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.
Cool in pan for a few minutes.

Remove donuts from pans and let them continue to cool.

While donuts are still slightly warm, 

shake them in an bag with cinnamon-sugar mixture...

Until all of the donuts are coated!

MMMMMMM donuts!

Surprise! I added chocolate chips to just a few!!!

Ready to be delivered to neighbors and friends!

While these were pretty tasty,

I think that from now on,

I'll stick to donuts that have gluten in them.

Past donut posts can be found:
here, here, here, here here, here and here!

Gluten Free Pumpkin Donuts

Adapted from King Arthur Flour

For the Donuts:

1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil

4 Eggs

1 1/2 Cups Sugar

1 1/2 Cups Pumpkin Puree

1 1/2 Teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 Teaspoon Salt

1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder

1 3/4 Cups + 2 Tablespoons

Gluten Free Flour

For the Coating:

3 Tablespoons Cinnamon-Sugar

1. In a large bowl, beat together the oil, eggs and sugar.
2. Add the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spices, salt and baking powder, then beat until mixture is smooth.
3. Next add the flour and mix until incorporated.
4. Transfer donut batter to a large zipper bag.
5. Cut off the end of the zipper bag and fill your donut pan until 1/2 to 3/4 full.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.
7. Cool in pan for a few minutes.
8. Remove donuts from pans and let them continue to cool.
9. While donuts are still slightly warm, shake them in an bag with cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Whiskey Wednesday: Kumi (And Jeff's) Old Fashion

Happy Wednesday everyone!!!

A few months ago, I started a fun new blog series - 

Whiskey Wednesday!!!
I hope you're enjoying the series as much as I am.

If you missed them, here are the last few:
Irish Mule
 Mint Julep
Bourbon & Sparkling Lemonade
Irish Redhead

Make sure to check back each month for a new recipe!

Whiskey Wednesday will happen every first Wednesday of the month.

This month, I have another Guest Blogger taking over Whiskey Wednesday!
My friend and wonderful co-worker Kumi is a whiskey fan too.
As soon as I told her about the series, she had lots of input!

Lucky me, she sharing her favorite whiskey drink today - an Old Fashion.
Alright that's enough outta me,
it's time for Kumi to take over.

Hi guys!
Thanks, Robyn for inviting me to write my very first blog entry.
(woot!)

It can't be better that it's about WHISKEY.
Ohhhhhh the magical elixir.
Delicious, delicious, whiskey.

I learned early on in my drinking career that whiskey
(bourbon in particular) and I had a good thing going.
My go-to cocktail is an Old Fashioned and my husband learned to master it.
(oh lucky ME)

There are a million variations to this classic cocktail,
but this gal here likes it best the hubby's way.
Here's how to make it:

The Goods:

1 tsp white sugar

4 dashes of Angostura bitters

½ orange (for juice and peel)

2 oz of your favorite whiskey

1 large ice cube (or 2 to 3 regular sized)

 Add 1tsp of sugar (or 1 sugar cube) into glass.

 Add 4 dashes of bitters to sugar and stir to combine.

 Cut a strip of peel from orange and set aside.

 Cut orange in half and squeeze juice into glass, stir until sugar dissolves.

(tip: roll orange on cutting board before cutting to maximize juice squeezing)

 Pour 2oz or one shot glass full of your favorite delicious, delicious whiskey into glass 
(I like it with Bourbon) and stir.

 Add large ice cube (or 2-3 regular ice cubes) to glass and stir.

You can stop here and garnish the cocktail with the orange peel and serve. 

HOWEVER, if you want the glorious, fiery, goodness that is this cocktail,

keep reading and go the extra two steps below!

 (BRING ON DA FIRE)

Light match or lighter and carefully warm the orange peel 

(don't burn peel or fingers!) for about 10 seconds.

(TADAAAAAA MOMENT)

Hold flame over glass and squeeze the peel in half, spritzing orange peel oil at the flame 

(IT WILL SPARK GLORIOUSLY AND MAGICALLY, 

MAKING YOUR COCKTAIL SMELL SO ORANGEY GOOD). 

Add peel to drink and serve.

Now can we talk about how awesome all of her pictures are???
Wish I could hire her to take ALL my blog photos!!!
Make sure to keep her in mind if you're a Los Angeles local needing photos!