Legend says that Ralph loved Nana’s brownies so much that he offered to put a brownie department in his stores so he would not have to wait until his October birthday when she would make another batch for him.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour 250 grams
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
6 oz unsweetened chocolate chopped (170 grams)
2 sticks unsalted butter 230 grams
3 cups sugar 600 grams
6 large eggs
1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts plus more for garnish

Rum Glaze

6 tbsp. unsalted butter 84 grams
4 oz. unsweetened chocolate chopped, always buy good quality chocolate
1/2 confectioners’ sugar
Pinch of salt
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
4 tbsp. dark rum or brandy 56 ml

Steps

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 inch metal baking pan.  Make a saddle so you can lift cooked brownies out of pan by lining pan with parchment paper, coming up the sides enough to lift it out.  Also spray both the pan and the parchment paper with cooking spray. 

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

In a saucepan, melt the chocolate and butter with the sugar over medium-low heat. Remove from heat and stir until smooth.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs and vanilla until mixed but not frothy. Stir in the chocolate mixture and then the flour mixture until fully incorporated. Fold in the chopped walnuts.

Spread in the prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the edges are set and a cake tester comes out with a few crumbs attached. Let cool. The brownies should sink a bit as they cool, that's what you want, you don't want to overcook them.

Meanwhile, make the rum glaze: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate over low heat. Sift in the confectioners’ sugar and salt. Stir in the vanilla and rum, and keep warm.

Spread the brownies with the warm rum glaze so that it drips off the edges. Cut into 2-inch squares and decorate each with a walnut half. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Notes

You can also sprinkle some chocolate chips on top before baking. 

HALF BATCH:  Use and 8 inch square pan and bake for 35 minutes or until internal temperature is about 208-210.  Brownies will puff up and sink a bit as they cool. 

Filling:

1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
6 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups water
1/3 cup lemon juice
3 egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
2 teaspoons vinegar
3 tablespoons butter

Never-Fail Meringue:

1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water
1/2 cup boiling water
3 egg whites
 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pinch salt

Directions:

1. Bake prepared pie crust according to provided directions. Of course homemade is best and I love the vintage Crisco recipe, but Trader Joes makes a wonderful frozen crust.  You must let it come to room temperature before putting in your pie pan or it will break into pieces.  It's worth the effort, though, Trader Joes crust is the best I've found, but of course Pillsbury works, too.

2. To make filling, mix sugar and cornstarch together in the top of a double boiler. Add the two cups of water. Combine egg yolks with lemon juice and beat until well mixed.

3. Add to the rest of the sugar mixture. Cook over boiling water until thick — about 25 minutes which will eliminate any starchy taste.

4. Add the lemon extract, butter and vinegar, and stir thoroughly.

5. Pour mixture into deep 9-inch pie shell, and let cool.

5. To make meringue, blend cornstarch and cold water in a saucepan.

6. Add boiling water, and cook, stirring until clear and thickened.

7. Let stand until COMPLETELY cold.

8. With electric beater at high speed, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add sugar, and beat until stiff but not dry. Turn mixer to low speed; add salt and vanilla.

9. Gradually beat in cold cornstarch mixture. Turn mixer again to high, and beat well.

10. Spread meringue over cooled pie filling.

11. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until top is lightly browned.

Note:

If you want a sky-high meringue, like the ones you see in bakeries, just use 6 egg whites (save yolks for another recipe), and double the sugar....I just use the same amount of cornstarch/water mixture when I use 6 egg whites.

#lemonpie #annlanders #dearabby #famouslemonpie #lemonmeringuepie #worldsbestpie #awardwinningpie #yummy #homemade #foodie #jancooksrealfood #jancancook #janspicx #crisco #traderjoes #easterdessert #inagarten

1 package of refrigerated Pillsbury crescent rolls
1/3 cup of good quality lemon curd
6 tablespoons turbinado (coarse) sugar (you can just sprinkle on regular sugar if you don't have this)
milk to brush tops of rolls
ground cardamom to dust 
confectioner's sugar to finish
sprinkle of sesame seeds for a little crunch (optional)

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking tray with baking parchment.   Lightly spray the paperwith nonstick spray.  Set aside.

Unroll the crescent rolls and separate them at perforations. Place one portion of lemon curd at the wide end of each roll.  Gently spread it down about half way the length of the dough towards the point, being careful to not spread the curd all the way to the edge. 

Roll up, starting at the wide end towards the small point, totally encasing the lemon curd.   Twist each end into a crescent shape.  Then pinch one end closed and place each on the prepared baking sheet, narrow pointed side down.  Brush each with some milk. 

Sprinkle with the coarse turbinado sugar and dust lightly with ground cardamom if desired.

Add a few sesame seeds and serve...

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden brown.  Remove from the oven.   Serve warm and dusted with confectioners sugar.  

🍋

#lemon #croissants #lemoncrescentrolls #pillsbury #pillsburycrescentrolls #brunch #homemade #jancooksrealfood #jancancook #janspicx #yummy #foodie #yummydessert

Ingredients:

1 pkg. White Cake Mix, plus ingredients to prepare
1 pkg. Lemon Cake Mix
½ cup Sour Cream
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Lemon, juiced
1 cup Whipping Cream
1 pkg Mascarpone Cheese
1 cup Powdered Sugar, sifted
4 Tbsp Melted Real Butter

Directions:

Prepare the white cake according to the directions on the box, adding the sour cream and vanilla. Bake in a 10 inch round baking pan, or if you don't have a 10 inch round baking pan, you can just use a 9" pan and it will be a thicker cake, if you have too much batter, just make a few cupcakes.  A 10 inch cheesecake pan will also work. Cool the cake completely.

For the lemon cream filling, whip cream until stiff peaks form, then fold in the mascarpone, sifted powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest of half the lemon.  For the crumb topping, combine 3/4 cup of the lemon cake mix with the melted butter to make a crumb topping. To assemble the cake, cut the white cake in half to spread the lemon cream filling between the two layers of white cake. Frost the top of the cake with a thin layer of cream filling and sprinkle the crumb topping.  And finally, a dusting of powdered sugar just finishes it off...

Helpful Tips:

 The secret is the mascarpone cheese.

A little lemon zest always makes things better :)

🍋
#lemon #lemoncake #lemoncreamcake #olivegarden #olivegardenlemoncreamcake #yummy #foodie #homemade #easterdessert #jancooksrealfood #jancancook #janspicx

This lemon pie in a jar is an easy no-bake dessert that won't cost you a lot of calories.  I make it with crushed graham crackers, but you can also make it by putting a vanilla wafer in the bottom of the jar and layering pudding and then another vanilla wafer in the middle.

Ingredients

2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1 package fat free, sugar free lemon pudding mix
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup crushed graham crackers or 8 reduced fat vanilla wafers
6 tablespoons whipped cream or Cool Whip

6 small sauce jars

Steps

In a medium bowl, beat the nonfat Greek yogurt with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form.

Add the lemon pudding mix and lemon juice and beat to combine.

Prepare the jars by placing crushed graham crackers or a vanilla wafer in the bottom of each jar. Top with 1/3 cup yogurt mixture and one tablespoon whipped cream or Cool Whip.

Crush remaining graham crackers or two vanilla wafers and top each lemon pie with cookie crumbles.

Makes 6 jars

#puddinginajar #lemonpuddinginajar #pieinajar #lemonpie #ww #weightwatchers #jancooks #jancooksrealfood #janspicx #yummy #yummyfood #homemade #lowcalorie #dietdessert

1 (large) bottle white wine, I prefer Pinot Grigio, just use your favorite
1 ( 12 ounce) can  frozen lemonade
1 cup Triple Sec
1 cup simple syrup
1 large can pineapple tidbits with juice1 orange, halved and sliced thin
1 lemon, halved and thinly sliced
6, 8, 10 strawberries, sliced, you decide how many
1 can lemon-lime soda  (7-up, Sprite, Sierra Mist or Ginger Ale works, too)
Whole strawberries, or lemon or orange slices, for garnish
Maraschino cherries, for garnish, drain and path them dry so they don't turn the sangria pink

Steps

Directions

These are such a fun cookie to make and they they are infused with fresh, bright, lively lemon flavor.  Heart be still 💛  No wonder these are award winning cookies.  A cup of afternoon tea and a few of these cookies and your mood will instantly be as bright as the flavors in these delicious morsels of puckery, lemony goodness.  Try them, you will see what I mean...

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 tablespoon lemon zest
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Scant 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Steps

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare baking sheets by covering with parchment paper, using a Silopat or spray baking sheets with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla, egg, lemon zest, and juice. Scrape sides and mix again.

Stir in all dry ingredients slowly until just combined, excluding the powdered sugar. Scrape sides of bowl and mix again briefly. Refrigerate dough for one hour.

Pour powdered sugar onto a large plate, then roll a heaping teaspoon of dough into a ball and roll in powdered sugar. Place on baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough.

Bake for 9-11 minutes or until cookies are cracked on top. Remove from oven and cool cookies about 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

I came home, researched many recipes and adjusted them until I found this one that is just perfection.    It's one of those desserts that I don't make often, and only because of the calories.  This is absolutely sinfully delicious, but oh, it's so worth the calories for a special occasion. 

To ensure the custards cook gently and gradually, place the ramekins in a baking pan lined with a kitchen towel and partially fill the pan with hot water (known as a water bath). This helps insulate the delicate custards from the heat. 

Ingredients:

Juice of 2 lemons
2 cups heavy cream
Zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup plus 6 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
5 egg yolks 

Directions:

Preheat an oven to 300°F. Line a shallow baking pan with a kitchen towel. Have a pot of boiling water ready.

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the lemon juice to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the juice is reduced to about 1 Tbs., 3 to 5 minutes.

In another saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream, lemon zest and the 1/2 cup sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until steam rises from the surface, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let stand for 15 minutes.

In a bowl, whisk together the vanilla and egg yolks until smooth and combined. Slowly add the cream mixture, whisking constantly, then stir in the reduced lemon juice. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl and divide among six 3.5-oz. ramekins. Place the ramekins in the prepared baking pan and add boiling water to fill the pan halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil and bake until the custards are just set, about 40 minutes.

Remove the ramekins from the pan and transfer to a wire rack. Let the custards cool to room temperature, about 1 1/2 hours, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours or up to overnight.

Just before serving, sprinkle 1 tsp. sugar evenly over the surface of each custard. Using a kitchen torch according to the manufacturer’s instructions, move the flame continuously in small circles over the surface until the sugar melts and lightly browns. Serve immediately. Serves 6.