If you've never experienced Limoncello before, you're in for a treat.  Limoncello is an Italian Liqueur with seriously delicious, intense lemon flavor.

So make a pitcher of this fun drink, pucker up and whew,  your lemon loving friends will love this.  It takes old school Tom Collins to a whole new leve1 😋

½ cups good vodka, such as Grey Goose
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (6 lemons) Minute Maid Frozen Lemon Juice works well for this, not frozen lemonade, lemon juice
6 tablespoons sugar syrup 
¼ cup Italian Limoncello liqueur
1½ cups cold club soda
Ice cubes
Sliced lemon, for serving 

Combine the vodka, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and Limoncello in a large pitcher. Just before serving, pour in the club soda and stir. Fill highball glasses with ice and pour the mixture over the ice. Garnish each drink with a slice of lemon and serve cold.

You can make your own Limoncello, The Kitchn has an excellent recipe, I'll link it below

      Limoncello Recipe

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It's a new twist on an old favorite and it's very kid & family friendly.  And let's get real,  who doesn't love Rice Krispie Treats?  If you love lemon, like I love lemon, these will be a big springtime hit in your house...

And since there is nothing worse than flat Rice Krispie Treats, I place these in an 8x8 pan so that they are really thick, like the ones you get in gourmet cookie shops.  If you don't have an 8x8 pan, it works equally well to put them in a loaf pan, when you lift them out to cut them, you make them into really big, fat squares of lemony lusciousness.

5 Tbsp. butter
the zest of 1 lemon
the juice of 1 lemon
1 and 1/2 bags of marshmallows (10 oz. bags) - if you want them extra creamy and gooey, just use two bag of marshmallows, I do that a lot with original Rice Krispie Treats...
2/3 cup Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme cake mix
6 cups Rice Krispies

1. Prepare a 8-inch pan with cooking spray, then put in a parchment paper saddle so you can lift out easily and spray again with cooking spray.

2. In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat with the lemon zest and juice. Add in marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Slowly stir in the dry cake mix.

3. Once combined remove from heat and stir in the cereal. Scoop into prepared pan. Very lightly spray your hands with cooking spray and smooth the top of the treats and fill in along the edges to get an even layer. Let cool for about an hour.

4. Lift the squares onto a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut into shares.

But I do have a trick for cutting any kind of bars, it's a pizza cutter, the kind they use in a pizzeria.  I bought one because we make a lot of homemade pizza and it makes cutting easier, then I realized how well it works for anything that needs to be cut into bars or squares.

You can see from this picture how easy it is to cut these treats into perfect squares.  This works so much better than a knife.

This one is a 20" cutter

This is a 14" cutter, it's smaller but very affordable

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#lemon #lemoneverything #ricekrispietreats #lemonricekrispietreats #yummy #yummyfood #jancooksrealfood #janspicx #monthoflemonrecipes

Paula Deen's Original Ooey Gooey Cake has been a consistently favorite recipe on this site since 2008.  Legend has it that in a St. Louis Bakery, John Hoffman made a mistake by using the wrong amounts of sugar and flour. Because there was so little flour and too much sugar, the cake did not rise and was super dense and heavy. Well, people loved it and he called it ‘gooey butter cake’.   But it was Paula Deen that made it famous and when she debuted it on QVC, it was a huge hit.  She offered many variations of it over the years, and it sold out over and over again.

A couple of years ago, I was searching for a new lemon cake recipe, and on a whim made the lemon version of her Ooey Gooey Cake.  Oh my, it's SO good, you will love this.

This is what Paula had to say about this amazing cake...

Butter Gooey Cakes. Ooey Gooey Butter Cakes. Ooey Booey Gooey Cakes.  These are just a few of the names I've heard our guests at The Lady & Sons call 'em.  These delectable cakes were an instant hit the first day they showed up in The Bag Lady basket and they immediately became one of my most requested items. These little sweeties actually resemble a bar-type dessert instead of what we know as a traditional cake. Over the years, I have made every flavor imaginable, using this basic recipe. I'll give you some of my recommendations but by all means experiment and have fun creating your very own version of our signature Gooey Butter Cakes. 

Cake

1 (18.25-ounce) box lemon cake mix, I prefer Duncan Hines
1 egg
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

Filling

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
Add the juice (approximately 1/4 cup) and zest of 2 lemons to the cream cheese filling.
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla, you can substitute 1 teaspoon lemon extract for more intense lemon flavor
1 (16-ounce) box confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well. Pat into the bottom of prepared pan and set aside.

Still using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and lemon juice until smooth; add eggs and vanilla or lemon extract. Dump in confectioners' sugar and beat well. Reduce speed of mixer and slowly pour in butter. Mix well.

Pour filling onto cake mixture and spread evenly. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Don't be afraid to make a judgment call on the cooking time, because oven temperatures can vary. You want the center to be a little gooey, so don't bake it past that point!

Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into squares. Just remember that these wonderful little cakes are very, very rich, and a little will go a long way-even for piggies like me!
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#pauladeen #qvc #ooeygooeybuttercake #lemonooeygooeybuttercake #jancooksrealfood #janspicx #lemon #lemoncake #yummy #yummyfood #foodie

 

Lemony, buttery cod, it's fast, its simple and it's utterly delicious and a great midweek dinner with tons of flavor.  The secret to intense lemon flavor is layering on lemon seasoning, lemon pepper and fresh lemon juice.  This really takes this fish to a new level.  Take a walk on the wild side and then sprinkle on some dill weed for a change, it's wonderful, but I love anything dill.

Instructions:

Brush cod filets liberally with melted butter, then season with lemon seasoning and lemon pepper.  

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Line a pan with parchment paper, bake fish on the parchment for 20-22 minutes until it flakes easily. 

Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top to serve.   Now wasn't that easy?  And healthy, too.  

I also make a Chile Lime version with Trader Joes amazing Chile Lime Seasoning, I'll link it as well.  It's the same procedure, just change the seasonings using lime pepper and Chile Lime Seasoning.  Then squeeze fresh lime juice when you serve.  This is so good with cilantro rice, at least thats what my family thinks, I'm not a fan of cilantro but everybody raves about it.

I linked several spices below for you.  These are some of my favorites, except for the first True Lemon and True Lime, I wasn't aware that these were available but I ordered it this morning.

If you don't always have fresh lemons or limes, Amazon sells this double pack of shelf stable crystallized True Lemon and True Lime and the price is right

2 Pack of Seasoning

If you don't have access to a Trader Joes, you can buy this great Chile Lime Seasoning on Amazon.  It's so good on so many things, I find myself grabbing it a lot when I'm cooking

                                      Trader Joes Chile Lime Seasoning

I haven't had any luck buying lime pepper at my local grocery store, once again, Amazon to the rescue.

Lime Pepper from Amazon

                                        McCormick's Perfect Pinch Lemon Pepper

I'm lucky enough to have a Trader Joes close by, so I'm always browsing their
spices.  This Citrusy Garlic Blend is one I use a lot, it would be really good on
this fish if you want a bit of kick.

Citrusy Garlic Seasoning Blend

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#lemon  #cod #fish #yummy #yummyfood #jancooksrealfood #garlicbutter #lent #bakedcod #marinatedfish

These are so rich, so decadent, the lemon equivalent of the fudgiest brownie you ever ate, they're just really yummy brownies, infused with lemon instead of chocolate.   Bake these in a pan no bigger than 8"or they will be too thin.  No 8" pan, no problem, just bake them in a loaf pan, and make that parchment paper saddle so you can lift them right out of the pan.  Oh my, every bite of these tart brownies is puckery deliciousness...

Ingredients

It's Monday, we always eat healthy on Monday, so I have an awesome option for you.  

Lemony, garlicky, buttery pasta.  This is lemon pasta without the guilt, okay, maybe a little guilt, but still not nearly as much guilt as if it were made with heavy cream.  It's delicious, seriously delicious and it so quick to make, this is my kind of recipe.

Ingredients

12 ounces spaghetti
3 tablespoons olive oil, or butter if you prefer
2 garlic cloves minced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley plus more for serving
Juice and zest of one large lemon
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese optional
Freshly cracked black pepper for serving
Reserved 1/2 cup pasta water

Steps

Cook the spaghetti in a pot of salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup of the cooking pasta liquid.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the garlic, parsley, lemon zest and lemon juice. Add the cooking pasta liquid and parmesan cheese and stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a simmer.

Transfer the cooked spaghetti to the skillet with the pasta sauce and toss until well coated. Serve with extra parsley and parmesan cheese, if desired.

Lemon Pasta Bowls, Set of 5

                                        Veggie Pasta Bowls, Set of 5

Pasta Plates, Set of 4

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#lemon #lemonpasta #pasta #spaghetti #jancooksrealfood #yummy #yummyfood #fettucine #butter

This salad is so good, it's very lemony, and garlicky, it's just superb.  I found it years ago on a now defunct site, Gail's Recipe Swap.  Gail's had so many wonderful people that posted daily, chefs, gourmet cooks, everybody shared their favorite recipes.   It was sponsored by Epicurious and it was a sad day when they closed it.  It's become a family favorite over the years, it's a keeper recipe for sure.  And I do have a treat for you, it's at the bottom of this post.

Homemade croutons make this amazing salad even better. They are so easy to make, just melt a stick of butter, toss in some minced garlic, cube bread, of course Italian or Artisan is best, but a loaf of bread will work, too.  Toss everything together, put on a sheet pan and bake in 375 degree oven until toasted and brown.

DRESSING

Mix together and refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving:
3/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
juice of 1 lemon
3-5 cloves of garlic crushed
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar

SALAD

1 head of romaine
1/2-1 lb. of bacon, cooked crisp and diced
2/3 cup of toasted almonds
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup julienned Swiss cheese
2 cups of sliced plum tomatoes, or cherry tomatoes quartered
1 cup of croutons

If you are a foodie like I am, you can access all the archived recipes from Gail's Recipe Swap.  It's a really big data base, but if you have the time, it's wonderful to read the recipes and the comments.  It may take awhile for the link to open, it does for me and I have fast internet, but trust me it's worth the slow load.  Bookmark this site, it's the best of the best that will never be recreated.  Here's the link...

Gail's Recipe Swap Archives

And if you don't have a salad spinner, or yours isn't that great, this OXO one is wonderful.  I'm a big fan of America's Test Kitchen/Cooks Illustrated, and when they recommend something I listen. This has been their favorite for years, I bought one several years ago, it still performs like a champ and it's so easy to use.

It's on Amazon, everything is on Amazon... 

Here's a little background on OXO, whose products perform consistently good.

Initially OXO was invented to produce kitchenware for users who were older and who had disabilities. They chose the name because its accessibility–it could be read horizontally, vertically, or upside down. This is a spirited company whose self-named OXOnians relish in its uniqueness. And what began as a line for a neglected group, became a sensation with members of all groups who loved the fun look and easy-to-use features. 

Introducing 15 products in 1990, OXO reported an annual growth rate of 37% ten years later, with about $60 million in annual sales. Today, another ten years later, OXO continues to boast an annual growth rate in sales of more than 30%, with over 800 products in its line.With little spent on advertising, the inviting design of OXO’s products have made them the subjects of numerous print features and TV news shows.

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#lemonsalad #lemon #salad #romaine

#bacon #jancooksrealfood #saladdressing #yummy #lunch

#lunchideas #croutons

These are seriously the most delicious martinis you will ever drink.  This has been one of Oprah's Favorite Drinks for years and if you have never had them, you're in for a treat.   Even people who don't normally drink alcohol love them.  They're the perfect girl's night out drink, the perfect party drink, the perfect just because... drink, they are a spring/summery concoction of puckery goodness that packs a whallop of a punch  😜

Servings: Serves 2

Ingredients

Juice of 6 lemons
4 tablespoons sugar
6 fresh mint leaves
4 shots vodka
Ice in shaker

1 sugar-rimmed martini glass, coat rim first with lemon juice, then dip in sugar.  

You can also pulverize lemon drop candy and dip the rim in the crushed candy instead of sugar.

Directions

Mix lemon juice, sugar and vodka in a martini shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour into sugar-rimmed martini glass. Garnish with mint.

Notes:

 I love roasted chicken, it's so basic, so comforting, the house smalls amazing when it's baking, and once you've finished the prep, it's an easy meal.

This recipe has been around for years, it's and the flavor is indescribable.  I've tweaked it a bit, adding more lemon  and I often add apples tucked in at the sides of the pan.  It's nice to offset the tart lemon with the sweetness of apples.  It's your call, if you're a purist, just omit the apples.  Don't be deterred by using a whole head of garlic, the flavor mellows when it's cooking, and it doesn't overpower the dish.

Ingredients 

2 lemons + juice of an additional lemon
2-3 carrots split in half lengthwise
1 entire head of garlic
¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted
1 3½–4 lb. whole chicken
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Fresh

Steps

Arrange a rack in the center of your oven, and preheat to 425°. Cut 2 lemons in half crosswise and remove any visible seeds.

Cut 1 head of garlic in half crosswise. (If it falls apart a bit, don't sweat it.)

Melt ½ stick butter in a small saucepan or microwave in a small bowl.  Squeeze the juice of the additional lemon into the butter.

Place 1 3–4-lb. whole chicken on a cutting board (best to use a plastic one you can sterilize). A word on bird size. A 3–4-lb. chicken is pretty much the ideal size for roasting this way. Something a little bit bigger will work, but once you get much past 4½-lbs. it becomes harder to guarantee that the breast meat won't dry out in the time it takes the dark meat to cook. Pat the whole thing dry with paper towels. It's super important to get the chicken as dry as possible, which helps with browning.

With chicken breast facing up and legs pointing toward you, use a sharp knife to slice through loose area of skin connecting the leg and breast, making about a 3"-long incision. Continue cutting downward until you hit the joint that connects the thigh to the body, then stop (once you get through the skin, there’s not much there; if you are cutting through flesh, you’re too close to the breast). This exposes the leg joint, making it easy to tell if chicken is cooked. Repeat on second side.

Season every surface of chicken, including skin along backbone, inside cavity, under wings, and inside part of the leg you just exposed, with lots of salt and pepper. If you’re using kosher salt, it should take you 4–5 generous—as in, four finger—pinches, which will be around 4 whole teaspoons.

Transfer chicken breast side up to a large oven-safe skillet. Arrange lemon and garlic cut sides down in skillet around chicken.

Drizzle chicken all over with melted butter (mmmmmmm) and transfer to oven.

Roast until chicken is nicely browned and cooked through, checking for doneness after 45 minutes. To check, carefully remove skillet from oven (the handle is hot!), poke a knife into leg joints, and pierce the meat. If juices run clear, the chicken is done. If you see a rosy pink color, it needs more time. Continue to roast, checking every 5 minutes, until juices run clear. (If you’re not sure, you can also use the knife to lightly shred some of the meat along the thigh bone—the meat should look opaque and the fibers should separate easily.)

Let chicken rest in skillet at least 15 minutes before carving—this will help the juices in the meat to settle, and will also get it down to a temperature that is cool enough to handle with your bare hands while carving. Don't worry: It's a big piece of meat, so it will still be plenty warm by the time you serve it. Transfer chicken to a platter. Pour all of those wonderful  buttery pan juices over top of the meat and serve with roasted lemon and garlic alongside.   This dish is wonderful serve with rice with the pan juices poured over the rice as well. 

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
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#chicken #roastedchicken #jancooksrealfood #yummy #yummyyummy #fowl #chickenbreast #drumstick