Raspberry Lemonade Bars

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Raspberry Lemonade Bars

Have you guys been having mega-deals on gorgeous berries in the grocery stores right now too? The past couple weeks I’ve been coming home with at least one clamshell package each of strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Ahh, I love summertime!

I’d had these bars on my radar for quite some time now, and finally got around to making them this week. If you like sweet-tart treats, well then this one is nothing short of amazing. Truly like raspberry lemonade in bar form. The filling is stiffer than you’d find in a traditional lemon bar, but still soft and gooey. And the color – isn’t it pure gorgeousness?

This is one I’m can’t wait to take to potlucks this summer, just because it’s so fun and different. Also looking forward to trying other varieties – blackberry or strawberry immediately comes to mind. Have a great weekend everyone!

Raspberry Lemonade Bars

For the crust:
2 1/4 sticks (18 tbsp.) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt

For the raspberry lemon layer:
3 cups sugar
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tbsp. lemon zest
1/4 tsp. salt
3 cups frozen raspberries, thawed
6 large egg whites
2 large eggs
1 1/3 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Preheat the oven to 350? F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar. Beat on medium-high speed until smooth, 1-2 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to low, and mix in the flour and salt just until incorporated. Add the dough to the prepared baking pan. Using floured hands, press into an even layer over the bottom of the pan. Bake for about 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from the oven, leaving oven on.

While the crust is baking, make the top layer. Combine the sugar, flour, lemon zest and salt in a large bowl and whisk to blend. Add the raspberries to a fine mesh sieve and press through, mashing with a spatula, to extract as much juice and pulp as possible, straining out the seeds. Add the egg whites and eggs to the bowl with the dry ingredients and whisk well to blend. Whisk in the raspberry puree and lemon juice until smooth.

Pour the mixture over the crust and bake until the center is just set and not longer jiggles when gently shaken, about 35-40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature. Cover and chill well in the refrigerator, at least 2 hours. When ready to serve, use the parchment paper to lift the bars from the pan. Place on a cutting board and slice into bars. Dust the tops with confectioners’ sugar if desired.

Source: adapted from sophistimom, via Annie’s Eats

Grilled Pineapple Salsa

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Grilled Pineapple Salsa

I love getting creative with different kinds of fruit salsas in the summertime. This pineapple version is one of my favorites! A quick char of fresh pineapple, paired with traditional salsa ingredients – red onion, cilantro, and fresh jalapeno, and you have yourself a damn fine salsa.

My original plan included mango in the mix, but it looked less than desirable when I cut it open – and I really liked the fact that the pineapple was the star of the show. Didn’t miss the mango one bit.

It’s fabulous on fish tacos, grilled chicken or pork chops, or on it’s own served with tortilla chips. Perfect for a summertime fiesta in the backyard!

Grilled Pineapple Salsa

5 (1/2-inch thick) slices of fresh pineapple
1 small red onion, finely diced
2 jalapenos, seeded and finely diced
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
juice of 1 lime
1/4 tsp kosher salt

Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Add the sliced pineapple and grill for about 2 minutes on each side, or until nice grill marks develop. Remove to plate and set aside to cool.

Combine pineapple, red onion, jalapenos, cilantro, lime, and salt. Toss to combine. Season to taste with salt before serving.

Lavender Lemonade

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Lavender Lemonade

The neighborhood sharing program continues here on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. My girlfriend and neighbor Colleen bought me 3 gorgeous bundles of fresh lavender from her garden last week. I gave one bundle to my other girlfriend, evidently lavender is good for the hen house. Then, the other bundles I got a little crafty with, and put into vases. However, now that I’ve discovered the simple equation of lavender + sugar + water = lavender simple syrup, I’m not sure how long I’ll have them around for decoration. Which is a shame, because it’s so damn pretty!

But this lemonade. Oh my. It’s so different and delicious, I know that I’ll be drinking it all summer long. The lavender is not overpowering, and the tart lemon still definitely shines through. It’s such a perfect balance. And how lovely is it in a tall glass filled with ice, and a little sprig of lavender for garnish? The only thing that would make it lovelier is a splash of vodka or gin. Now, please excuse me while I go plant a lavender bush. Then I’ll harvest it next year, and channel my inner Joan Crawford.

Lavender Lemonade

 

5 cups water
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup lemon juice (5 lemons)
juice of 1 lime
5 sprigs fresh lavender, plus additional for garnish
lemon slices, for garnish

Bring 2 cups water, sugar, and lavender to a boil over medium heat. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Turn off heat, cover, and let steep 1 hour.

Combine remaining 3 cups water, lemon juice, and lime juice in a pitcher. Place a fine-mesh strainer over the top. Carefully strain the lavender simple syrup into the pitcher, discarding lavender. Stir to combine.

Serve in glasses over ice with lemon slices and a sprig of lavender for garnish.

Source: adapted from Thug Kitchen

Chicken Chesapeake

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Chicken Chesapeake

It’s getting to be the time of year where I have to get creative with crab. I’m hoping Jon and my dad will have an opportunity to run the trotline for the first time this weekend. I think Andrew will be old enough to go this year, everyone’s excited about that!

I’ve seen this dish on many restaurant menus in our area. Usually a chicken breast stuffed with crab dip or crab imperial, then baked. But you guys know me – I couldn’t leave it at that. So I added bacon and cheddar cheese, as well as using some seafood seasoning to add some flavor to the chicken breasts.

Since the chicken is stuffed, you don’t need a ton of crab meat. A small amount goes a long way in this dish. I know not everyone is as fortunate as me, crab locale wise…trying to look out for you guys! But, if you happened to have some leftover crab dip or crab imperial, you could certainly substitute that in place of the crab filling listed in the recipe.

It was delicious, relatively easy and quick to throw together, and impressive…always a winning combination in my book. Looking forward to summertime here on the Chesapeake Bay!

Chicken Chesapeake

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
5 strips thick-cut bacon, sliced
1 Tbsp seafood seasoning (such as Old Bay)
4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 tsp kosher salt

For the filling:
3 oz cream cheese, softened
1 Tbsp sour cream
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp kosher salt
4 oz lump crab meat, picked for shells

Preheat oven to 375. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray, set aside.

In a medium skillet, crisp the bacon in a 12-inch skillet until starting to crisp. Remove to paper towel lined plate to drain, and set aside. Leave the pan on the stove, you’ll be searing the chicken breasts in a few minutes.

Prepare the filling by combining cream cheese, sour cream, Worcestershire, lemon juice and salt. Carefully fold in crab meat until combined.

Season chicken breasts with seafood seasoning. Using a pairing knife, cut a pocket into the center of each chicken breast – about 2 inches long by 1 inch wide. Place 2-3 Tbsp of the crab filling into the pocket of the chicken breast, tucking the top back over the filling and securing with a couple toothpicks. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts and filling.

Bring the pan with the bacon drippings back to medium-high heat. Carefully add the chicken breasts, cooking for about 3 minutes on each side – until brown. Off heat, remove the chicken to the baking dish. Top each breast with cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon. Place in oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes, a thermometer should register 165. Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.