Lemon Dreams Food

THESE LEMON COOKIES FROM TOP CHEF'S GAIL SIMMONS ARE A CITRUS DREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300˚F
• For the cookies, in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes
• Add oil, lemon juice and lemon zest and beat to evenly combine
• In a medium bowl, mix together baking powder, flour and salt and slowly add into the butter mixture until dough comes together, scraping down sides if needed
• Dough should be airy and not stick to the sides of the bowl
• Roll dough into thirty 1 ½-inch balls and place on an ungreased baking sheet
• Bake until cookies show cracks in their surface, about 20 minutes
• Let cool completely on baking sheet
• Meanwhile, for the glaze, in a small bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar, honey, lemon juice and milk until smooth
• Drizzle and gently spread about 1/2 teaspoon glaze over each cookie and top each with a pinch of lemon zest
• Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days

GRANDMA ILA NELSON'S LEMON DREAM BARS

Steps:

• For Crust: In medium sized bowl, stir together flour and powdered sugar.
• Cut in butter with pastry blender or the tines of two forks. Press into greased 10x15x1 pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes.
• For Filling: Beat together eggs, lemon juice, zest and juice of fresh lemon, flour, sugar, baking powder and coconut. Mix well and pour over hot crust. Return pan to oven and bake uncovered for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack.
• For Frosting: Beat together butter, lemon juice, vanilla and powdered sugar. Spread over filling when cool.
• Cut into bars & serve. Store covered.

LEMON DREAM FRUIT SALAD

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix all the ingredients.
• Chill.

LAYERED LEMON DREAM

Steps:

• Grease a 9x1 inch pan (I use my butter wrappers).
• In a large bowl, mix the graham cracker crdumbs, 3/4 cup sugar, and cinnamon.
• Stir in the butter.
• Reserve 1/2 of the crust mixture for the topping.
• Press the remaining crumb mixture onto the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and the remaining sugar together until smooth.
• Gradually beat in the heavy whipping cream and lemon extract until soft peaks form.
• Spread 1/2 of the cream cheese mixture over the crust on the bottom of the baking dish.
• Gently spread the lemon curd over the cream cheese layer.
• Cover the lemon curd with the remaining cream cheese mixture.
• Sprinkle the top with the reserved graham cracker crumb mixture.
• Refrigerate, covered, for at least 8 hours and up to overnight.
• Serve chilled.

LEMON MELTAWAYS

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat butter and confectioners' sugar until blended. Beat in lemon juice. In a small bowl, whisk flour and cornstarch; gradually beat into butter mixture. Divide dough in half; shape each into an 8-in.-long roll. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate 2 hours or until firm., Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap and cut dough crosswise into 1/4-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets., Bake 8-12 minutes or until firm. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a small bowl, beat butter and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Beat in lemon zest, lemon juice and, if desired, food coloring. Spread over cookies.

STRAWBERRY DREAM

Steps:

• Prepare strawberry puree: Mix quartered strawberries and sugar in a 2-cup liquid measure or bowl. Let sit and macerate for 1 hour, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes. Use an immersion blender to blend into a smooth puree. Pass through a mesh strainer to remove seeds, if desired. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
• Prepare cream mixture: Combine sugar and cream in a saucepan. Set heat to medium-high and bring to a boil while whisking occasionally; be careful, since cream can easily boil over. Once cream just starts to boil, reduce heat to between medium and medium-low and maintain a steady simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and whisk in vanilla, lemon juice, and 1/3 cup of the reserved strawberry puree until completely incorporated. Let cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
• While the cream is cooling, pour the remaining strawberry puree evenly into 4 dessert glasses.
• Pour the cooled cream mixture into the glasses. Wrap with plastic wrap and pop in the refrigerator until thoroughly chilled, 3 to 4 hours.
• Meanwhile, prepare topping: Toss diced strawberries and sugar together in a small bowl. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill alongside the strawberry dreams.
• When ready to serve, remove strawberry dreams and topping from the refrigerator. Stir the topping and spoon strawberries and any accumulated juices on top of each dream.

LEMON DREAM CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Grease 10 inch springform pan and wrap foil on bottom.
• In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar.
• Press onto bottom and 2 inches up sides of pan.
• Place pan on a baking sheet.
• Bake for 10 minutes.
• Cool on wire rack.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
• Beat in cream, juice, flour, zest, extracts, and food coloring if desired.
• Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined.
• Pour into crust.
• Return pan to baking sheet.
• Bake for 55 to 65 minutes OR until center is almost set.
• Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour. Leave sides on pan until serving.
• Refrigerate overnight.
• Remove sides of pan.

LEMON DREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Blend all ingredients in a large bowl, then beat at medium speed for 2 minutes.
• Spread batter in a greased and floured 10 inch tube pan.
• Bake for 45 to 55 minutes until center springs back when touched lightly.
• Spread glaze over warm cake.
• Cool right side up for about 15 minutes.