Paula Deen Lemon Glaze Food

LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Lightly grease 9x13x2-inch pan.
• Make the crust by combining 2 cups flour, confectioner's sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the butter to make a crumbly mixture. Press the mixture into the prepared pan. You may need to dip your fingers into a little flour or confectioner's sugar to keep the dough from sticking to your fingers. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, to make the filling, mix the eggs, granulated sugar, 6 tablespoons flour and lemon juice. Pour this over the baked crust and bake for 25 minutes longer. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, if desired, when the bars are done.

GLAZED LEMON ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH CANDIED LEMON

Steps:

• Using a Y-shaped peeler, peel lemons, taking care to avoid pith. Cut peel into thin strips (reserve lemons for another use).
• In a medium saucepan, bring 2½ cups sugar and 1½ cups water to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Stir in lemon peel, reduce heat to medium, and cook until mixture is syrupy, about 15 minutes.
• Strain lemon peel, reserving liquid. In same saucepan, bring remaining 1½ cups water and reserved liquid to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in peel, reduce heat to medium, and cook until mixture is syrupy, about 15 minutes. Strain peel, discarding liquid.
• On a large piece of parchment paper, arrange peel in a single layer, and let stand for 2 hours. In a medium bowl, toss together peel with remaining ½ cup sugar. Twist peel around the handle of a wooden spoon to curl, if desired. Place peel on another piece of parchment, and let stand until dry, at least 2 hours. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

PAULA'S LEMON CAKE (PAULA DEEN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans.
• To make the cake: Using an electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy. Add sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4-inches above counter, then dropping flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling racks. Cool completely.
• To make the frosting: Place sugar, cream of tartar or corn syrup, salt, water, and egg whites in the top of a double boiler. Beat with a handheld electric mixer for 1 minute. Place pan over boiling water, being sure that boiling water does not touch the bottom of the top pan. Beat constantly on high speed with electric mixer for 7 minutes. Beat in vanilla.
• To make the filling: Place the ingredients in the double boiler over boiling water. Don't let top pan touch the water. Cook and stir until mixture begins to gel or thicken. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
• To assemble, add 1 tablespoon of filling to the cake pedestal. Run hands along the side of the cake to remove excess crumbs. Place the cake layers on the pedestal, spreading filling between the layers and on top. Spread the sides and top of the cake with the remaining filling. Frost top and sides of cake with frosting. Garnish with a lemon wedge and a sprig of mint.

LEMON BLOSSOMS (PAULA DEEN)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Spray miniature muffin tins with vegetable oil cooking spray. Combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs and oil and blend well with an electric mixer until smooth, about 2 minutes. (The batter will be thick). Pour a small amount of batter, filling each muffin tin half way. (I found a small cookie scoop the perfect thing for making them a uniform size).
• Bake for 12 minutes. (I baked 4 dozen at one time, so it took a little longer--be sure to reverse places in oven for even baking if you cook this many. Also, they come out of the tin better if you cook a little past the golden brown stage so the cake is more firm). Turn out onto a tea towel.
• Make the glaze while the cakes are baking. Sift the sugar into a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, zest, oil, and 3 tablespoons water. Mix with a spoon until smooth.
• With fingers, dip the cupcakes into the glaze while they're still warm, covering as much of the cake as possible, or spoon the glaze over the warm cupcakes, turning them to completely coat. Place on wire racks with waxed paper underneath to catch any drips.
• Let the glaze set thoroughly, about 1 hour, before storing in containers with tight-fitting lids.