I Promise You

This is probably the healthiest recipe I ever posted!  I have made these Granola Bars many times, and I should share this with you sooner.  I usually bake my home made granola bars when I have trail walks with my fellow walkers. Our trail walks are usually about 13-15km and these are good to fill the hungry walkers' stomach along the way.

Granola bars can be easily baked at home. Made with no added sugar and using only natural raw ingredients, they are a good meal replacement for dieters, and a nutritious snack for growing teens. You can also add milk and eat them like your morning cereal.


Granola Bars
makes about 18-20 bars

2 cups rolled oats
1 cup chopped nuts (any nuts you fancy)
1 cup shredded coconuts

Toast the above in 180C oven for 10 minutes.

1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
2/3 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/1/2 cup dried fruits (apricots, cranberries,raisins)

Add these into the hot toasted oats, nuts and coconuts. Stir and mix. Press into a 9" x 11" brownie tray. Press and pack as tightly as possible. Bake in 175C for 20-25 mins. Leave to cool completely before cutting into bars.
Store bars in freezer to keep them crisp.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14

Any serious lemon lovers out there would have baked or eaten a lemon bar once in their lives.
Add a little sunshine in your kitchen today by baking these all natural lemon bars. Bake, share(lemon bars and God's word) and let the sun and son(Jesus) shines. Watch them eat(lemon bars and God's word) and you will feel blessed you have shared. These are good for the body(vitamins only) and soul(God's word).

 Pardon the uneven slices, I was in a hurry to cut and photograph before rushing out to share these lemon bars with friends. All liked them very much.

The base is specially delicious with the added almond meal.  The crunchy texture contrast with the lusciously soft curd.  I would not describe the curd as sour but zingy and zesty.

Heavenly Lemon Bars with Almond Shortbread Crust
Recipe from The Kitchn

For the crust

1 stick(113g) unsalted butter, softened and cut into chunks
1/2 cup powdered sugar(icing sugar)
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup almond meal
1/2 tsp salt

For the lemon curd

4 large eggs
4 large egg yolks
1 cup granulated sugar
zest from 5 to 6 lemons
3/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1 stick(113g) unsalted butter, softened and cut into cubes
Powdered sugar for dusting



Method

• Heat the oven to 350F with a rack in the middle position. Line an 8"x 8" baking  dish with parchment, letting the excess parchment hang over the sides of the pan.
• First, prepared the shortbread crust. Beat together the butter and powdered sugar in a stand mixer on medium high speed until they are completely combined, turn pale yellow, and resemble creamy frosting.Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed while mixing.
• Add the flour, almond flour, and salt to the bowl. Beat on low speed just until all the flour is incorporated and the mixture comes together into a dough. The dough will seem fairly crumbly,but should hold together when squished in your hand.
• Press the dough into the baking dish.Use the bottom of a cup to make sure the layer is as compacted as possible and in an even layer. Prick with a fork all over. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges of the shortbread turn golden brown.
• While the shortbread crust is baking, prepare the lemon curd. Whisk together the eggs, yolks, and sugar in a small saucepan, then whisk in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt to form a smooth, liquidy mixture. Set a small strainer over a mixing bowl and place next to the stove.
• Place the pan with the lemon mixture over medium heat. Stir, gently but continuously, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon and registers about 155F on an instant read thermometer. This should take 8-10 minutes. Be sure to scrape the bottom and edges of the pan as your stir. If you notice the mixture starting to coagulate and clump up, immediately remove the pan from heat.
• Strain the lemon curd into the bowl, removing the zest and any clumps from the curd. While the curd is still warm, stir in the butter.Stir until the butter is completely melted.
• When the shortbread crust is ready, remove it from the oven and pour the curd over top. Bake at 350 F until the edges of the curd are set, but the middle is still jiggly, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Cool completely  on the counter, and then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

I am linking this post to Bake Along 'Lemon Bars' with Zoe from Bake for Happy Kids, Lena from
Her Frozen Wings and Joyce  from Kitchen Flavours

He dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. 2 Samuel 23:4