Scrumptious Lemon Bars

[Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist]

Thanks to Kristine Insalaco, co-owner of Sapore della Vita, a company offering superior quality olive oils from Italy, for sharing this recipe. Kristine substituted the butter her mother originally used in this recipe with olive oil for a recipe that looks and feels better on your body. Sample these health-wise bars and some of Kristine's other creations at the wine tasting at the Butchers Block (a fun event in itself) on Tuesday, July 13 from 7-9pm.


Crust:
2 tablespoons Sapori d’ Arte, Azienda Agricola Del Buon Trombone EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
¼ cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest (1 lemon)
pinch of coarse sea salt
3 tablespoons almonds
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

Filling;
4 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons flour
6 tablespoons lemon juice
½ teaspoon baking powder
Powdered sugar


Preheat oven to 350 F

Line an 8x8x2 inch-baking pan with parchment paper, leave overhang for easy removal. Lightly brush the parchment with oil.

Place the dry ingredients for the crust along with the lemon zest in the food processor. Process until the almonds are ground to coarse meal. Mix the buttermilk and EVOO in a small bowl. Incorporate the oil mixture into the dry ingredients, and pulse the processor using brief on-off motions. Just until the crust begins to form into clumps.

Remove the crust mixture from the processor and press into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 13-15mins or until lightly browned.

For the filling, use a whisk to blend the eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a medium bowl. Once well mixed, whisk in the 2 tablespoons of flour.

Pour the filling onto the hot crust and continue baking for 20-22 minutes or until the bars are lightly browned and the filling is set.

Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars, and then dust lightly with powdered sugar. Makes 20 bars.

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For more information about 100% first cold-pressed, pure extra virgin oil used in this recipe, visit www.saporedellavita.com.