Gooey lemon bars recipe SO GOOD!!!!

Well, it's always fun to find a new recipe that everyone loves especially if it is a desert one.  But, it comes with an element of danger!  I wasn't even going to try this recipe because it had a cake box  in the recipe.  Was I ever in heaven.  Unfortunately.  I could eat the entire pan!  I have been getting recipes from a cook book and web site of a group of awesome cooks that call themselves "Six Sisters".  They make easy delicious meals.  I love also that they are all sisters and an added bonus is that they are LDS.  I love the family feeling that I get from them.  I think from now on though, these food pictures need to include my awesome kids who are so appreciative of my cookin'! 

Here is the recipe:

CRUST:
1 (18.25-oz.) box lemon cake mix
1/2 cup butter
1 egg, slightly beaten

FILLING/FROSTING
2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
3 to 4 T butter, softened
1 1/2 T lemon juice
3 to 5 drops yellow food coloring
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, room temperature
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Combine crust ingredients and mix with fork.  Press down in a 9x13-inch pan with greased bottom.  Set aside.

For filling, mix powdered sugar and butter with a hand mixer.  Add enough lemon juice to form the consistency of thick frosting.  Fold in cream cheese and yellow food coloring.  Set aside 1 C to spread on top after baking.  Be sure not to skip this step!  Add eggs to remaining frosting mixture and beat until fluffy.  Spread on top of cake mix in the pan and bake 25 to 30 minutes.  Watch carefully so it doesn't over-bake.  Let cool completely and then spread reserved frosting mixture on top.

Makes 20 bars, or makes 1 bar depending on if you eat like me or not. :)

Chocolate Highland Cookie Bars recipe, a Yummy, dangerous

Ok, this was a recipe that I actually got from a book. It was a Joane Fluke Hannah Swenson Mystery.  I'll include the recipe here:

CHOCOLATE HIGHLANDER COOKIE BARS

 Ingredients:

Shortbread:
1 C softened butter (2 sticks, 1 1/2 pound)
1/2 C powdered sugar (make sure there's no big lumps
1/4 t salt
 2 C flour

Chocolate top:
4 beaten eggs
1 C melted butter, cooled to room temp. (2 sticks, 1/2 pound)
1 C white sugar
1 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/2 C flour
2 1/2 C chocolate chips (measure before they're melted

1/3 C powdered (confectioner's) sugar to sprinkle on top of the desert

FIRST STEP:
Cream butter with 1/2 C powdered sugar and salt.  Add flour and mix well.  Pat it in a greased 9-inch by 13-inch pan with your fingers. (That's a standard cake pan.)

Bake at 350 degrees F.  for 15 min.  That makes the shortbread crust.  Remove from the oven.  (Don't turn off the oven!)


SECOND STEP:
Mix eggs with melted butter and white sugar.  Add baking powder, salt, and flour, and mix thoroughly.  (A hand mixer will do the job if you are tired of stirring.)  I used a hand mixer for the whole thing.

Melt the chocolate chips in a small double boiler, a pan over hot water on the stove, or nuke them for 3 minutes in the microwave on high.  (be sure to stir, chips may maintain their shape even after they're melted.)

Add the melted chocolate chips to your bowl and mix thoroughly.

Pour this mixture on top of the pan you just baked and make sure it covers all of the shortbread crust.  Stick it back in the oven and bake it for another 25 minutes.  Remove it from the oven and sprinkle on additional powdered sugar.

Let it cool thoroughly to set up.  Then cut into brownie size bars.

Front yard

I am so grateful that we have the extra money and I am healthy enough to plant flowers in our yard.  I love to drive by and look at how pretty they are.  I know it's not Burchart Gardens but I love it.  I'm glad I got them planted early so that we can enjoy them for as long as possible.  I will post later in the summer/early fall to see how they have grown!

 I actually planted these close to midnight one night that I wasn't working.  It was nice because it wasn't too hot.   I can't wait to see how they grow.

 Our cute little "puppy" (who of course is not a puppy or little, but I till like to call her that.)

Disneyland trip April 27, 28, 2014

 Our trip to Disneyland.  This was taken in the relatively new ride of Cars Land.  It is such a fun ride with amazingly beautiful scenery inspired by Utah!  Unfortunately the line was very long.

 Here is our time with the Wicked Queen from Snow White.  This is our first time with her.  We were so excited to see her!

Derek on one of our all time favorite rides, Peter Pan

 Roger Rabbit ride in Toon Town has always been a fun ride for us

This is one of Derek's favorite rides, Astro Blaster in Tomorrow Land

 Another ride with the scenery inspired by Utah, Thunder Mountain

 Outside of Story Book Ride by Monstro the Whale

 Right by the Matterhorn

Just about to go on the Car's Ride

More fun with the side by side

 Derek, Uncle Matthew, and Landon having fun in the side by side.  Matthew and his family were here visiting when they came to pick up Adrienne from BYU to take her home for the summer.  Lots of fun visiting.  We sure do enjoy their sense of humor and love them a bunch!  Thanks for coming to see us guys!

The boys having fun with a new toy

 Derek getting to drive!!  The new side by side

 Derek and his best friend, Sam Schmuhl, off for a fun drive, Koda LOVED it too!

Great dinner with the Elders

 A great night of food and crazy fun with Elder Wenner and Elder Ross and my amazing kids!

Yes, they are so much fun to have around.  We sure love to have the missionaries in our home as you will see by all the posts.  I hope that it will help to instill a great tradition of gospel, missionaries, food, family and fun!