Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Tangy Lemon Almond Slice & A Sunshine Award

Thunder rumbling outside, the clock is ticking, fingers tapping on keyboard, while staring blankly to my screen, I am suddenly lost for words. What will I be sharing with you this time? Just as I thought being nominated in a running for best food blog award, is the cream of the cake, I had another surprise news from Chloe and Sarah at Honey & Lulu. The sweet ladies have awarded me a Sunshine Award, where I feel deeply fortunate to receive. To celebrate another sunny occasion, while it is damp, raining cats and dogs outside, and to clear that nasty writer's block, I decided that I will create my own sunshine with my TANGY LEMON ALMOND SLICE.

I love bars which are tangy and tart; and particularly enjoyed Lemon Bars. These bars that I made recently, is really easy to put together.
They have a light crumbly Almond Biscuit base and is topped with a layer or Lemon Custard; where a basic custard is flavoured with lemon juice and infused with lemon rind and baked off in the oven until it is slightly jiggly in the middle. Oh! doesn't that sound decadent?

Slightly sweet and tart to taste just the way I adore my citrus treats, these bars may convert non sweet tooth lovers to enjoy a treat. Feeling down? No worries, have a slice as a "pick me" up to kick start the day. Everything will seem brighter and better.



Tangy Lemon Almond Slice
by Chic & Gorgeous Treats                                          


*Makes a single 9-10 inch square pan.
*Feel free to omit Limoncello Liqueur.
*Slightly tart to taste. You may reduce the amount of lemon zest in the lemon custard to 1 or 2 teaspoons.
*Slice is best to consume the same day.

INGREDIENTS
         
 Almond Base
 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
 3/4 cup coarsely chopped whole almond pieces
 1/3 cup icing sugar
 1/2 tsp finely grated lemon zest
 1/4 tsp salt
 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Lemon Custard
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 cup white corn syrup
1 cup fresh lemon juice
4 tablespoon cornstarch
4 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoon Limoncello Liqueur
additional icing sugar for dusting


          


DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 170°C. Lightly grease a 9 or 10-inch square pan, and line bottom and sides with parchment paper.

2.  In a food processor, pulse almonds until they are quite fine. Add sifted flour, and pulse 2-3 times to help combine. Then add the icing sugar, lemon zest, salt and pure vanilla extract and continue to pulse about 1 minute.  Finally add in cold butter and pulse about 3-4 minutes or until it resembles lightly moist bread crumbs. Pour mixture into prepared pan and press down, pushing crumbs to form a compact biscuit base. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly brown in colour. Set aside to allow base to cool.

3. Once base is cooled completely, whisk the eggs and corn syrup until smooth. In a second bowl, whisk the lemon juice, limoncello and cornstarch together, then stir in the zest and baking powder. Pour lemon juice into the egg mixture and stir to combine. Pour lemon custard over cooled base.

4. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until set where the lemon custard is no longer runny and the centre 'jiggles' a little. Allow to cool completely, then remove from pan and cut into desired piece size. Dust with icing sugar. ENJOY!


P/S: Will setup another post to pass on the Sunshine Award, so stay tune peeps!

xx

27 comments:

  1. Jo, these lemon almond slice are activating my salivary glands! I'm tempted to make them and I wonder how many slices will be left after I start slicing and munching.....

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    Replies
    1. Lol.. Not sure.. It went quite fast within my family since they don't like sweets too sweet... Hopefully you will enjoy these. Xoxo

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  2. Wow Joanna, these do look so decedent, I'm in love! The almond biscuit base alone sounds absolutely divine and lemon is one of my favourite flavours. I love the fact that it's a lemon custard too. Stunning photos too. I'm adding these to my 'to make & bake list' for sure!

    -Lisa.
    Sweet 2 Eat Baking

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Lisa! They are really light so it's a change from a more sinful dessert...

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  3. Hi Jo, I'm finally starting to be able to see a better, since my eye surgery, and just had to stop by my dear friend's blog! I noticed the most amazing lemon squares...as I opened my blog, and saw it on the 'side-bar'!

    Superb, delicious, mouthwatering treat...love, love the lemon custard with the Limoncello; would not leave that part out, for sure. The photos are 'breathtakingly' beautiful. Pinned it, as well! Thank you for all your good wishes, and kind words:) Big Hugggs to you! xoxo

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    Replies
    1. Hi Eli! glad to read that you are recovering well... Thanks for the constant support too. Take Care and have a wonderFul happy holidays!!!! Hugsss

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  4. FIRST! I love these and you totally deserve it! Even your blog makes me think of happy days =)

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  5. These lemons bars look perfect - sweet and tart and gooey. Love the almond crust! Clever! Congratulations on the Sunshine award!

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    Replies
    1. I think I will be making more bars soon.. a change is always good :)

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  6. Gorgeous, Joanna! I love citrus + sweet in one. It's my kind of dessert (maybe feel less guilty about 120% sweet ones). :)

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    1. Hi Nami! this is definitely lighter than what I usually make.. LOL.. something light is good, and I can never say NO to citrus :P

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  7. These are so beautiful. I commented on these the other day but my reply isn't showing, did it not go through? :/

    -Lisa.
    Sweet 2 Eat Baking

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    Replies
    1. Hi Lisa.. apologize on the delay on posting up the comments as I was pretty much under the weather and was away, so had limited access to emails. Thanks for following up with me though as I know that a couple of friend has trouble posting up a comment here.. not sure why though or what has change again :/

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  8. I just love all things lemon!! These look so tasty!

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  9. Pretty pretty pretty Joanna!!
    Gorgeous presentation, you certainly earned that award. =D

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  10. Wow! That looks so delicious.
    Congratulations dear, I'm looking forward to hear more about the award. but at the moment I'll just spend few moments staring at this goodness :)

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  11. Lemon with almond? Sold! I love the way the two flavours work together. But who am I kidding? I love almonds in everything...and I also love lemons in almost everything! I know what I'll be dreaming of tonight when I go to bed...

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  12. Bars, bars give me these bars!! Looks delicious lady and I'm a bar freak in case you couldn't tell ;)

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  13. These look so beautiful and irresistible!

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  14. These are just gorgeous my dear. Brought a little sunshine to my dreary rainy day. Just wanted to stop by a make sure you had a Merry Christmas, I'm so looking forward to seeing what your are going to tempt up with in the New Year.
    Hugs,
    -Gina-

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  15. Congratulations on both, you truly deserve it. I like bars as well and I like cakes with lemon, it's all for me :)

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  16. Congratulations on the award dear Jo!! Love your beautiful, elegant work and very much looking forward to meeting you next year when I'm in KL. Wishing you a blessed and fantastic year in 2013! xx

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  17. I love your blog - its gorgeous! Looking forward I reading more of your posts in the year to come!

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  18. Hi Everyone! HAPPY NEW YEAR and thanks for coming over to buzz me here over at comments. I do sincerely apologize as I have not been around much the blog-o-sphere lately, due to lots of prepping for Christmas and New Year family lunches. Here's to another year of awesome food blogging! xoxo, Jo

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  19. What a gorgeous breath of sunshine in the midst of the winter! Your lemon bars look outstanding, Jo! Happy New Year, my friend!!! xo

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Hey foodies! THANK YOU for leaving me with sweet comments. I hope to inspire you like how you inspire me. Cheers~

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