A while back I purchased a bottle of Limoncello, an Italian liqueur first introduced in the early 1900’s. With an abundance of big sweet lemons in southern Italy it is said Limoncello was created by local women who served it chilled to honor guests. There are several opposing theories on how and when Limoncello was created, I like the thought that women were the sole creators.
I have to admit I was not overjoyed by Limoncello so I set out to find cocktails that I could make using the liqueur. I found several and settled on trying a Frosty Lemon Martini. Of course keeping with the lemon theme I also decided to make one of my favorite lemon desserts, Lemon Squares.
I was sure I could incorporate the Limoncello liqueur in the recipe for the Lemon Squares to enhance the lemon flavor and it was a success.
The Martini is sweet and tart and was a great accompaniment to the sweet lemony dessert. Grab a bottle of Limoncello and let’s go lemon all the way.~~Kay
Frosty Lemon Martini
- 3 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce limoncello
- 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
Glass: Chilled Coupe
Garnish: Sugar to rim the glass and a lemon wheel to float on top
Rim a coupe with sugar and chill. Combine vodka, limoncello and lemon juice in cocktail shaker with ice and shake to chill. Strain into the prepared chilled coupe. Float a lemon wheel on top.
LEMON SQUARES
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 4 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Limoncello
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 13 X 9 baking pan; set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl combine flour, butter, powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon of finely grated lemon peel with salt and using a pastry cutter work into a mixture that resembles coarse crumbs.
Press this mixture into the prepared baking pan and press evenly to form a crust. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
In a large mixing bowl beat granulated sugar, eggs, lemon juice and remaining grated lemon peel with an electric mixer. You can also do this with a whisk, whisking briskly until well blended.
Pour mixture over the warm crust. Return to oven; bake 18 to 20 minutes or until center is set and edges are starting to brown. Cool completely. Dust with sifted powdered sugar. Cut into squares. This may be stored tightly covered at room temperature. Do not freeze. Makes approximately 24 squares.
This is a classic lemon square or lemon bar recipe. These are so good. They paired well with the limoncello martini. Lots of citrus, cool and refreshing.
SIDE BAR
I have strayed from my first love…GIN. I have been doing a lot of research and tasting and next week it is back to GIN !!! Stay tuned. ~~Kay
Grilling Citrus
Are you shaking your head right now? What, grill citrus! Summer grilling season has already begun here in south Texas and it’s coming to the rest of the country. I know, I know the snow is still melting in some places, but hang in there.
We grill all the time but I’d never thought of grilling citrus fruit. I tried it and it’s amazing. The grilling brings out the juice and adds a smokiness to food or drinks.
Just cut the fruit in half and grill for about 5-6 minutes, until it begins to char or, if you’d like slices of fruit for garnish, grill for 30-60 seconds per side.
Grilled grapefruit and limes made a great base for a smoky Mezcal Paloma. Enjoy! ~~Lynda
Smoky Mezcal Paloma
- Kosher Salt for rim of glasses (optional)
- 4 oz. juice from grilled grapefruit
- 1 Tablespoon grilled lime juice
- 2 oz. Mezcal (or Tequila)
- 1-2 teaspoons agave syrup
- Club soda
Rub a cut lime around edge of the glass and dip in kosher salt. (You can skip this if you prefer no salt.)
Juice your grilled grapefruit and strain out the seeds and pith. You’ll be amazed how much juice you’ll get. One big, Texas ruby-red grapefruit yields almost two cups of juice.
Add grapefruit juice, agave syrup, lime juice and mezcal to a tall glass. Stir to combine. Fill glass with ice and top with club soda.
As always, thanks for reading. If you try one of these recipes, leave a comment to let us know how it turned out.
