tart & sour summer...

I found this recipe a while back in Self magazine (know that magazine with a ridiculously photoshopped lady in a bikini on the cover?) These lemony snacks actually taste like lemons surprise surprise- not artificial like those ones from a Betty Crocker box. I tend to add more lemon than needed..just because its just so delightfully tart and perfect. The crust especially is my favorite because i confess to be a huge nut lover- *in a very sophisticated voice* they contain many beneficial oils in them which is vital to our body's wellbeing (my health tip for the day).

Whisk away my lil' bluberries, whisk away (:

CITRUS SQUARES

crust:

1/2 c almonds
1/2 c whole wheat flour
1/4 c powdered sugar
1/4 tsp salt
4 tbs butter cut into 8 chunks

put all these into the food processor and add butter last. mix up till you get a nice chunky mix.
place onto 9x9 buttered pan, bake at 325 for 22-24 mins.

lemony goodness:
1 c sugar
2 eggs
2 lemons
2 limes
1/4 salt
1/4 c flour

combine sugar, salt, flour, zest lemons and limes. juice all lemons and limes into mix. add eggs and stir it up (:

pour mix onto baked shortbread, bake for 25-30 mins or till center is set.

let cool- sift some powdered sugar on top. VOILA!

ol' reliable... think i'm in love

These cookies...are amazing. They taste even better after a couple days of sitting on the kitchen counter (i mean what cookie tastes better when its left out?!) They have never let me down...  I got this recipe actually from my ex "boyfriends" mom hah. Funny story which i won't go into-it'll just turn into a rant. Have them right outa of the oven with some milk and count your blessings- this one trumps them all :)

CHOCOLATE CHIP OATMEAL COOKIES

(no raisins!)

3 c oatmeal

2 eggs

1 c sugar

1 c brown sugar

1 c butter softened

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 c flour

chocolate chips

the routine:

Mix all dry ingredients together. Then in separate bowl, soften butter (if you melt it the cookies will turn to mush instead of clumps) and add in eggs and vanilla and dumb into the dry mix. Stir until the dough gets sticky. Add in chocolate chips (raisins are a disgrace to oatmeal cookies). (taste dough ;) Spoon clumps (as big or as small as you’d like) onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for about 10-12 minutes or until cookies are brown on edges or desired consistency. Eat with milk!

PSST. For some extra comfort, scoop up some vanilla ice cream- place some on one cookie and place another on top- sandwich time!

scandinavian business...

Fun fact- Finland's not even part of Scandinavia...maybe it just became an imaginary part of it though so people could locate it better? Anyway, there's this show called New Scan Cook that i try watch every saturday...makes me feel at home plus i ran into this wonderful recipe from a Norwegian fellow. I've already made it twice with some tweaks here and there. It is...soooooo delicious and easy to modify depending on what suits your fancy.

...:FRIDGE BAKED CHEESECAKE WITH ROSEMARY:...

the crust:

5-6 tbs butter
15ish sheets of graham crackers or oat biscuits
some lemon zest (any citrus fruit will do- try orange, lime, grapefruit too)
chopped rosemary

steps:
simmer butter till it turns a light brown and smells a bit nutty. pour over finely crushed crackers and mix together into a dough like mixture. Press into springform pan and zest lemon over crust and sprinkle some rosemary here and there.

the good stuff:

2 cans (750 g) of sour cream

2 pkgs (500 g) cream cheese 

1 lemon or lime

1 pkg of gelatin (equivalent to 2 gelatin sheets)

1/2 c water

7/8 c sugar

1 tbs honey

steps:

in a pan combine water, sugar, honey and some lemon peel. boil down till sugar dissolves and add gelatin. meanwhile that cools, combine cream cheese and sour cream. take out the lemon peel and pour sugar syrup mix in with the creamy stuff- mix away till even more creamier (: i usually end up adding a bit more sour cream, depending on how diluted i want the sweetness to be.

pour into springform pan with crust and place into the fridge over night. 

(it sucks i know...fridge baking is the worst!...takes forever)

I usually serve it with options, some homemade raspberry jam (smashed frozen raspberries and some sugar) or almonds...any kinda jam words really (: