LEMON SQUARES   (see VIDEO)

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Butter a 13x9x2-inch pan.  Line it with foil and butter the foil.  Set aside.

Cookie base:

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

½ cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

Beat butter and sugar together for a few minutes.  Add vanilla.  Mix in the flour.

Spread dough on bottom of prepared pan.  Bake for 20-25 minutes, till golden.

Remove from oven and immediately pour in the lemon filling.

Lemon Filling:

4 eggs, 2 cups sugar, juice of 2 large lemons, strained,  grated lemon zest1 large lemon;

 powdered sugar to finish

While the base is baking, prepare the filling:

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar.  Add the lemon juice and the lemon zest, and mix well with whisk or a spatula (do not beat).  Pour over baked base.

Bake another 25-30 minutes, until topping is set and firm.

Cool in pan on a rack.  Remove from pan (by using the foil) and cut into bars of desired size.  Sprinkle generously with powdered sugar.

Makes about 20-24 bars.

(Adapted from a recipe by Nick Malgieri)

Mara making Lemon Squares