Coconut Lemon Squares

Maybe I'm stating the obvious here - scratch that - I am absolutely stating the obvious when I say that food is a very powerful aspect of human existence. Sure it keeps us alive but it is also so much more than that.

Food is pleasurable. As long as the person making it knows how to cook that is. Otherwise it can be very, very displeasing. 

It evokes memories, conversation and in this case, song. I made lemon squares the other day, as requested by my mother who fondly remembers them from her childhood. And somehow, this simple recipe with a little bit of sugar, butter, flour, eggs and of course, lemon, led to this:

Well not exactly that but my mother's rendition of it. Let me tell you, it was not "pretty" as the lyrics suggest. See the thing is, as much as my mom loves to sing, at this point we are all pretty much convinced that she is tone deaf. I would post a sound clip to prove my point but believe me, you do not want to submit yourself to such torture.

Now I cannot as much think of lemon squares without that very song and it's agonizing melody creeping into my head. Thus the cycle continues. I can already tell it's going to be one of those things that I do when I'm older and my kids will look at me like I've lost my mind. Ask your grandma kids, ask your grandma.

Eric Church didn't even begin to scratch the surface when he sang "sometimes a melody can strike a memory". But I guess "sometimes a flavor can strike a memory that evokes a melody" doesn't really have the same ring to it.

Oh well, if there's one thing we do know it's that:

"Lemon trees are very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet!"

Oh dear.... What am I becoming???????????????

Coconut Lemon Squares
Adapted from Company's Coming 150 Delicious Squares

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup AP flour

2 eggs
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice (1 lemon)
zest of  1 lemon
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup shredded coconut (I used sweetened but either works)

For the bottom layer combine the first 3 ingredients until "mealy". Basically there shouldn't be any huge chunks of butter but it isn't going to be completely blended either (don't worry it will be very dry and crumbly). Press the crust into a parchment lined 9x9 inch pan. Bake at 350F for about 10 minutes, until lightly golden.

For the filling, combine the remaining ingredients and whisk until smooth. Well as smooth as you can get with shreds of coconut integrated into it. Pour this over the crust and bake for another 25 minutes at 350F. Cool, remove from the pan and slice! And then eat of course!