Key Lime Bars

Spring is coming. If I post enough fruit, fresh, and barbecue recipes it will make it true! These amazing little bars are addictive and tangy and springy. They are courtesy of everyone's favorite felon, Martha Stewart. I love all her recipes.

Crust:
1 C plus 2 1/2 TBS finely ground graham cracker crumbs
1/2 C sugar
5 TBS unsalted butter, melted

Filling:
3 large egg yolks
1 1/2 tsp finely grated lime zest
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
2/3 C lime juice

Garnish:
Whipped cream
Key limes thinly sliced into half moons

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Make crust: Stir graham crackers, sugar, and butter into bowl and press evenly onto bottom of greased 8 in square baking dish, bake for about 10 mins, let cool completely
3. Make filling:
• Mix egg yolks and lime zest mix on high w/ whisk attachments, until thick, about 5 mins.
• Add sweetened condensed milk in a slow steady stream mixing constantly. Raise to high, mix until thick, about 3 mins.
• Reduce speed to low, add juice, mix until just combined

Spread filling evenly on crust. Bake 10 mins, cool completely, cool at room temp until cool to the touch and then in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.


Garnish

Oh, baby . . .

Just popped these bad boys out of the oven:

Honey Graham Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 large egg
3 tbsp buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 cups quick cooking oatmeal
1 cup honey graham crackers/honey grahams cereal, lightly crushed
2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars. Beat in egg, buttermilk and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Blend into butter mixture.

Working with a mixer on low speed or by hand, stir in 3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant) and 1 cup honey grahams. Stir in chocolate chips last and mix only enough to evenly distribute.

Divide dough into 1-inch balls on prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 12-14 minutes, until edges are lightly browned. Let cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes about 4 1/2 dozen.

Notes: I added in a bit more than 1 c. of Honey Grahams. It just didn't look like enough. Also, only put in 1 c. chocolate chips-- that definitely looked like enough!! And oh yeah, I didn't crush the cereal before I put it in, I just let it get crunched as I stirred. I think they'll be better with big chunks-- but I could be wrong.

Mmmmm. Honey grahams + oatmeal chocolate chip cookies = bliss.