Lemon bars

We're headed over to Sherrie and Joe's tonight for a grill out (although I most certainly will be staying inside - HOT out there!). I am bringing dessert and I just made lemon bars. I talked to my mom this morning and told her I was going to make them, which she confirmed was a good idea for a summer dessert. Then I told her that I'd just grab a box mix for it, and she was adamant that I make them from scratch (she's that kind of mother, but in this case she was right). She said "make Judy Cox's recipe.....it's way better than the box mix and it's really easy. You'll find it in the church cookook."

The church cookbook is a pretty special thing. "The church" refers to the church I grew up in. It was the church's first effort at the cookbook and was compiled in the late 80's (with my mother being on the "Church Cookbok committee"). For the record, they have published newer editions since, but they aren't really new editions, they are entirely different cookbooks and they're not near as good as the original cookbook. It's pretty extensive and is the source of many of our favorite recipes. I received 3 as wedding gifts, which were all unnecessary because my mother had bought me one when I went off to college. Yes, our church still publishes and sells these relics and the "ladies" of the church all know how special and wonderful it is. Another reason it's important is that all of my mom's family recipes are in that book. Chances are if I ask her how to make her mother's cinnamon rolls, overnight salad, homemade bread, whatever.....she'll say "check the church cookbook."

So, it was no surprise to me when she said "make Judy Cox's recipe..." I knew what words would come next.

I made it and it was totally easy and fool proof, and sure enough they are wonderful. My mother is often right (more than I thought!).