Zoom and Lemon Bars

Zoom and Lemon Bars

Missed You!

 Welcome back!  I’ve missed chronicling my life through Frankly Southern and letting my long-distance friends see what I’m up to, so with the help of my two amazing, internet-savvy friends (and my own techy spawn), I was able to get my site restored.  There are still some old posts that have not been transferred to the site since refurbishing, but I can at least enter new ones now and slowly add the old. A project for the next little while.

Davis and Olivia at Fourth of July 2020

I’ve been home for 4 months as of today.  I teach school and we were dismissed on March 12 to begin virtual classes from our homes.  We thought quarantine would last for a couple of weeks, never imagining we would still be inside months later.  Our school board plans to have us return in two weeks.  Yippee Skippee!  (Wait, where’s my sarcasm font??)  I think I’m better off keeping this a pandemic-opinion-free zone.

Zoom for All

Anyone else out there Zooming?  Zoom left Skype in the dust during Pandemic 2020.  I regularly Zoom with my friends and family and those are sanity-saving events. We have scavenger hunts, Jeopardy games, Jackbox games, Who Said That? powerpoints, in addition to conversation starter questions to pass the time on Zoom.  The gathering of friends and family is a bright spot in the gloom of the Pandemic. What are some Zoom games you play?

And do you get all fixed up with makeup, hairdos, clothes and jewelry for Zoom calls?  I did for work calls but don’t do as much for friend and family. That should probably be reversed so I can give my friends and family my best…well, that thought lasted about as long as it took to type it.  I’m enjoying the freedom of the take-it-or-leave-it look.  About the only thing I miss is wearing my fun jewelry.  Decking out in a rooster rhinestone brooch and my best pearl necklace is a bit much for the ongoing cleaning chores found throughout my house.  Being a stay-at-home person changes your style and your to-do lists. 

The Three C’s – Crafts, Cleaning, and Chocolate

These three words have consumed my life during my stay-at-home summer. I’ve enjoyed my Zoom crafts sessions with my cousin, aunt, niece, and mother.  We send ideas and often, supplies for crafting sessions.  Our crafts include bookmarks, Victorian calling cards, mixed media birds, Sola wood flower arrangements, and Fourth of July family photo boxes.  I personally have done a little sewing of my world famous zippy pouches.  If you are reading this blog post carefully, the first person to comment “I want a pouch” will receive one of my pouches in the mail.  

As far as cleaning, seems like every room has a “project” waiting to happen.  A pile of this, a corner of that, a stack of papers ready to be sorted.  For once, I would like EVERY teeny tiny bit of my house, garage, basement cleaned and straightened at the same time.  I’m a master at shuffling stuff so that there is always something waiting for me in the next room.  I recognize that I have too much stuff.  TOO MUCH STUFF.  But I like stuff.  I’ve always liked stuff and I will continue to like stuff.  Mark this down as one of the great quotes of all semi-hoarders — it is what it is!

And then, chocolate.  Dove Chocolate squares, Hershey chocolate chips, Cadbury Fruit and Nut Chocolate bars, Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa Mix are but the beginning of the chocolate sustenance I have safely ordered online, had delivered, wiped off, and enjoyed.  Little do the Instacart army of men and women know what life-giving supplies they are delivering to the stay at home passive pandemic warriors. 

Cooking

I’ve been alternately cooking and coasting on my meals lately. I’ll make elaborate enchilada casseroles or Mediterranean grain bowls one day and then make a Velveeta grilled cheese sandwich with an applesauce snack pack the next day.  There’s no in-between.  

Right now I’m cooking some soups and desserts to put in the freezer to take back to work. I know it’s 95 degrees outside, but I find that make ahead freezer soups and casseroles are the easiest to take to work. Yesterday,  I made chicken noodle soup and I thought it would taste good with these Southern Living Lemon Bars.  The crust is amazing and could stand alone as a shortbread, but add the topping and you get a delicious dessert combination.  

Lemon Bars Lemon Bars Lemon Bars!

Lemon Bars

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups granulated sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

5 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1/4 cup additional powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and butter. Spread into a greased 13 X 9 baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 -20 minutes. Combine 2 cups granulated sugar and cornstarch. Add eggs, lemon juice, and melted butter; beat well. Pour mixture over crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes or until set. Let cool completely; chill. Sift powdered sugar over top before serving.

Welcome back everybody! ( Assuming there is anyone left on my subscription roster.)  I’ve missed hanging out with you and I hope you will drop me a happygram in the comments below. 

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10 Responses to Zoom and Lemon Bars

  1. Sally July 12, 2020 at 7:25 pm #

    I love your blog!

  2. Merry Carol Cotton July 12, 2020 at 7:26 pm #

    Great…loved lemon bar recipe

  3. Angie Meredith July 12, 2020 at 7:59 pm #

    I want a pouch!

    • Julie July 12, 2020 at 8:01 pm #

      Yay! Favorite color??

      • Angie Meredith July 12, 2020 at 8:03 pm #

        Green or orange

        Great to read your blog again! I will have to try your lemon bars. Yum!

  4. Phyllis Gragg July 12, 2020 at 8:18 pm #

    So great to have you back. Missed you my friend!!!

    Love you bunches.

    • Julie July 12, 2020 at 8:28 pm #

      Thank you! So nice to hear from you.

  5. Nancy July 13, 2020 at 8:13 am #

    Love it that you’re back. Keep thriving. I wish you the best a school year can be.
    I’m drooling over the lemon bars!

  6. Gina July 13, 2020 at 1:04 pm #

    So glad you’re back! Beautiful photo of your delicious dessert!

  7. DOROTHY ALLCORN July 13, 2020 at 1:55 pm #

    I WANT A POUCH!

    GREAT SEEING YOU BACK!

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