Mary Moore’s Party Lemon Squares
(8 x 8 inch pan)
Base:
1 cup all-purpose flour, stirred but unsifted
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tablespoon shortening
1 egg
Filling:
1 large apple, pared and grated on 1/4-inch shredder
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
1 large lemon, juice and finely grated rind
1 teaspoon butter
1 egg
Topping:
1 egg white
3/4 cup white granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon melted butter
2 cups coconut, shredded or desicated
4 green maraschino cherries, drained and quartered (optional)
Base:
To make the base, cut butter and shortening into flour
and baking powder with pastry blender until size of small peas.
Stir in egg until blended. Press evenly into buttered and lightly
floured 8 x 8-inch square pan.
Filling:
To make filling, into a saucepan, grate the apple and immediately mix
in sugar to prevent browning.
Add remaining filling ingredients and cook, stirring all the time until
it thickens and boils. Remove from heat.
Topping:
To make topping, beat egg white until stiff, gradually adding sugar as
you beat. Add melted butter and coconut and mix well.
Assemble:
Pour warm filling over base and spread evenly. Dot topping mixture over
and with tines of fork spread it to cover filling evenly.
If desired, decorate at even intervals with quartered green maraschino
cherries.
Bake at 350 degrees F. for 40 to 50 minutes or until firm at center and evenly
pale gold all over top.
Cool in pans and cut into 2 inch squares.
Source: Mary Moore food column, Ottawa Citizen newspaper, May 28, 1974.