Lemony Squares. A Series of Unfortunate Events.

I'm one for one.  I tried two new things in the kitchen today, with results that negate each other.  Basically, what I'm trying to say in a delicate way, an act in and of itself that goes against every fiber of my being, is that one recipe gets a giant "FAIL" stamp across it, and one gets a big fat "YES!!!!" on it.

Let's talk about the Fail.  Or, as I usually tell my kids when they blow a game on the field or bomb a test, it's an opportunity for growth.  Well, this is a giant opportunity for growth, because anything tastier than sawdust will be better the next time.  You know that family recipe that you aren't ever supposed to mess with? The one your mother says, "You have to do it exactly like this or it won't work."  Well, she's right, and my kitchen karma's butt had a big ol' bite taken out of it today.

Lemon Squares.  These are typically a summertime favorite, and my mother-in-law's recipe is simply the best.  They are easy, made traditionally with ingredients in the average American's pantry and refrigerator: butter, flour, sugar, lemon, baking powder and eggs.  So, I grabbed the lemons and the eggs, and set out to make a Paleo-friendly version of my Mom in Law's party favorite.  First, I mixed coconut flour, coconut oil, and honey to make the crust.  Then, I mixed the eggs, a little almond flour, honey, lemon zest and lemon juice to make the lemony filling.  The lemon part was just fine, less sweet than the normal recipe but very good.  The coconut flour crust tried to kill me by forming a giant solid lump in my throat, and it tasted like sawdust mixed with cardboard and maybe some concrete powder thrown in.  I now realize I need to do a little further paleo cooking research and revisit the Lemon Square transformation task. 

The "YES!" recipe is 1. Convenient.  2.  Easy.  3.  Perfectly Paleo.  Broccoli Slaw is my newest summertime BFF (Best Food in the Fridge).  I bought 2 bags the other day, and had it first raw, with the sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and real bacon pieces that came with it.  I tossed the soy-filled dressing in the trash.  I added a little olive oil and cider vinegar, and I will give that a firm "Meh" rating.  But today, I STEAMED it - delicious!  Purple and green cabbage, broccoli, and the nuts and fruit, along with a slab of leftover wild Alaskan salmon, and my lunch was satisfying, guilt-free, and delicious.  Plus, I have 3 dogs to blame all the farts on. 

No one wants to be spending hours in the kitchen in July, which is just a few days away.  We are looking for lighter foods, less heat from the stove, and more time to spend outside.  Go get these bags of pre-julienned veggies.  Cabbage and broccoli are filling, and when steamed they soak up apple cider vinegar like George Hamilton soaks up UVB rays.  I'm going to retry the dang lemon squares.  hopefully they will fall into the Yes! column before the fall weather.