Lemon Sugar Cookies

http://www.marthastewart.com/333938/old-fashioned-sugar-cookies

I made Lemon Sugar Cookies, it's fresh out of the oven cooling and they smell lovely. I didn't have a lemon but I did have lime. I have a cheese grater and they don't grate zest very well, so I only got a teaspoon overfull of lime zest from 2 limes, but I did get a tablespoon of juice from half of a lime. I didn't know what to do with the other half so I just squeeze some extra juice into the butter/sugar mixture. I had no idea what was sanding sugar so I just used brown sugar to sprinkle on some of the cookies.

These taste pretty good. A buttery flavor with zesty tang. My cookies were moist, soft, and not too sweet. I'm also happy that they're not bitter!

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 3/4 cups granulated sugar

1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar

1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 cup unsalted butter, (2 sticks), softened

2 large eggs

Sanding sugar, for sprinkling (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour, baking soda, and salt into a bowl; set aside.

Put sugars and lemon zest in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed 30 seconds. Add butter; mix until pale and fluffy, about 1 minute. Mix in eggs, 1 at a time, and then the lemon juice. Reduce speed; gradually add flour mixture, and mix until just combined.

Scoop dough using a 2-inch ice cream scoop;  space cookies 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Flatten cookies slightly with a spatula. Sprinkle tops with sanding sugar, then lightly brush with a wet pastry brush; sprinkle with more sanding sugar.

Bake cookies until golden, about 15 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks using a spatula; let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

Creamy Lemon Squares

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/cooking-tips/cooking-videos/videoplayer.aspx?cm_re=1-_-1-_-RecipeVideoComp&vid=454

20 Reduced Fat NILLA Wafers, finely crushed (about 3/4 cup)
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup cold margarine
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. flour
3 Tbsp. lemon zest, divided
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp. CALUMET Baking Powder
2 tsp. powdered sugar

LINE 8-inch square pan with foil. Mix first 3 ingredients in medium bowl. Cut in margarine with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; press onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 15 min. BEAT Neufchatel and granulated sugar with mixer until blended. Add eggs and 2 Tbsp. flour; mix well. Blend in 1 Tbsp. zest, juice and baking powder; pour over crust. BAKE 25 to 28 min. or until center is set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 2 hours. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and remaining zest just before serving.