I recently shared links to a few ‘This I Believe’ essays. I recently was reminded that our beliefs are simply our thoughts that we think are true. Our thoughts form our beliefs. And our beliefs form us. Our character. Our personality. Our mood.

I meant to write my 750 words right when I got in from a walk and helping Debbie, a random stranger who was stuck (a story for another day). But my thoughts led me in a different direction. My thoughts steered me towards using up the lemons in the fridge.

The lemons that were bought for me to do some ‘comfort’ baking a while ago, shortly after my mom passed when had the urge to bake some lemon loaf, raisin squares and oatmeal raisin cookies. My mom makes made the most amazing lemon bread and lemon squares. My dad’s loved her oatmeal raisin cookies the most and I have baked them often over the years. Although I loved her raisin squares I had not had them in decades.

A dear friend had dropped by a loaf of banana bread shortly after mom passed. That friend makes amazing banana bread; even better than my mom’s banana bread. It was comforting to eat a piece of that loaf each morning for about a week. Another dear friend had dropped by a loaf of lemon blueberry loaf which comforted me at breakfast for yet another week.

When I got the news that yet another dear friend had unexpectedly lost her husband, I wanted to bring her some comfort. So I dug out some of my favourite recipes that my mom used to bake: raisin squares, raisin oatmeal cookies and lemon loaf. I didn’t actually have my mom’s raisin square recipe, but was thrilled to discover that my sister had a copy of it as well as a copy of mom’s lemon bread recipe. So I ‘comfort’ baked. The baking process brought me comfort. And I believe that the sweet treats we dropped off later that day brought some comfort to my unexpectedly widowed dear friend.

It was actually my son who bought those lemons. I asked for one and he came home with a whole bag of them. So today there were still left over lemons. And they were calling out to me. So I baked. Because the process of baking brings me joy. Baking brings me comfort as well as joy. And I wanted to bring some of my mom’s sweet treats with me to a friend’s house where she’s hosting a luncheon. Because I believe that sharing sweet treats brings comfort as well as joy.

I have been wanting to post a collection of recipes on my blog, starting with my mom’s favourite recipes. For my mom’s Celebration of Life my sister, Diane, baked up a storm. She brought an amazing selection of mom’s favourite treats to share. I’m certain she experienced as much comfort baking those treats as the comfort (and joy) we experience savouring those treats. She brought chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, lemon squares, date squares and chocolate macaroon cookies. So many of my favourite flavours. Flavours that bring me comfort. Flavours that bring me joy. While I love the taste of chocolate, oatmeal, raisins, molasses, dates and coconut, I love lemon the best. At least that’s what’s true for me today.

So, we’ll start with the lemon recipes:

Lemon Bread

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp lemon juice (or a few drops of lemon extract)
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
grated rind of one lemon
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Cream shortning, add sugar gradually and mix well.

Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each one.

Add grated rind of lemon, then sifted dry ingredients alternatively with milk into which you mixed lemon juice/extract.

Bake in medium sized loaf pan for 1 hour at 325 to 350 degrees F.

Pour (or brush) this mixture over the loaves after they come out of the oven:

1/3 cup white sugar (less 1 tbsp.)
juice of one lemon

Enjoy.

Lemon Squares

1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
1/4 cup icing sugar
pinch salt
2 eggs
1 cup white sugar
2 1/2 tbsp. flour
3 tbsp. lemon juice
1 lemon’s worth of grated rind

Preheat oven to 350′ F.

Blend together (using pastry blender or fork) until crumbly: butter, flour, icing sugar and salt.

Press into an 8″ x 8″ greased and floured (or parchment paper lined) pan.

Bake for 18-20 minutes.

Beat the eggs. Then beat in white sugar and flour. Then beat in lemon juice and lemon rind. (I just beat them all together at once).

Pour over baked crust (wait 2-5 minutes) (which I don’t bother with).

Bake for another 18-20 minutes.

Cool. Cut. Sprinkle with sifted icing sugar.

Enjoy!