Saturday, February 20, 2010

Lemon Sunshine

I like easy and this microwave lemon curd is a big easy. When I first saw it on La Table de Nana's site (take a peek, you'll love it!), it intrigued me with it's versatility as well as it's ease. I had just bought some big lemons. They weren't the biggest lemons I have bought. No, no, no, the biggest lemon I've bought was my car! Two days ago it was in the shop yet again. If you follow me, you may remember in October how it broke down on the New York Thruway, 5 hours from home. I should have sold it then, but now my mechanic says it has to go, after just 44,000 miles. I came home a little stunned at the urgency, and once again I had lemons on my mind. I needed a diversion, an easy diversion. I had some sugar cookie dough already made in the freezer and in 10 minutes I could be rolling out cookies while the lemon curd magically cooked in the microwave. Done deal! I sandwiched this lemon velvet between 2 sugar cookies and had sunshine on a plate. Now does anyone have any suggestions for a new 2010 car? A sweet one, please.

This is for my Saturday Blog Showcase hosted by Ann at Thibeault's Table and Lori at All That Splatters. Every Saturday they take turns hosting this event, where we make a recipe from another blogger.
This week Ann is the host. So grab a cup of coffee and be prepared to sit a spell here. Thanks Ladies!

Microwave Lemon Curd

1 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1 cup fresh lemon juice
zest of 3 lemons, finely grated
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
In a microwave-safe bowl, whisk together the sugar and eggs until smooth. Stir in lemon juice, lemon zest and butter. Cook in the microwave for one minute intervals, stirring after each minute until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Remove from the microwave, and pour into small sterile jars. Store for up to three weeks in the refrigerator.

Makes about 3 cups.

Microwave Lemon Curd recipe, click here.
Sugar Cookie recipe, click here.

Blue and white plate by Royal Copenhagen.
Citrus press is French white porcelain.
Lemon sunshine by La Table de Nana.
Car by Volkswagen.
Peace of mind when I get rid of the car...Priceless!

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19 comments:

La Table De Nana said...

Love the hearts!

Thanks for making the lemon curd look so grand..

Poor you and the car:(

I've had my Cabriolet since 1986 ..and soon I may let it go..We only drove it in the summer and it stayed in Fl a couple of years..

Hard to recommend a car..
For years I drove a Saab 1989..a hand me down from J..It was built like an airplane..I liked that car.. When I sold it I bought a Mazda 3..Not built like an airplane..every little scratch shows.
I always tell Jacques when I retire I would like a Smart car and he says he cannot agree ..:) Imagine that..he says for safety..And what do I do about summer flea markets ? at lead the roof came down on the Cabriolet and a chair fit in:)

I like the little mini Coopers too..
Geesh you would think we were talking bouchées:)

What are you leaning towards?
I am not a car person..Can you tell? They are a necessity..I hold onto them forever if I can..In your case..not an option..
I am anxious to see what you pick..It has to be cute :)

We saw an adorable sporty Nissan at a mall last week:)Like a race car..
You know how far and how fast I drive..:)This would be the opposite of me.But it was cute ..:)

Zurin said...

Sorry about ur car but the lemon curd looks delicious...n i did see it on Moniques.

I dont know a single thing about cars..I drive but I am sooo nt a car person..often I am caught attempting to get into the wrong car just because its the same colour as mine!!! I dont know why but my husband finds that completely hilarious. I suppose it is ~ (^-^)

Thibeault's Table said...

OOOOOOOH Diane, My mouth is watering for lemon curd.

I took note of the recipe on Monique's blog earlier this week.

After looking at your little jar of sunshine I'm moving the recipe to the top of my "must" make list.

Thanks for participating on the Saturday Blog Showcase.

Rettabug said...

This is soooo delicious looking, Diane! I have just GOT to try making it in the microwave.
Your photos with the beautiful blue & white plates are simply heavenly.
I wish I could take pictures like the rest of this group! :(

Sarah said...

Sorry to hear of the continuing car issues. That is never pleasant to deal with. But you certainly know how to make lemons into something sweet. Wish I had a plate of those cookies here at HFTS. Yum!
Good luck with the car decision.....

Linda said...

The lemon curd looks fabulous...
I have been meaning to try it as soon as I can. What a beautiful post and pictures...

As for cars...we are Volkswagen people...one of ours, a Jetta, has 150,000 miles on it and is still going strong , thank goodness , and the other is 2009 Passat wagon which I adore. That is such a shame about yours...that is surely a lemon.
I do not know what to tell you but I sure would not be buying a Toyota anytime soon...:X
Hope it all works out...

linda said...

i must sound like a broken recording..."this post is grand!" "this post is beautiful!" "your photography is wonderful!"...

diane, it is all true! your food styling is is just sensational...can you share the background for the opening shot...very unusual & rustic...i *heart* it...
& of course this recipe is great! cookies look so special & sparkling with the curd!

sorry for your car woes...happy decision time!

Kate at Serendipity said...

Diane, where to begin? First, look at those photos! I lovelovelove that first one! Like Linda, I love the bg in that one. I'm guessing it's an old tray on its side? That scrap of zest is genius.

I have driven nothing but Volvos since 1982 (long story). I always buy them used, about 4 years old, for about 1/3 what they cost new. I make sure that they have had one owner for that time and they have their service record. Then I drive them for 5-6 years and sell them for about half what I paid for them. Cheap, veryvery reliable transportation. Plus they're extra safe.

Good luck with the car thing. I hate to buy them. Though I'm with Monique my next one may be a mini. I wanted a Smart car, but we rented one in Italy and I hated it. Nothing was in the right place for me.

Gorgeous post. Thanks.

Lori (All That Splatters) said...

I'm not sure what car you should get... but I'd stay away from Toyotas for awhile! :-/

Your lemon curd looks gorgeous. I bought raspberries to make raspberry curd but haven't made it just yet. I love that you used it as a filling between sugar cookies. Truly sunshine on a plate!

Karen @ Mignardise said...

Really? That's all there is to it? I could totally make this and I will!
But - sigh - my photos will never look as god as yours...

2 Stews said...

Monique...I am sooo impressed you have kept the Cabriolet going this long, especially in Canada! I too, need something in case I have a "chair" to fit...it just gives options. I consider cars a necessary evil. A lot of people are saying the 2010 Ford Fusion is a great car. The gas mileage is just OK. I don't drive much. I live in a walkable town and the airport is just 12 miles away. Thanks for the opinions...it all helps!

Zurin...I laughed so hard at this one...I have done the same thing, too. You'd think being such visual people, we would be better!

Ann...Thanks for hosting Saturday Blog Showcase again..I've wanted to make this lemon curd since I first saw it on La Table de Nana. It gave me a push.

Rettabug...there is so much to a photo. It is a combination of eye-skill-luck-lighting...sometimes we just get lucky :-)

Linda @ How to Cook a Wolf...I think the VW gods have been looking down on you. My lemon is a VW Passat. From the moment they cut the shrink wrap off at the dock, it has had issue after issue...some were huge! I hope all continues to go well with yours.

Linda...I think I like your "broken record" ;-) I tried a few things with the jar. Mason jars just say rustic to me and I wanted the sun to hit it just right. I was walking by my hand painted 7 1/2 ft. tall cupboard just as the afternoon light was hitting it...that's my favorite light. I pulled out a drawer, put it behind the jar for color and shot away. I'm glad you like it.

Kate...you are too smart! What you thought was a tray is a drawer. Ya gotta be clever with photography!! Now, if I could just fix a car, I'd be all set! We've had Volvos for years...same philosophy. My daughters is for sale, but I want new this time, again. It takes away a layer of stress getting to work on time, especially in the winter. It's fun to hear what everyone drives...my son thinks I should ditch the car and use mass transit. Luggage and mass transit are not friends...next time!

Thanks all for your kind comments. I'll keep you posted with the car thing. With any luck I can make a post on cherries instead of lemons in regard to a car!!

Diane

Deana Sidney said...

I had my Jeep catch on fire on the GWB ... worst car moment ever.
The microwave lemon curd looks fab, must have taken a little of the blue out of your day.
Try the car sites... they are specific about models and lemons -- a great 2009 can be a rotten 2010-- just like cooks with a recipe, sometimes when they tinker with a good thing they ruin it!!!
Throw some of your beautiful energy out to the car spirits... you'll get a winner for sure!

Ju (The Little Teochew) said...

A dollop of lemon curd is just like a dollop of sunshine! Love the bright, happy colour. Using sugar cookies to sandwich them is a fantastic idea. I've only used it on warm toast. And have I tld you how much I adore Royal Copenhagen!! There is a Royal Copenhagen cafe here in Singapore, and I love to go there just to eat and admire the china that they served the food on. As for the car, maybe it will find you instead?

Ju

Camille said...

Since I haven't owned a microwave for 20+ years, I'll have to wait to try this recipe when I'm house sitting at my friend's. I adore lemon curd & this one sounds divine!

Cars can be such a pain. I've driven a Honda Civic, my 1st ever "brand new to me" car since 2002 & it's a gem! I've got close to 200,000 kilometres on it & it's running as well as it did when I drove it off the lot. I have looked at the new Civics, but am not as impressed as the trunks are smaller than my 2002. For work, I transport large items around & it's amazing what will fit into my trunk, especially with the back seat being a split, which when lowered allows me to haul big & tall! Good luck with your search!

Melanie said...

I have LOVED every single Volvo I have ever owned. They have better, sleeker models now too, and they're just so solid.

The lemon looks absolutely heavenly.

~ ~ Ahrisha ~ ~ said...

Wonderful post with beautiful pics. Thanks for this lovely recipe minus the pot and all the stirring to get it thick and smooth. Can't wait to try it.
I too have a VW a Beetle that I have loved for over 150000 miles now and still going strong. They look like such a tiny car but when you put the back seat down you can get a good sized dog crate or a bale of hay in the back! My mini truck. Good luck with your search.

Julie said...

I finally got around to making this recipe! It is fabulous! I paired it with some lavender-lemon shortbread cookies and it was to die for! I am posting it on my blog :)

creativetastes.blogspot.com

2 Stews said...

Julie...the lavender lemon short breads sound absolutely wonderful! I'm going to pop on over now to see what you've done.

Thanks for stopping by......Diane

Unknown said...

could you use oranges?