; Supermarket Serenade: Favorite Food Finds Friday!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Favorite Food Finds Friday!

Today's favorite find is a special fruit that is plentiful in the produce aisle only from early November to early February....Clementines!

Clementines, usually found near the regular oranges and packed in small crates, are a small (usually seedless) easy to peel variety of mandarin oranges.

Because of their compact size, Clementines make the perfect lunchbox treat or snack. And while they are perfect to eat on their own, I decided to use them to in a "lemon bar" variation with great results. I adapted a recipe from Gourmet Magazine using the clementines instead of lemons.

Today is my day to cook for a local woman's shelter and I'm bringing these bars for dessert, I have to keep them chilled so I don't want to sprinkle the powdered sugar until the last minute...which is a tip: don't add the powdered sugar until shortly before you are planning on serving them. Now don't freak when you see that the recipe calls for 3 sticks of butter (OK you can freak a little)...you have to keep in mind that this recipe makes about 48 bars.
Super tips: look for crates of Clementines with colorful orangish-red fruit clear of blemishes. Store them at room temperature for up to a week or refrigerate them for up to about 2 weeks.
Darling Clementine Bars (adapted from Gourmet Magazine)

Crust:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 sticks of cold butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
For Filling:
6 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon finely grated clementine zest
1/2 cup freshly squeezed clementine juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
Confectioner's sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Pulse together the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor just until combined. Add butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press the dough into the bottom of an ungreased 13x9 inch baking pan. (I used the measuring cup to help press it down).
Bake until lightly browned, about 20 minutes.

For the filling whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, flour heavy cream, zest, juice and salt in a bowl until well combined.

Remove the crust from the oven, whisk the filling again, then pour filling over the hot crust. Bake until the filling is just set, about 16 minutes. Transfer pan to a rack to cool.

Refrigerate bars, covered, until cold, at least 4 hours. Just before serving cut the bars into small squares then sift the confectioner's sugar in a thick layer over bars.

Yield: 48 bars

16 comments:

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Clementines are one of my favorites and when I see them in the gorcery, well it just feels like the holidays. Your clementine bars look wonderful and are even more special since you are sharing them with the less fortunate.

Robin said...

They'r e here. Finally! I love this time of year for many reasons, one being clementines. Great looking recipe!

Mary Bergfeld said...

It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without them. Two years ago the crop was poor and the ones that made it to market looked very tired. Broke my heart.

Maria said...

One of my favorite fruits and snacks!

Anonymous said...

I've never ever eaten a clementine, but I love the song! This sounds yummy. I'll have to check them out at my local grocer. Thanks for clueing me in to these.

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

Love these bars. I worship clementines! During peak season, our family will go through 2 to 3 boxes a week.

Shari said...

Clementines remind me of Christmas, and I have to stop from buying them year-round just so that I can keep that tradition (but it's hard!). Your bars sound like a riff on lemon bars, and one I definitely have to try!

That Girl said...

I love clementines. They're great for road trips.

grace said...

oh my darlin', oh my darlin', oh my darlin' clementine...
great creation. :)

The Blonde Duck said...

I've never had clementines. How nice of you to make those bars for the shelter!

Audrey said...

I just had my first darling clementine of the season! Come visit ... I left something for you on my blog.
Audrey

Aunt Julie said...

Tis the Season! My whole Gang loves Clementines! BTW, I'm celebrating 150 Posts with an Award and a Pop'rs Giveaway...please come visit soon!

Barbara said...

Veronica, I just love your Friday Finds. I do like clementines. That is an interesting twist on Lemon Bars.

Aggie said...

Love these little guys! They are perfect! Your bars sound great!

Emily said...

This is a good use for clementines. I made a crostata last year, and it was weird. Like an orange pizza.

Anonymous said...

Wow. Those look fabulous! I can't wait to get some clementines! It seems like I just bought some a few weeks ago... alas, that was EIGHT MONTHS ago! Goodness, where did the time go?
~Cat