Cooking Without Photos – Lemon Squares

Walking into the Little Rock Zoo, you automatically sense the history that surrounds the entire complex. Personally, I connect with all of the rock work throughout the park. It just makes me feel at home.

Here are some quick facts about the zoo that I bet you didn’t know:

  1. Little Rock zoo began in 1926 with only a timber wolf and a brown bear.
  2. The public quickly rallied, raised money and bought three buffalo. They also donated animals of their own to add to the zoo’s collection.
  3. By 1928, the zoo had about 3 dozen animals.
  4. In 1952 a 13 ft alligator named Big Arkie was on display and drew huge numbers. He lived 18 years at the zoo and was believed to be the largest captive alligator in the western hemisphere at that point.

Over the years several organizations and groups have helped raise money for the zoo and it has held strong. One of those organizations put out a cookbook as a fundraiser for the zoo.

While flipping thru, “What Would Zoo Like For Dinner?: A Cookbook By The Little Rock Chapter AAZK” I came across a recipe for Lemon Squares. Mmmmmmmmm! Yes please!

Couple things:

  1. It didn’t say to use self rising flour. I did.
  2. It says to “mix” the crust ingredients together. I found it difficult to “mix” butter with dry ingredients. I tried a pastry blender too. Nope. Since I’d made a huge mess, I popped it in the microwave and melted the butter. TaDa! Perfection! Just melt your butter to begin with and you won’t have that problem.
  3. Cooks up pretty!
  4. After tasting it, I feel like it may need more lemon🤔

Enjoy!!!

P.S. I’d estimate the cost of this to be under $3. Very cheap and a whole lot of flavor…just add more lemon😆

Cooking Without Photos -Glazed Strawberry Pie

This week we tour my own county and visit St. Boniface Church in the New Dixie community in Perry County, Arkansas.

New Dixie began being settled around 1880 with the arrival of folks from Germany, Switzerland and other German speaking countries. As far as the actual original church being constructed, there are conflicting reports. Two sources state that the church was being built and almost finished in 1881 and 1882 but the land wasn’t donated by the railroad until 1883. At any rate, a school was started in 1883 and in 1890 nuns were put on staff.

In 1906, a fire broke out in the nun’s house and rapidly spread to the church. The buildings were lost, but they were able to save the alter. The alter was hand carved and imported from Germany. They quickly rebuilt the church and it was dedicated in September 1906. The present day church is listed on the Arkansas Register Of Historic Places.

On to the recipe!!!

Flipping thru, “Community Cookbook: Compiled By St. Boniface Alter Society And Friends” I came across a recipe for Glazed Strawberry Pie.

Couple things:

  1. USE THE RED FOOD COLORING OR YOUR PIE WILL LOOK LIKE MINE AND FOLKS WILL THINK IT IS HELD TOGETHER WITH HOT GLUE😆😆😆 I didn’t use any because I didn’t have any🤷🏻‍♀️
  2. Really that’s it🤷🏻‍♀️ Mrs. Zulpo (pretty sure they spelled her name wrong in the book) knew what she was talking about when she said put in some food coloring.

Great flavor and super easy!!!