Blood Orange Bars

Blood Orange Bars for Valentine's day.

Here is something you should try before you settle down for chocolate.Sweet,crisp and citrusy. Please your Valentine with something sweet and bite sized that won't make you feel guilty .

 Last year I made MILK FUDGE in the shape of APPLES! Least expected right.. but it was received with a twinkle in the eye :))
So milk/citrus lovers and chocolate haters this way please :)

This recipe is much inspired by the ever popular lemon bar.It is surprisingly sweet and less tangy than you would expect it to be.If you are new to these bars I can say the top fruit filling part is soft and sweet and the base is crisp.If blood orange is not available you can make with orange,lemon, grapefruit or any other fruit of your choice that has nice color.
These bars are very easy to make, ideal for baking beginners.

I have used the juice of  3 medium blood oranges

Ingredients: (16 medium squares)
For the crust:

All purpose flour - 1 1/4 cup
Powdered sugar - 1/4 cup
Butter- 1 stick at room temperature

For the filling :
Sweet and condensed milk - 1/2 of 14 oz can
Eggs-2
Fresh Blood orange juice- 1/2 -2/3 cup
Lemon zest - a pinch
Baking powder- 1/2 tsp
All purpose flour -1/2 tbsp
Red food coloring - (optional) (I added 3 drops)
Salt - a small pinch (optional)

Dusting:(optional)
Confectioners sugar as needed

1.Preheat oven to 350 F and line an 8 x 8 baking dish with aluminium foil (leave some extra to the side so u can pull out the bar once it is baked )
2.In  a mixing bowl combine all the ingredients for crust and mix together with ladle or hand until it forms a dough.Spread the the dough evenly inside the baking dish (if it is sticky dust ur hands with flour)and press firmly and even it with the back of a ramekin.Bake it for 20 minutes.Let it cool for a few minutes.
3.In another bowl mix all the filling ingredients just until combined.
4.Pour it onto the baked crust and continue baking for another 25 minutes until the filling is set but soft on touching.
5.Let it cool for 30 minutes in room temp then 2 hours in the fridge.(Do not be tempted to cut before this:))
6.Cut into large bars and dust it with confectioners sugar (I skipped it)

Note:
while cutting the bars it can crumble so take a large cutting knife dip it in boiling hot water  wipe and cut repeat for every cut for neat edges.
Do not stack it without powdered/confectioners sugar coating as it tends to stick.

Sorry, I made it a pictorial post ..well the intention is by the end of it either you will run away from the post or make up your mind and make the bars for your loved one a.s.a.p. Hopefully you will stick with the latter decision :)

Ok finally I got to take a bite !

Hope to hear from you lovely people out there.

Meena

Here are the links to other awesome Valentine's Day desserts  from Food Network friends.
Jeanette's Healthy Living: Quinoa Fudge Brownies

Feed Me Phoebe: Salted Caramel Budino with Whipped Cream
In Jennie's Kitchen: Milk Chocolate Brownies
Big Girls, Small Kitchen: A Chocolate Fondue Party
Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Blood Orange Bars
Dishing with Divya: Carrot Halwa
Virtually Homemade: Raspberry Grand Marnier Mascarpone Hand Pies 
Devour: 5 Bread Pudding Recipes for Valentine's Day
Weelicious: Puff Pastry Berry Hearts
Red or Green: Hot Chocolate, New Mexican Style
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Chocolate Cake Brownies (Refined Sugar-Free)
Food for 7 Stages of Life: S'mores on a Stick
Tasting With The Eyes: Puff au Chocolat avec Fraises, Basilic, Fleur de Sel
The Sensitive Epicure: Nutella Panna Cotta
Haute Apple Pie: Valentine Cake Pops
FN Dish: DIY Chocolate Desserts for Valentine's Day