I can’t see Venus. I think the universe tricked me. And it might have something to do with the clouds. But mainly I think it was the universe. Or those scientists. I think they made a mistake. Maybe it is supposed to be tomorrow. Nope today…I Googled it, again. (and for the record, I think Google should have made a doodle for this…)
Anyway…I have been sitting on my patio with ‘eclipse glasses’ perched on my nose, randomly staring at the sun…and then looking around to make sure the neighbors aren’t staring at me. Even though they would be the ones missing out on this actual ‘once in a lifetime’ event. Unless we live to be centuries old…we won’t see this happen again. And, personally if I am around to see this again in 2117, I don’t think I’ll be exactly excited about Venus floating across the sun…I mean, it would have just happened a mere 105 years earlier. Old hat.
No, I would celebrating being 134 years old…eating brownies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, drinking wine for lunch, living on a beach, wearing large brimmed hats, saying whatever is on my mind (the filter disappears around age 78 anyway), snacking on lobster rolls and coffee ice cream, and living in a house without mirrors – could you imagine the wrinkles a 134 year old would have? Yikes! Wrinkles they would no longer be, but creavices…deep canyons that even a face lift mixed with daily injections of Botox wouldn’t be able to fix. But then again, I would still be totally against all forms of cosmetic surgery – Like rings to a tree, those wrinkles tell a story … and really, at 134 – I shouldn’t try to look 70. But I might have to invest in a wig…I am pretty sure thinning hair won’t be avoidable at 134 years. Maybe at 80 or 90, but 134 might be a little much for my hair follicles. And this is what I think about while waiting for an eclipse…
Just looked again…no Venus. I think Cleveland, OH got hosed.
I will be saving my eclipse glasses…I might need them again. There should be another eclipse of some sort before I turn 134 right?
Coconut lime bars…one word, addictive. Slightly sweet and chewy and then there is the whole lime and the coconut, which triggers me to sing/mumble Hary Nilsson’s ‘Coconut’. But the lime is not in the coconut and you don’t drink ’em both up….the lime is in the shortbread crust and these are to be eaten. None the less, I recommend downloading the song and dancing to it while you make these…it just makes sense.
p.s. I am planning on making these again, but with a thin layer of strawberry jam atop the crust…or maybe raspberry.
Coconut Lime Bars
Adapted from Martha Stewart
Makes an 8 or 9 inch square pan
Ingredients
1 Stick Butter, Melted and slightly cooled
1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar, tightly packed
1 Cup Granulated White Sugar, divided
3 Large Eggs
2 Cups All-Purpose Flour, divided
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Cup Pecans, roughly chopped
1 + 1/2 Tablespoons Lime Zest, grated (about 3 limes)
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 + 1/2 Cups Sweetened Shredded Coconut
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line 8 inch (or 9 inch) baking pan with parchment paper, or liberally butter all sides. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, 1/3 Cup white sugar, and 1 egg – whisk until smooth. Stir in 1 Cup Flour, salt, chopped pecans, and lime zest. Press crust into the bottom of the baking pan and bake in preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown and set. When baking, prepare filling.
In a medium bowl, whisk together 2/3 cup white sugar, 2 eggs, and vanilla. Stir in 2 Cups coconut and 1 cup flour. It will be a rather stiff batter. Spread carefully/gently over baked crust. ( placing small dollops all over crust and waiting a few minutes for the heat of the crust to slightly melt the filling before spreading evenly over crust worked well). Top with the remaining 1/2 Cup of shredded coconut. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the top is golden brown and when toothpick is inserted, it comes out clean with a few moist crumbs. Let cool completely on a wire rack before cutting.
Fork Vs Spoon 