Strawberry Lemonade Bars

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup pureed strawberries (about 3/4 cup whole berries)
1 cup lemon juice
2-3 teaspoons lemon zest
1-1/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Powdered sugar, if desired

Preheat the oven to 350^F.  Butter a 9x13" pan.

Combine the first 4 ingredients and mix until crumbly.  Press into the prepared pan and bake for 17 minutes or until the crust starts to turn golden around the edges.

Meanwhile, combine the lemon juice, zest, sugar, and eggs and beat until smooth.  Stir in the flour, baking powder and salt.  Pour over the hot crust and return to the oven for 23-26 minutes or until set.

Let cool completely in pan on rack before cutting into bars to serve.  Dust with powdered sugar before serving if desired.

My opinion:  Too much lemon juice!  It took closer to 45 minutes to bake this and it was very tart! So tart that you completely lose the strawberry flavor.  I would reduce the lemon juice to 1/2 - 3/4 cup and (maybe) add a bit more strawberry puree.  And I'd strain the puree to get rid of the little strawberry seeds, because they don't look very appetizing in the finished product.  Just sayin'....

Recipe found on Pinterest.