New Recipe--Key Lime Bars

I love recipes that seem too easy to be true, I guess that's why I like working creatively with cake mixes so much. This recipe is so impressive and so wow-how-did-you-do-that-ish that you shouldn't feel guilty if you keep the simplicity a secret. Just let people think that you magically have 28 hours in your day instead of the mere mortals' 24 hours.

These key lime bars are sweet, not tart. The texture is perfect for bars, the cut really nicely and hold their shape.

Key Lime Bars

1 white cake mix
1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
5 egg yolks
1/4 cup Nellie & Joe's Famous Lime Juice

Preheat oven to 350
Throw the cake mix and the stick of butter in a bowl and microwave it for 1 1/2 minutes, then stir together with a fork. When it is mixed well, press into a greased 13 x 9 pan.
I then wipe out the bowl with a paper towel and then throw in the 5 egg yolks, milk and lime juice and mix together and pour evenly over the cake mix mixture. Use a spoon or fork and spread the lime juice mixture so it is truly even, reaching the edges and corners.

Bake for 17 minutes. Let cool nearly completely or you'll have a mess on your hands. It needs to be cool to be firm enough to cut into bars. I then cut into about 1 1/2 inch x 1 1/2 inch bars.
They stay yummy in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days, the crust doesn't get soggy.

Now, a word on Nellie and Joe's Lime Juice.

I discovered this product about 7 years ago while living in Virginia Beach--Trader Joes carried it. When I moved to the west coast, I used to have people bring me back bottles of it in their suitcases. Now I seem to be able to find it anywhere. It's in every store around Portland, OR.

I would never use any other lime juice for anything. It really is yummier, not as acidic, and has a nice lime flavor. It's the secret in my guacamole.