Spoonflower Design Challenge – Family Recipe Teatowel

So in our family, Chocolate Lemon Slice is an absolute treasure. It’s not exactly hard to make, but it’s time-consuming – and it gets eaten so fast! So it’s a special occasion treat. 
When I saw that one of the October Spoonflower teatowel challenges was about family recipes, I was thrilled! While we were at the family bach in 2014, I considered making a teatowel using a drawing of the lemons on the tree and mum’s handwritten recipe, but I never got further than a quick ideas board. This challenge was a great chance to revisit the design and make it work, as Tim Gunn would say!

Some time ago, while we were in Geneva, my mother chaired a Cookbook Committee for the American Women’s Club of Geneva. Although it was purportedly for American women, in practice, many expats from all over the world were involved – and my Kiwi mum was in charge! For those who know her, this will not come as any kind of a surprise. She’s the source of my organisational skills.

Base
 
1/2 cup (120g) butter
1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cups (180g) flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
 
Cream butter and sugar; add egg, then beat again and add flour and baking powder. Press into a greased 10×14” (25x35cm) pan. Bake in a 350°F (180°C) oven for 15 to 20 minutes. When cool, cover with filling.
 
Filling
 
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup (60g) powdered sugar
2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
grated rind and juice of 1 lemon
 
Filling – method:
Combine butter, powdered sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and lemon rind and juice. Heat until smooth and pourable. Cover base and leave until set. When set, cover with icing.​

Icing
2 cups (240g) powdered sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons water
 
Icing – method:
Mix powdered sugar, cocoa, and vanilla in a bowl. Bring butter and water to a boil and add to powdered sugar mixture. Beat until smooth.
Drizzle over filling and smooth out as much as possible – don’t worry if it’s a little uneven. Cut into squares to serve. Makes about 30 pieces.
 
The squares keep well in an airtight container – if they last that long!

I took the original drawing that I did at the bach three years ago, redrew it on a larger scale (with finer lines), drew some extra lemons, and created a background.

Then, I typed up the recipe (another reason to have it on the blog, lol), coloured in my lemons, and tadaaa! Ready to go 🙂

“Family traditions are especially present during the holidays as everyone gathers in merriment and celebration around the dinner table. For this week’s challenge, share a family recipe that is a yearly staple. Whether it’s Grandma’s famous casserole or the wiggly fruit jelly salad that mysteriously makes an appearance, we want to see what recipe completes your holiday traditions! Entries will be submitted at the Linen Cotton Canvas fat quarter size (27″ x 18”) but previewed during voting as a Spoonflower Special Edition Tea Towel (16″ x 24″). Submissions close October 3, 2017 at 3 p.m. eastern daylight time. Voting begins October 5, 2017. See official rules.”
From the Spoonflower blog

I hope that you will vote for my entry when voting begins! 
Here it is on Spoonflower now: