Recipes inspired by musicals: The Wizard of Oz

Back by popular demand, it’s a month of recipes inspired by musicals!  I first did a musical month in July, when I wrote about meringues inspired by the show Wicked, and four other recipes from musicals that I love.  I'll be starting this month with one of the most beloved musicals ever.

Did anyone else watch The Wizard of Oz every year at Christmas?  That movie had it all – an orphan hero, a quest to return home, fantastic sidekicks and an over-the-top evil villain.  No matter how many times I watched it, there was always something new.  Thanks to Judy Garland's lovely voice, Roy Bolger's graceful dancing and Margaret Hamilton's amazing portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West, it really has stood the test of time. 

Despite all the great songs from this show, the one everyone remembers is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".  When Dorothy wistfully sang about travelling over the rainbow, she spoke to all of us who wanted to make our dreams come true:
“Someday I’ll wish upon a star

And wake up where the clouds are far

Behind me.

Where troubles melt like lemon drops

Away above the chimney tops

That’s where you’ll find me.”

These dreamy lyrics inspired me to bake Lemon Drop Cookies.  I love lemon desserts, and these cookies are one of my favourite new finds.  If you bake them, your troubles truly will melt away.

Lemon Drop Cookies

(adapted from One Lovely Life)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

zest of 2 lemons

1 egg

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cup four

1 cup lemon drop candies, crushed (some bigger pieces, some smaller)

1/4 to 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine sugar and lemon zest.  Cream sugar mixture with butter.  Beat in egg, lemon juice and vanilla.  Stir in flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.  Add crushed lemon drops and stir until just combined.

Chill dough in the refrigerator about 30 minutes.

Place powdered sugar in a shallow bowl.  Form cookies by rolling heaping teaspoonfuls of dough into balls and rolling in powdered sugar.

Place cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  (Note: these cookies spread, so don’t crowd the cookie sheet.) Bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes, or until edges are set and centres are just slightly soft.  Allow cookies to cool on cookies sheets for about 3 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Makes 24 cookies.