Lime buttermilk bars - an international* delight

Backstory: we had a family get together one Sunday. I was under the impression it was to celebrate Dad's birthday. Kevin and his international woman of mystery Ann were also supposed to be there. After dinner had happened, I suggested the traditional roast, and everyone looked at me funny. Apparently I was the only one who thought it was a celebration for Dad's birthday. So we ate the "cake" I prepared anyways and sipped tiny swallows of fancy hot chocolates Kevin and Ann made for us that they'd brought back from abroad.

*Ann liked the bars so much she requested the recipe so she could make them for her mother.

(recipe adjusted from BakingBites.com)

Crust
1 1/2 cups wheat flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter, cold

Filling
4 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed
1 tbsp lime zest
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350F. Get out a 7"x11" baking pan and set it aside. In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour, sugar, salt and vanilla extract. Cut butter into chunks and add to flour mixture. Pulse until mixture forms coarse, sandy crumbs with no piece of butter larger than a small pea. Pour sandy mixture into pan and press mixture down very firmly (with your fingers or the back of a spoon) into an even layer. Bake for 16-19 minutes, until just lightly browned around the edges.

While crust is baking, prepare the filling by whisking together all filling ingredients in a large bowl or whizzing together in the food processor. When the crust comes out of the oven and is still hot, pour in filling mixture. Bake for about 20 more minutes minutes, or until filling is set and does not jiggle when the pan is gently shaken. Cool completely before slicing.

Top slices with confectioners’ sugar JUST BEFORE serving (I cannot stress this enough. The bars will swallow that confectioners' sugar right up).