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To start your culinary journey, gather the following ingredients: sugar, salt, butter, eggs, all-purpose flour, baking powder, sour cream, honey, vanilla extract, and, of course, lemons for zest and juice. The first step involves placing sugar, salt, and the zest of fresh lemons into a bowl. It’s essential to only zest the yellow part of the skin, as the white pith underneath can impart a bitter flavor. Mixing the sugar with lemon zest at this stage helps to release the citrus aroma.
Next, set this mixture aside while you sift together all-purpose flour and baking powder. Prepare your baking pan by greasing it with a thin layer of butter and dusting it with flour to ensure easy release post-baking. Chill the prepared pan in the fridge until you're ready to use it.