SAMANATHA'S EASY CHERRY CRUMB PIE

My 7-year-old granddaughter Samantha is quite a little baker.  Baking is her passion.  When she read a library book about a cherry pie, she wanted to make one.  So we took the idea for a crumb top and came up with her own cherry pie.  You know if it is easy enough for a 7-year-old to make (grandma handled putting it in and taking it out of the oven!), you can make it, too.  It really is good. This post was originally 8-years-ago. She is 14 now (15 next month) and still makes her crumb pies. She has made many cherry and apple over the years, especially for holidays and church functions.

1 pkg (15-oz) refrigerated pie crusts

1 can (20-oz) cherry pie filling
1 1/4 cup raw quick oats
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 sticks butter, cut up

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Arrange one sheet of the refrigerated pie crusts in a 10-inch pie plate.  Refrigerate other crust for another use.

Spread the cherry pie filling evenly in the pie crust.

In a medium mixing bowl combine the oats, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon until well combined.  Add the pieces of butter and using a pastry blender or two knives to cut in the butter.  Use fingers to blend if needed.  Sprinkle the crumbs evenly over the pie filling.

Place pie in oven and bake at 375 degrees for approximately 30 to 35 minutes.  Use a pie shield to protect crust if it starts to get too brown.

Allow to cool before cutting.
Yield: 8 to 10 servings

HOOSIER CORN CHOWDER WITH HAM

1 medium onion, diced

1/4 cup + butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup diced cooked potatoes
1 cup diced cooked ham
1 (1 lb) bag frozen corn
2 cans (15.5 oz) cans creamed corn
1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
3 cups whole milk
3/4 tsp salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
fresh parsley for garnish

Melt the 1/4 cup butter in a stockpot; add onion and saute until tender, stirring and watching carefully to keep from browning.  Add the flour and stir until smooth.  Add the potatoes, ham, frozen corn, creamed corn, mushroom soup, milk, salt, and pepper to the pot, stirring until combined.  Heat the chowder to a boil.

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To serve, place a pat of butter, if desired, in the bottom of each bowl for serving.  Garnish with the parsley and serve hot.

SKINNY SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP

4 ounces cream cheese

1/3 cup Greek yogurt

1/4 cup Parmesan-Reggiano cheese

2 cloves garlic, minced

10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained of moisture

10 ounce jar marinated artichoke quarters, drained and coarsely chopped

1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Using a mixer, blend the cream cheese, Greek yogurt, Parmesan-Reggiano cheese, and garlic.

Be sure all water has been  pressed out of spinach then add the spinach and artichoke hearts to the cheese mixture.

Lightly spray a small baking dish and transfer the mixture to the dish. Top with the mozzarella cheese.

Bake in the preheated oven approximately 20 to 30 minutes until cheese is bubbly and starting to brown.

Serve dip while hot.

Recipe and photo adapted from an old post on Everyday Health.

TURKEY AND APPLE WRAPS

4 (6-inch) flour tortillas

8 tsp mayonnaise
4 tsp Dijon mustard
16-20 shaved slices deli turkey breast
2 cups thinly sliced apple
1 cup baby spinach leaves

In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise and Dijon mustard, mixing together well.  Spread mixture of one side of each of the tortillas.  Top with the turkey, apple, and spinach.  Roll up to serve.

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LOW CARB ZUCCHINI DISH

zucchini
olive oil
garlic powder or minced fresh garlic
sliced tomatoes
mozzarella or Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper, to taste

Slice the zucchini in half. Slice off the bottom to keep it stable. Brush with olive oil and top with garlic or garlic powder. Top with sliced tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste. Use mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese or mixed blend. 

Bake 375 for 20 to 30 minutes until soft.

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BUTTERNUT SQUASH AU GRATIN WITH BACON

1 butternut squash

4 slices bacon, cut up
1 small sweet onion, sliced thin
2 tbsp flour
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut the squash in half lengthwise; discard seeds.  Peel and cut each half into thin slices.

Place the squash slices in a saucepan with enough water to just cover squash.  Bring to a boil over high heat; turn heat to medium-low and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until tender.

While squash cooks, fry the bacon in a skillet until crisp.  Drain, reserving 1 tablespoon of the drippings.  Set bacon aside and return the tablespoon of drippings to the skillet; add the onion and cook while stirring for about 5 minutes.  Stir in the flour and pepper; cook, stirring for 1 minute.  Add the broth, cook and stir about 3 minutes until thickened.  Remove from the heat and stir in 1 cup of the cheese.

Drain the squash.

Spray a square baking dish very lightly with nonstick cooking spray.  Arrange half of the squash slices in the bottom of the dish; cover with half the sauce.  Repeat the layers and top with the bacon then the remaining half cup of cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through.

The file photo.

GARDEN FRESH MACARONI & HAM SALAD

1 pkg (7-oz) elbow macaroni

2 cups diced cooked ham
1 cup diced cheddar cheese
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 cup torn or shredded lettuce
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/4 cup minced onion
3/4 cup bottled Italian or Ranch salad dressing (depends on your preference)
1 tsp salt, optional
dash freshly ground black pepper

Prepare the macaroni according to the package directions, omitting any oil or butter; drain well.

Pour the macaroni into a large mixing bowl; add the remaining ingredients and toss to coat well.
Chill until serving time.

stock photo for reference only

CHEESY CORN CASSEROLE

I consider this a quick fix recipe because it goes together in less than 5 minutes. It does, however, bake for 50 minutes.

3 cups frozen corn
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, seeds removed and finely diced
1 1/2 cups milk
5 tablespoons butter, melted
5 eggs, whisked
6 tablespoons white whole-wheat flour
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.. In an 8-by-12 casserole baking dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, add all the ingredients.

Stir with a spoon to mix everything up.

Bake for 50 minutes.

Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Adapted from Cooktop Cove

FRESH VEGGIE PIZZA

2 tubes refrigerated crescent rolls

2 pkgs (8-oz each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup mayonnaise
1 packet ranch dressing mix
assorted fresh vegetables of your choice, washed, cut up
grated cheese (choose your favorite to go with the vegetables you use)

Press the crescent dough onto the bottom of a cookie sheet that has sides.  Press the dough to close all openings and make a solid dough.  Bake at temperature on directions until lightly browned.

While the dough cools, combine the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, and dressing mix together until well blended.  Spread over the cooled dough.

Arrange the fresh cut-up vegetables over the cream cheese mixture.  Sprinkle the grated cheese over the veggies.

To serve, cut into squares.

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