Apple Crisp

Apple desserts are among my favorites.  There is something about apples cooked in brown sugar and cinnamon that is crazy good . . . and the smell from the oven while it is baking is intoxicating!

This recipe comes from Taste of Home, one of my favorite food websites.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 4 cups chopped peeled apples
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Vanilla ice cream, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. 

In a large bowl, combine first four ingredients. 

Cut in butter until crumbly. 

Press half into a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish or a 9-in.-square baking pan. 

Cover with apples.

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, water and vanilla. 

Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thick and clear. 

Pour over apples. 

Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture.
Bake 60-65 minutes or until apples are tender. 

Serve warm, with ice cream if desired. 

Yield: 8 servings.

Source:  Taste of Home

Originally published as Apple Crisp in Country February/March 1993, p47

White Chocolate-Banana Cream Pie

Some of the best recipes are completely semi-homemade and so easy.  This recipe from Kraft Foods is one of those quick, easy and delicious recipes.

Imagine a luscious banana cream pie made super special with the addition of white chocolate!

A very quick and convenient dessert for a special holiday meal or a week night dinner.

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. (4 oz.) BAKER'S White Chocolate, broken into pieces
• 2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
• 1 ready-to-use graham cracker crumb crust (6 oz.)
• 2 large bananas, sliced
• 1 pkg. (3.3 oz.) JELL-O White Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding
• 1-3/4 cups cold milk
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

Directions

Microwave chocolate and butter for one minute or until butter is melted. 

Stir until chocolate is well blended into mixture and completely melted. 

Drizzle over bottom of crust and top with bananas.

Beat pudding mix, milk and vanilla with whisk about two minutes and pour over bananas in crust.

Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. 

Top with COOL WHIP just before serving.

SOURCE:  Kraft Foods