Cherry Pie Bars

Nesting Corral ~ Cherry Pie Bars

Yesterday was incredibly sunny.  It was so nice to see the sun again after a few months of darkness.  The sun got me thinking about summer, which got me thinking about summer fare, which in turn made me want a fruit pie!  I neither had the time or ambition to actually make a fruit pie, so I did the next best thing.  I made these cherry pie bars.  These are super easy to whip up, no peeling or pitting fruit, and no crust to roll out.  And they taste so delicious!  Of course you could make this with real fruit, and any variety of fruit.  But I wanted something quick and easy, so I went for the canned pie filling.  The only canned pie filling I really like is cherry pie filling, so the choice was easy (plus it was in my pantry).  The sugar cookie type crust with the sweet syrupy cherries topped with a cream cheese glaze is summer in a dish, a quick dish.   Here's the scoop on the lazy mans (but oh so good) version of cherry pie...

Nesting Corral ~ Cherry Pie Bars

*I only made a half batch, full recipe will make twice as much as pictured

Ingredients
1/2 Cup butter, softened
1 Cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
3Cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1teaspoon baking powder
1 large can (30 oz) cherry pie filling
Cream Cheese Glaze:
     6 ounces cream cheese, softened
     3/4 Cup powdered sugar
     1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Nesting Corral ~ Cherry Pie Bars

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

With electric mixer beat butter.  Add sugar and beat until creamy.  Add eggs, one at a time.  Mix in vanilla and almond extract.  Add flour, salt and baking powder.  Press dough evenly into greased 9 inch by 13 inch baking dish.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until edges begin to brown.  Allow to cool completely before adding glaze.

For the glaze beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.  Spoon into piping bag or sandwich bag with a corner cut off.  Pipe glaze in lattice patter on cooled bars.  Cut into squares and enjoy!

Patriotic Trifle

It's almost here folks!  A true mark of summer, the Fourth of July.  I love this holiday!  The weather is always nice, everyone is in good spirits, it usually involves BBQ, you get to lay in the sun and play in the water, fireworks end the day, and of course there's amazing food.  Forth of July fare is comfort food at its finest.  One thing I particularly enjoy about cooking for this holiday is the abundance of fresh fruit.  The pies are one of the best parts for sure.  But If you're looking for something maybe a little cooler and more refreshing this trifle fits the bill.  Nothing but fresh fruit and homemade whip cream, you can't beat it.  What better way to celebrate our independence from the English than by eating a dessert they created but putting an American twist on it!

Ingredients
{amounts may vary depending on the size of your trifle dish}
4 cups fresh blueberries
4 cups halved fresh strawberries
3 cups heaving whipping cream
3 teaspoons vanilla
1/4-1/2 cup granulated sugar to taste

Directions
Using an electric mixer add the whipping cream, vanilla and sugar (add more sugar if you like it sweeter).  Whip on high speed for about 3 minutes or until stiff peaks form.  (Don't mix too long or it will turn into sweet vanilla butter!)

In trifle dish put a layer about an  inch thick of whipping cream.  Then using about 3 cups of the blueberries spread evenly over the whip cream.  Next add another layer of whip cream, this time about 2 inches thick.  Next add a  layer of about 3 cups of the strawberries.  On top of the strawberries add another 2 inch layer of whip cream.  Now you can decorate the top how you like.  I put a ring of strawberries on the outside, with a circle of blueberries in the middle.  Then I put a dollop of whip cream in the middle of the blueberries and added a final strawberry on top.

Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.  Serve on top of vanilla bunt cake or all on its own, both ways are delicious.  Enjoy! Serves about 10.

Raspberry Honey Oat Bars

I adore desserts that I can also eat for breakfast.  That is, eat for breakfast and it looks like a breakfast food.  Because let's face it, I really could, and often do, eat any dessert for breakfast.  But I like it when no one else realizes it's dessert.  These bars are perfect for that reason!  You've got to give em a try.  They are so simple and good.  Here's the skinny...
Ingredients

2 cups raspberries
1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
3/4 cup cold butter, cubed
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 11 x 7 inch baking pan.
Using a hand blender blend the raspberries until smooth.  Mix in the 1/2 cup of granulated sugar and set aside.  (You can omit this step and use your favorite jam if you like)
Using a food processor, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, honey, butter, baking soda, salt, and vanilla.  Pulse until the mixture is crumbly.  Coarse or large crumbs are ideal.
Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture.  Pour remaining crumb mixture into the pan and press down evenly.
Spread the raspberry mixture on top and spread out evenly.
Crumble the 1 1/2 cups of remaining crumb mixture evenly on top.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until top is golden brown.  Let cool and cut into squares.  Enjoy!
*Strawberry, huckleberry, and strawberry rhubarb are also great fruits to use on these bars.  Adjust granulated sugar amount according to the sweetness of the fruit you use.

Rhubarb Cobbler

I love rhubarb.  And I love that we have an abundance of it out on the ranch, hence making rhubarb free for me.  So when I had a big bunch of it the other week I started thinking of different ways to use it, other than the standby strawberry rhubarb pie.  This cobbler was the answer.  I made one for us and one for another family.  Everyone, even the kids, loved it.  I used lemon in the cobbler, which I didn't care for, but everyone else loved.  So you'll have to use your own discretion on that ingredient.  So go out that rhubarb plant & whack off a few stocks and get to work making this easy and scrumptious dessert.  Here's the skinny...
Ingredient
4 cups chopped rhubarb (about 1/2 inch pieces)
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon lemon extract or 2 tablespoons lemon juice (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter, cubed and chilled
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1-2 tablespoons sugar in the raw

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In large bowl mix rhubarb, 1 3/4 cups sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, lemon extract/juice, and vanilla.
In separate bowl, combine flour, remaining sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and baking powder.  With a pastry cutter, cut in shortening and butter until cornmeal like texture forms.  Whisk together egg and milk, and pour into flour mixture.  Mix with a fork until just combined.
Pour rhubarb mixture into greased 2 quart baking dish.  Drop dough on top using your hands, don't press it down.  It should cover most of the top.  Sprinkle the sugar in the raw (or plain sugar works too) on the top of the dough.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until topping is golden brown.  Serve warm.  Enjoy!

Best Banana Bread

My family adores banana bread.  I've tried a billion different recipes, but Pioneer Woman's is by far my favorite. First of all it does not include nuts- I don't like nutty or seedy bread.  Secondly, it makes a ton, & I mean a ton, of bread.  Which in my family means it will last two days instead of one.  I know I've directed you towards this recipe before, but I wanted to get it on the Mixing Bowl page so I thought I better post it.  The only thing that I add to this recipe is 2 teaspoons of vanilla, just 'cuz.  My extra drop of wisdom for this bread is this: use very, very brown bananas.  Wait till those babies look super dark & mushy, then they will make the perfect banana bread.  Here's the skinny...
Ingredients
2 sticks soften butter
1 1/2 + 2 tablespoons sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cup mashed bananas
4 1/8 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 cup sour cream
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease & flour a bunt pan or two large loaf pans.
Cream butter & sugar.  Add vanilla.  Add eggs one at a time beating in between.  Mix in mashed bananas.
Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl.  Add dry ingredients & sour cream alternately, mixing in between.  Beat well until all ingredients are well combined, batter will be very thick.
Pour into pan & bake for 1 hour 10 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean.
Turn upside down on a cooling rack & allow bread to cool a bit before serving.  Enjoy!