Happy Endings

The beginning of summer brings to mind thoughts of strawberry-rhubarb pie. But, more often than not, I don't have the time to make a pie crust from scratch and even putting together an elaborate filling is a bit too much during one of the busiest times of the year. But that doesn't stop me from making pie! It just means I need to be creative about how I put one together.

I begin with a frozen pie crust. Yes, that's right. I say take advantage of the tools available to you. If you've got the time and energy to make one from scratch, go for it. I'd rather work in a nice bike ride, if I've got the time. Then, for the filling, I use a trick I learned from my mother. I toss fresh fruit with flavored jello and bingo! Instant pie filling. Just add the heat of the oven. Rather than fuss with another crust on top, I toss together a simple crisp and put that over the top of the pie and call it done. Then, later, I call it dessert and enjoy the compliments!

As always, I encourage you to share your recipe ideas and comments. You can always post comments using the forms provided in the articles or email me directly at . Enjoy!