no matter how simple

When fruit is ripe and in season, there’s really not much that needs to be done to it, since baking it with just a bit of sugar and some kind of topping, be it a crisp, crumble or cobbler, makes it sweet, gooey and delicious.



This is the perfect dessert to make if you’re having friends over for dinner and you don’t want to try anything too fussy. Just double the amounts here. You can make it before you even start your dinner prep and have it ready to go after you eat. Toss it in the oven while you relax with the rest of your wine on the back porch. A homemade dessert no matter how simple is guaranteed to impress.



EASIEST STONE FRUIT CRISP/CRUMBLE
(yields: 3 servings)

2 ripe peaches, peeled and cut into chunks
1 ripe nectarine, peeled and cut into chunks
Equal parts brown sugar and wheat germ
(I wager I used a scant ¼ cup of each)
About ¼ cup Quaker oats
Butter (about 2 tablespoons and more for the baking dish)

Sugar
Cinnamon



Slice and peel your fruit over a cutting board or bowl, so that you can add any accumulated juices to your baking dish. Butter a small oven safe baking dish. Toss the sliced fruit with a sprinkle of sugar and a pinch of cinnamon right in the buttered dish. In a small bowl combine equal parts wheat germ and brown sugar with some oats, add another pinch of cinnamon; mix together and spoon on top of the fruit. Cut your butter into small cubes and dot the top with it. Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 30-40 minutes, or until the butter is completely melted, the top slightly browned and you can see the fruit juices bubbling. Serve with ice cream to balance out the fact that you included something as crunchy granola as wheat germ in a dessert; save leftovers to heat up and spoon over Greek yogurt in the morning. SO yum.



I’m off for vacation! Our plans for this weekend have been slightly derailed by the incoming hurricane. Damn you Irene! But we have a whole TEN days off through Labor Day. I am so excited to disconnect myself from both of my jobs and the internet/computer/facebook. I’m going to hopefully catch a few more rays of summer sun, read a couple books, spend some QT with the Squeeze and eat a lot of fried sea creatures and clam chowder, because that’s what you do when you’re down the Cape. Have a great Labor Day and I’ll see you in September!