From the 'Burg to Your Kitchen

This weekend we will be celebrating Memorial Day weekend – we hope surrounded by nice weather, great food and our family and friends.

Last week, I provided two delicious side dish recipes. This week, we exercise Natalie’s sweet tooth. These are two delicious dessert recipes to make your Memorial Day picnic just a tad bit sweeter.

Peach Crumb Bars

Ingredients:

3 cups flour

1 large egg

1-1/2 cups sugar, divided

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp. baking powder

9 medium peaches, peeled and chopped

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. almond extract

Dash of cinnamon

4 tsp. cornstarch

1 cup shortening

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Whisk flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; cut in shortening until crumbly. In another bowl, whisk egg and vanilla until blended; add to flour mixture, stirring with a fork until crumbly.

Reserve 2-1/2 cups crumb mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture onto bottom of a greased 13x9 pan. Toss peaches with almond extract. In another bowl, mix cornstarch and remaining sugar; add to peaches and toss to coat. Spread over crust and then top with remaining crumb topping.

Bake until lightly browned and filling is bubbly, 40-45 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Dessert

Ingredients:

20 Oreo cookies, divided

2 Tbsp. butter, softened

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup peanut butter

1-1/2 cups powdered sugar, divided

1 carton Cool Whip

15-20 mini Reese’s PB cups

1 cup cold milk

1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) instant chocolate pudding mix

Instructions:

Crush 16 cookies; toss with the butter. Press into an ungreased 9-inch square dish; set aside. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, peanut butter and 1 cup powdered sugar until smooth. Fold in half of the whipped topping; spread over crust.

Sprinkle with chopped peanut butter cups. In another large bowl, beat the milk, pudding mix, and remaining powdered sugar on low speed for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes. Fold in remaining whipped topping. Spread over peanut butter cups.

Crush remaining cookies; sprinkle over the top. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours.