Everyday Mom's Meals: Berry Good

For so long now I've been known as the cook who doesn't bake. Well, I think it's time I start embracing my other side---the one who is no longer afraid of the oven, exact measurements and sifting! To be honest, it wasn't ever that I didn't enjoy baking, it just seemed more in depth and took more time and sometimes I'm not the most patient person in the world. But as I do it more and more, I'm learning new tricks, techniques and getting more comfortable w/ doing things I probably would have never attempted before. I've also learned that if I want a recipe for something when it's time to search for it, adding the word "easy" generates results that are ones I can do and feel comfortable trying. That's how I found this on Cooks.com--looking for "easy raspberry desserts". See, it's raspberry picking time again, and I know Adam is going to start bringing home buckets full of them, and Alex wants to go picking too, like we did for strawberries, so I needed to use what I had left in the freezer from last year. It hasn't been too long since I made my Raspberry Cobbler so I wanted something different; and since the last 2 desserts I made were not pastry based, I thought it was time for one including some sort of crust or topping. I love crumb topped pies, and/or crisps, so this was perfect for all of this. The boys get their favorite berry and I get the sweet crumbles on top! I'm so happy I have another raspberry dish in my recipe box b/c rather it be black, red, fresh or frozen, the men in my house are raspberry "nuts" and it is my job to use 'em not waste 'em; and baking, well it's "berry good" for me :)

Raspberry Crisp
4 c. raspberries (if frozen, thawed and drained well)
1/3 c. white sugar
1/3 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. flour
1/4 c. butter or margarine, softened
3/4 c. rolled oats

Place berries in a 9x11 pan. Sprinkle w/ white sugar. In a large bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, flour and oats. Mix well w/ hands until crumbles. Sprinkle over berries. Bake @ 350 for 30 minutes or until topping is browned. Serve w/ whipped cream.