I Do Too

I know for many of you, this is not the only food blog you read. And guess what...it's not the only one I read either! Of course not. There are too many talented people out there doing what I do, in some form, not to have us supporting each other, and reading what everyone else is cooking up too!

And for faithful EMM fans, it will come as no shock to you that another blog I not only read, but have the utmost respect for is The Country Cook. Plus, I'm guessing for a lot of you, it's one of your favorites too! Brandie is such a dear foodie friend to me; in fact, she was one of the first connections I made when I entered the world of food blogging; and to this day I value her so so much. Not to mention I always look forward to what she has coming out of her kitchen because you can always depend on two things: It will be simple and it will be absolutely delicious!

I feel like Brandie and I are kindred spirits in many ways. We are both mommies to young boys. They are both named Alex. And we are both always on the lookout for easy to make, down to earth recipes that the every day home cook can prepare and enjoy. Brandie is absolutely famous for her desserts (Seriously...I've seen them being shared on Facebook hundreds of time!) and one of the things she is a star at is using pre-packaged cake mixes in new and unique ways to come up with desserts perfect for a busy week.

So when I first saw her post these, "advertising" them only having 3 ingredients, I was ready to hit the "save" button right away. I immediately began typing a comment only to realize what I was typing underneath. The person right before me was chastising her for using a cake mix saying the recipe was "unhealthy" and "useless". Well, I'm not one to simply sit back and allow my friends to be attacked, so I began typing my strongly worded response. Just before I hit the enter button, the rude comment disappeared, so I asked her if she had deleted it. She confirmed that she indeed had, simply because there was no room for that kind of behavior on her page. I didn't blame her one bit, but did share that I was ready to defend her if need be. She explained to me that any time she posts a recipe using these mixes she receives many comments of that same nature. I won't lie. I was shocked! Not that people can be rude and say things that are out of line, but because they would choose cake mix to get so excited about.

Look, I realize that many many people are staying away from processed or pre-packaged foods; and I completely understand the reasons why; and I respect them. I truly do. But for those of us that do choose to use them every now and again to make our lives a little easier, and to still have the outcome of easy, yummy food to provide for our loved ones...well, I don't find that useless in any way. Anything that will lead to my family sitting down around the table and making memories in 100% okay in my book. All I ask is that those who choose not to use some of the same things I cook with, have the same respect for my decision as I have for theirs. (Okay...I'll get off my soap box now. I just really needed to say that.)

These are an amazing lemon dessert for any lemon lover like me. And yes, they only have 3 ingredients, making them super simple. I think they would make a festive, bright dessert for Easter brunch or dinner. (For those of you not keeping track, Easter is early this year, and only about 4 weeks away) They look like spring on a plate, while being refreshing and delicious.

I adore my foodie community...from the bloggers to the fans. I find inspiration in all of you, just like you find inspiration from me...and for that I thank you.

Easy Lemon Crumble Bars From The Country Cook 

1 (21 oz) can lemon pie filling

1 yellow cake mix (DRY do NOT add other ingredients)

1 stick butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 pan well. (I like to use the cooking spray with flour added) In a large mixing bowl combine dry cake mix and butter. Using a spoon and your fingers, mix well until crumbly mixture forms. Measure out 1/2 cup mixture and set aside. Pour remaining mixture into greased pan and press down to form a crust. Pour pie filling over and spread evenly. Sprinkle remaining crumbles over top. Bake for 20-25 minutes until top is slightly golden. Serve warm  or allow to cool. I like these served cold, but either way, leftovers do need to be covered and refrigerated.

Shared on Miz Helen's Country Cottage Feb. 28, 2013
Shared on The Country Cook Mar. 1, 2013