The DIY Diet

When fall arrived and crisp, fresh apples were available, the Slovenian-heritage ladies in my hometown made the most delicious apple strudel you can imagine.

My mother’s good friend made a dough that she stretched paper thin, then rolled up with a filling of thin-sliced apples, cinnamon sugar, and butter.

I love apple strudel, and I appreciated greatly when my mother’s friend gifted us with one of her home-baked apple strudels.

She shared her recipe with me; I’ve never tried to make it myself using her recipe. I found a quick method that I think has a nice, homemade taste.

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There’s no question, pumpkin is the focus of much attention between Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Here’s a Pumpkin Bar recipe that I’ve been making for years. It is one of many recipes that was passed around among the Post Office ladies and other accomplished cooks and bakers in my rural Minnesota hometown.

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One day when I expected visitors, I decided I’d like to make my Uncle Chet’s Cheese Pie to serve for dessert and wondered how many calories a serving of the dessert would have.

The calorie count would impact what I’d serve for lunch - high calorie dessert, low calorie entrée. My Uncle Chet was a baker and developed some of his own recipes. Cheese pie is one of my favorites from when I was growing up. The Cheese Pie pairs well with a nice, light Polynesian Chicken Salad for the lunch.

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Homemade Lemon Meringue Pie is my niece’s favorite dessert especially when it is made by her mother using the Betty Crocker recipe for the filling and meringue.

Because it is easy and delicious, Pillsbury’s Refrigerated Pie Crust is used for preparing the pre-baked pastry shell. Here’s the recipe with my calorie calculations.

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