Jan D'Atri

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Easy Cheesy Squash Au Gratin

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I may be going out on a limb here, but I’m pretty sure if you make this dish as a side, the main entrée may take a back seat! Yes, it’s that delicious. I’m always looking for ways to cook zucchini and summer squash, and for this recipe, they both come together, get enrobed in a rich, creamy cheesy smoked Gouda sauce and baked to a golden brown for a perfect accompaniment to any dish. You’ll want to start with a cast iron skillet or any heavy pan that will go from the cook top to the oven. Then, it’s just a matter of slicing up the squash and tossing them into a flavorful cream sauce. I like adding a handful of crisp chopped bacon to the recipe. It just gives it a pop of great flavor. You can use any sharp cheese of your choice, but the smoked Gouda really sends the flavor over the top! Although the peak time for summer squash is early to late summer, it’s pretty much available all year round. The green zucchini and the bright yellow summer squash give this side a variety of color and textures, which makes it really pretty on the plate! This Squash Au Gratin is nice spooned on a plate, or served in a ramekin or small side casserole dish. Make sure the top is a bubbly golden brown and serve right out of the oven!

Watch my HOW TO VIDEO for Squash Au Gratin here!

Caramel Peach Cobbler

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If you love road trips as much as I do, this is the perfect time to hop in the car and visit our Arizona farms and ranches to pick some tree ripened fruit. Even though we are approaching the end of peach season, there are still some tasty ones for the pickin’, and Amadio Ranch is the perfect destination! This small, family heritage farm in Laveen, Arizona produces a number of naturally grown heirloom vegetables and plenty of fruits like peaches, many of which get turned into made-from-scratch fruit pies that you can buy at the ranch. Also, look for the Amadio Ranch Peach Truck at farmer’s markets throughout the Valley.  So, once you buy your peaches, give this Caramel Peach Cobbler a try! It goes together in three layers, but in the oven, the bottom layer rises to the top and bubbles over the peaches to create a delicious cobbler!  The most time-consuming part of the entire recipe is peeling the skin off the peaches, so I have a fabulous tip that will make the process so much easier in the directions. This reminds me of a farmhouse recipe that you might find at a charming place like Amadio Ranch, and believe me, if you make it for family or friends, they’ll think it’s just peachy keen!

Watch my How to Video for Caramel Peach Cobbler here!

Praline Apple Pie

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The old torn up cookbook has no publishing date on it, but it had to have been produced when home economics teachers were a big part of the regular school curriculum. Those days are long gone, and with them many of the treasured recipes that they undoubtedly shared with students like this Praline Apple Pie. The cookbook is called Our Favorite Desserts from Home Economics Teachers and includes 2000 desserts submitted and tested by teachers from all over the US and Canada. Wow, where to begin? So, I started with the “A’s” and this fantastic and unique apple pie recipe jumped out at me. As if a good home made apple pie isn’t scrumptious enough, this one has a glazed caramel topping that enrobes the pecans and gets poured all over the top of the pie after it’s cooked. The recipe calls for mace, which is the outer covering of the nutmeg seed. It’s a bit sweeter and milder that nutmeg, but if you don’t have mace, nutmeg will work just fine. (Grinding the nutmeg fresh is always so much more flavorful than the pre-ground variety). I have to thank my friends Linda and Luther Bruce of Paradise Valley for the phone call I always love getting, “Jan! We found some old cookbooks and I knew you’d put them to good use!” You better believe I will. Enjoy this twist on the all -American favorite!