recipe: berry crumb bars

ok, i'm sitting here with my hot coffee on a gorgeous fall day and i'm needing these.
i might kill someone at this moment for these. 

i haven't made them since last fall, and with our recent nudge toward gluten-free, not sure i'll be attempting it for some time. the baking season is upon us and i'm having some sadness (ok, a lot of saddness) over the gluten-free thing.

what about the pies?
my famous cinnamon rolls?
sugar cookies?
oy!

and these.

eventually, after i wallow a bit, i'll get over it and go for it.
but, meanwhile, i thought i'd pass the love on. these will make your day! enjoy...

no, i'm not crying. yet.

berry crumb bars:
1 cup white sugar
t tsp baking powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup COLD butter (2 sticks)
1 egg
1/4 tsp salt
lemon zest
4 cups fresh berries (use your favorite, or whatever is in season)
1/2 cup white sugar
4 tsp cornstarch

preheat oven to 375˚
grease 9 x 13 pan


in medium bowl, mix together sugar, flour & baking powder. mix in salt & lemon zest. use pastry cutter to blend in butter & egg. dough should be crumbly. pat half of dough into the prepared pan. in another bowl, stir together 1/2 C sugar & cornstarch. gently mix in berries. sprinkle evenly over the crust. crumble the remaining dough over berries. 
bake at 375˚ for 45 minutes, or until top is slightly browned.


*** at this point you can either eat it piping hot with some vanilla ice cream, or wait until it cools and cut into bars.
(a versatile dessert, just what i like.)


so easy!
i could have made some in the time it took to type it out!
oh yeah, the gluten-free thing....