Blueberry Peek-a-Boo Bars

Lynne Stritesky is baking three pans of these enticing blueberry bars to serve during the celebration Sunday commemorating Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha’s canonization in Rome that day. The St. Cloud Diocesan event will take place in Ogilvie at St. Kathryn Church, whose patron, Kateri, is the first Native American to be named a saint. The celebration, including a Mass starting at 10 a.m., freewill offering turkey dinner with “lots of trimmings” and program, is open to all.

The bars have a bit of a reputation in Ogilvie — Lynne dubbed them “ecumenical” as she got the recipe from a friend of hers, Sandy, who is the wife of the pastor of the Lewis Lake Covenant Church there. Lynne has made them for several community functions and church bake sales over the years. Those who attend the diocesan celebration could find making dessert decisions somewhat difficult  — they will need to choose between these tempting bars and blueberry or pumpkin pie and bars. Yum! CJK

Blueberry Peek-a-Boo Bars

(Lynne Stritesky)

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

3 cups flour

1 can blueberry pie filling

Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan. Preheat oven to 350°F.

Cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour.

Pat one-half of the dough in the prepared pan. Spread blueberry filling over dough. Dot remaining dough over the top — it spreads out on its own. Bake in a 350°F oven for 35 to 40 minutes.

Yield: 15 to 18 servings

A note from Lynne: This recipe is so simple and most of the ingredients are items you generally have on hand. I always use margarine instead of butter and find it works out just fine. Sandy has substituted cherry pie filling for the blueberry.

Also, I always make a powdered sugar frosting to top the bars using butter or margarine, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla.

A note from Carol: Lynne and her husband, Gene, have been parishioners of St. Kathryn Parish in Ogilvie since 1977, when they moved to the area as newlyweds. The couple has four adult children and two grandsons.