---

I've been writing this column since 1982, can you imagine that, and if what I write doesn't make any sense, I've gone over the edge! Anyway, in all that time I've never written recipes using refrigerated convenience products.

Not many cooks have time for "from-scratch" baking these days. But with these convenience products, you can enjoy the flavor of homemade without all the time involved. I still bake "from-scratch", like so many of you do, but once in a while I do use some of the refrigerated products. In the recipes for today you can start with a tube of biscuit or roll dough, dress it up with other ingredients and pop it into the oven to bake. Yummy coffee cakes, desserts and more will be ready in 30 minutes or less. All of these recipes use varieties of refrigerated dough.

Let's start with...

LEMON PULL-APART

COFFEE CAKE

1/4 c. each, sugar, chopped walnuts and golden raisins*

2 T. butter, melted

2 t. grated lemon peel or 1 t. dried lemon peel

1-12 oz. tube buttermilk biscuits

Glaze: 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 T. lemon juice

In a large bowl combine the first 5 ingredients. Separate biscuits and cut each into quarters; toss with sugar mixture. Put in a greased 9-inch round baking pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately turn upside down onto a wire rack. Combine glaze ingredients until smooth; drizzle over warm (not hot) coffee cake. Pull apart pieces using a tongs.

Makes 8-10 servings.

Note: You can use dark raisins if you wish, but golden raisins have a more delicate flavor. Also, when I buy a lemon I always grate it and put it on a piece of waxed paper to dry. Then put it in a small container, like a clean pill container and you will have it ready when needed.

+++++

GARLIC POPPY

SEED SPIRALS

3 T. butter, melted

1 t. garlic powder

1 t. dried mince onion, or 2 t. minced fresh onion

1/2 t. poppy seed

1-8 oz. tube crescent rolls

In a small bowl, combine first 4 ingredients; set aside. Remove dough from tube; don't unroll. Cut dough into 10 round slices; dip one side in butter mixture. Place buttered side up in an ungreased 9-inch round baking pan. Brush with rest of butter mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Makes 10 rolls.

+++++

BREAKFAST PIZZA

1-13.8 oz. tube pizza crust

2 T. olive oil or canola oil, divided

6 eggs

2 T. water

1-3 oz. pkg. real bacon bits

1 c. each, shredded Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese

Unroll crust into a greased 15x10 baking pan; flatten dough, pressing with fingertips and build up edges slightly. Brush with 1 T. oil. Prick dough thoroughly with a fork. Bake at 400 degrees for 7-8 minutes or until lightly browned.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together eggs and water. In a small skillet, heat rest of oil until hot (but don't burn). Add eggs; cook and stir over medium heat until completely set. Spoon eggs over crust. Sprinkle with bacon and cheese. Bake 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Makes 8 large slices.

Note: You can fry 3 slices of bacon, crisp, drained and crumbled in place of bacon bits.

+++++

CRESCENT APPLE DESSERT

1-8 oz. tube crescent rolls

1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans

3/4 t. sugar

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. nutmeg

1-21 oz. can apple pie filling

Topping:

1/2 c. each, flour and packed brown sugar

1/4 c. cold butter

1 c. flaked coconut

1/4 c. chopped walnuts or pecans

Unroll crescent dough into an ungreased 9x13-inch baking pan; seal seams and perforations. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine next 4 ingredients; sprinkle over crust. Carefully spread with pie filling. In a small bowl, combine flour and brown sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in coconut and nuts. Sprinkle over filling.

Bake at 375 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

Makes 12 servings.

Note: I pour the apple filling into a shallow bowl and cut the apple slices into smaller pieces using a scissors.

TFD: Children, no matter what their age, are always hungry when they get to grandma's house. We have a number of them in our family. How dare I not have cookies in the cookie jar or the above dessert ready to eat.

---