Blueberry Stuff that every one but MJ likes :)

My gran used to make lemon or chocolate delight and it was yummy. There are "delight" recipes all over the web , but none quite fit what I had in mind for fresh blueberries. We eat fresh berries raw many different ways and I always hesitate to cook them, but desserts are almost always a sure thing. This began with an unfocused desire and ended well...or, at least the taste ended well. This is an example of "it doesn't matter what it looks like, as long as it taste good". I debated using nuts in this, I have pro-nut and anti-nut camps, but the roasted pecans were a disaster for a variety of reasons, so, no nuts. The topping is prettier with a mixture of nuts and blueberries, or mixed fresh berries. This is also really good with other berries, especially strawberries.

Blueberry Stuff that every one but Mary Jo likes...

1 purchased pre-made graham cracker crust, or,

Graham Cracker Crust:

Preheat oven to 350◦

1 individual wrapped package of graham crackers (usually 3 pkgs. to a box)
1/2 + stick butter, melted
1/4 cup brown sugar
Finely chopped nuts, if desired

Crumble graham crackers until fine (use a food processor if you'd like)
Add butter and brown sugar
Mix until mixture sticks together and will "pack" well (you may need to add additional, small amounts of melted butter)
If using chopped nuts later in the filling, roast nuts on top oven rack, checking often (nuts are high in fat and will burn quickly)
Remove nuts and set aside to cool for use later.
Place in the bottom of a glass baking dish, approx. 9x13, or, pie pan.
Heat in oven (approx 8-10 min)
Set aside and let cool. Turn oven off.

Blueberries:

You can use frozen, canned or blueberry pie filling, if using pie filling, skip the next steps....

1 qt. blueberries or other berries
Sure-Jell ( you will just use a sprinkling, ignore directions on box)
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp lemon juice

Place blueberries, sugar and lemon juice in saucepan or microwavable bowl.
Mix together well
Sprinkle a liberal amount of Sure-Jell over mixture
(you can use corn starch, but I don't like it. Sure Jell is what is used in jams and jellies to make them set. It doesn't take much Sure-Jell, I probably used around 1 1/2 Tbsps and that was a gracious plenty)
Cook down over med heat on stove top or in microwave checking and stirring every 8-10 min. It shouldn't take more than 20-25 min to cook down and thicken.
The mixture should thicken more after it cools.
Set aside, or, in refrigerator to cool.

Filling:

1 8oz pkg cream cheese, plain or flavored
graham cracker crust
1 container cool whip or whipped cream
1 cup +/- chopped roasted nuts, if desired
You can also add a small amount of eagle brand sweetened milk to help make this mixture more creamy. It also makes it considerably sweeter, so I don't add it, but if you do, it doesn't take much. Have plastic containers/bags on hand to store left over milk and Sure-Jell.

Let cream cheese soften and place in mixing bowl.
Mix until creamy
Add cool whip, approx. 1/2 + container
Add nuts and/or eagle brand milk, if desired
Mix together until th0roughly blended and easy to spread. You may need to add more cool whip to get the consistency right.
The next step is a preference thing... I mix the crunchy graham cracker crust into this mixture just because it gives the dish a crunchier texture, but, it is just as well to leave it as the crust.
If you do leave the graham crackers as the crust, you need to make certain that the crust is packed well or the crust will pull into the filling mixture as you spread it. To help keep this from happening, make certain the filling mix is creamy and easy to spread, if it is not, try to spread it like this: scoop the filling out of the mixing bowl with a large, flat, flexible spatula (all of mine are silicon) and gently press the filling down onto the crust and with the spatula flat and sliding towards you, pull the spatula away.

Spread cooled and set blueberry mixture on top of filling.
Spread remainder of cool whip over top of blueberries.
Sprinkle fresh berries and/or nuts on top of cool whip.
It can be eaten immediately if all ingredients have cooled and set properly, or, if you're too hungry to wait, if not,
Cover with plastic wrap and let cool in refrigerator until ready for serving.