Real Housewives

I'm just not that into reality tv -- my own reality keeps me on my toes.With the exception of the Real Housewives of Orange County [& NYC & Atlanta & NJ...]. If their lives are train wrecks, then let me be the voyeuristic conductor.

In honor of the tarts of OC [next week is the season finale] -- and the REAL housewives of the 50s [I'm so sure that they'd be proud of paving the way for these crazy bitches], I present this recipe to you from Better Homes & Garden Lunches and Brunches (c)'63:

Cherry-Cheese Tarts
3 sticks pastry mix [aka refrig. pie crust sheets]
2 cups milk
1 2 1/4-ounce package of custard-flavor dessert mix [holy hell, I think they mean pudding]
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, cubed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 No. 2 can cherry-pie filling

Roll pasty mix out. Cut twelve 5-inch circles; fit over inverted muffin pans; pinch corners together; prick [wait, isn't that Alexis' husband, Jim?!]. Bake at 450 for 10-12 minutes. Cool.

Gradually add milk to dessert mix. Cook and stir over medium heat till mixture comes to a full boil; cook 3 minutes. Remove from heat; add cream cheese and vanilla; beat smooth with rotary beater. Cool 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spoon into tart shells. Carefully spoon chilled cherry-pie filling atop. Chill until firm. Makes 12.

Who's your favorite housewife, real, retro or otherwise? Share and you [yes, you] can enter to win the Legends in the Kitchen Cookbook, too!

My top two? Vicki from the OC - and June Cleaver from Leave it to Beaver. Polar opposites -- most likely both possessing bi-polar personalities!

Off to the dvr,
heidi