Good ‘n’ healthy ethnic foods

Eating right doesn't mean you need to push aside your favorite dishes, including traditional ethnic recipes your family has enjoyed for generations. This tempting peach cobbler, for example, is a southern soul-food delight that has all the flavor of the traditional home-spun dish, but with reduced fat and calories. Enjoy!

peach cobbler

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons chilled stick margarine, cut into six pieces
• 6 tablespoons ice water
• vegetable cooking spray
• 6 cups sliced peeled peaches (about 3 3/4 pounds)
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar, divided
• 2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Place the first three ingredients in a food processor, and pulse two to three times. Add margarine pieces, and pulse 10 times or until the mixture resembles coarse meal. With the processor on, slowly add ice water through food chute, processing just until combined (do not form a ball).

Gently press the flour mixture into a 4-inch circle on heavy-duty plastic wrap and cover with additional plastic wrap. Roll the dough, still covered, into a 15 x 13-inch rectangle. Place dough in freezer five minutes or until plastic wrap can be easily removed. Remove one sheet of plastic wrap. Fit dough into a 2-quart baking dish coated with cooking spray, allowing dough to extend over edges of dish. Remove top sheet of plastic wrap.

Combine peaches, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 2 1/2 tablespoons flour, vanilla and cinnamon in a large bowl; toss gently. Spoon peach mixture into prepared dish, fold edges of dough over peach mixture (it will only partially cover peaches). Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar over peach mixture, sprinkle with almonds. Combine egg and water in a small bowl; stir well. Brush egg mixture over dough and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until filling is bubbly and crust is lightly browned. Let stand 30 minutes before serving. Makes 10 servings.