MICROWAVE CHERRY-ALMOND CRISP

Steps:

• Scatter half the butter pieces in a microwave-safe 9-inch pie dish. Microwave, uncovered, on high (at 100 percent power) until the butter has melted, 45 seconds in an 1,100-watt oven or 1 minute in a 700-watt oven. If the butter has not melted, microwave it again in 5-second increments. Add 1/4 cup of the flour, brown sugar, almonds, oats, cinnamon and 1/8 teaspoon salt, and toss together with a fork until all the dry ingredients are moistened, leaving large clumps. Spread out the streusel in a single layer. Microwave, uncovered, on high (at 100 percent power) for 3 minutes in an 1,100-watt oven or 4 minutes in a 700-watt oven, stirring halfway through. Remove the dish from the microwave, and stir. The streusel should be golden brown; if it's too light, microwave again, uncovered, in 15-second increments. Set aside.
• In a microwave-safe 1-quart shallow baking dish, toss together the cherries, the remaining 2 teaspoons flour, granulated sugar, lemon juice, vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Dot with the remaining butter pieces. Microwave, uncovered, on high (at 100 percent power) for 16 minutes in an 1,100-watt oven or 28 minutes in a 700-watt oven. Stir the cherry mixture. The juices will be the color of deep-red wine and should be looser than you expect, about the consistency of real maple syrup (they will thicken as they cool). If they seem too loose, microwave again, uncovered, on high (at 100 percent power) in 1-minute increments. Let the cherry mixture sit for 10 minutes, as it will be too hot to eat right away. Sprinkle with the reserved streusel topping, and serve.
• Scatter half the butter pieces in a microwave-safe 9-inch pie dish. Microwave, uncovered, on high (at 100 percent power) until the butter has melted, 45 seconds in an 1,100-watt oven or 1 minute in a 700-watt oven. If the butter has not melted, microwave it again in 5-second increments. Add 1/4 cup of the flour, brown sugar, almonds, oats, cinnamon and 1/8 teaspoon salt, and toss together with a fork until all the dry ingredients are moistened, leaving large clumps. Spread out the streusel in a single layer. Microwave, uncovered, on high (at 100 percent power) for 3 minutes in an 1,100-watt oven or 4 minutes in a 700-watt oven, stirring halfway through. Remove the dish from the microwave, and stir. The streusel should be golden brown; if it's too light, microwave again, uncovered, in 15-second increments. Set aside.
• In a microwave-safe 1-quart shallow baking dish, toss together the cherries, the remaining 2 teaspoons flour, granulated sugar, lemon juice, vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Dot with the remaining butter pieces. Microwave, uncovered, on high (at 100 percent power) for 16 minutes in an 1,100-watt oven or 28 minutes in a 700-watt oven. Stir the cherry mixture. The juices will be the color of deep-red wine and should be looser than you expect, about the consistency of real maple syrup (they will thicken as they cool). If they seem too loose, microwave again, uncovered, on high (at 100 percent power) in 1-minute increments. Let the cherry mixture sit for 10 minutes, as it will be too hot to eat right away. Sprinkle with the reserved streusel topping, and serve.
• Scatter half the butter pieces in a microwave-safe 9-inch pie dish. Microwave, uncovered, on high (at 100 percent power) until the butter has melted, 45 seconds in an 1,100-watt oven or 1 minute in a 700-watt oven. If the butter has not melted, microwave it again in 5-second increments. Add 1/4 cup of the flour, brown sugar, almonds, oats, cinnamon and 1/8 teaspoon salt, and toss together with a fork until all the dry ingredients are moistened, leaving large clumps. Spread out the streusel in a single layer. Microwave, uncovered, on high (at 100 percent power) for 3 minutes in an 1,100-watt oven or 4 minutes in a 700-watt oven, stirring halfway through. Remove the dish from the microwave, and stir. The streusel should be golden brown; if it's too light, microwave again, uncovered, in 15-second increments. Set aside.
• In a microwave-safe 1-quart shallow baking dish, toss together the cherries, the remaining 2 teaspoons flour, granulated sugar, lemon juice, vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Dot with the remaining butter pieces. Microwave, uncovered, on high (at 100 percent power) for 16 minutes in an 1,100-watt oven or 28 minutes in a 700-watt oven. Stir the cherry mixture. The juices will be the color of deep-red wine and should be looser than you expect, about the consistency of real maple syrup (they will thicken as they cool). If they seem too loose, microwave again, uncovered, on high (at 100 percent power) in 1-minute increments. Let the cherry mixture sit for 10 minutes, as it will be too hot to eat right away. Sprinkle with the reserved streusel topping, and serve.