A Bit of Creativity & Memories

I haven't posted in a while because my energy level has been in the pits and I hadn't done any thing that seemed worthy of show & tell.  I don't expect anyone to get excited about boxes or garage sales. It isn't thrilling me much except I can appreciate the progress we're making. This weekend after closing down the latest garage sale I did get a bit creative in the kitchen.

Over the years we tried again and again to get these berries to grow here.  Starting back in the 70's Dad had a row about 20 feet ling down their fence in Houston.  Mother made jam, cobblers, muffins and fruit salad with the ones we & the birds didn't eat right off the vine.  Finally about 10 years ago we got them going here.

Since we've been out of town so much this spring our great neighbors who look after the animals got most of the picking rights.  I shared my recipe and heard the cobble was a big hit at a church dinner. This last week I got the last harvest; it's suddenly hot (100 plus) so there won't be many more.  I made this Sat. while Ashley & Frank were here and invited the neighbors as well.

The recipe is simple, adapted it from 2 versions in a neighborhood cookbook I helped put together & illustrate in Houston in the '70's.  As part of the cleaning for moving I've let go of most cookbooks (aren't most of  the recipes in the world online now?).  This one and a couple of other classics will move with me.

The cobble can be made with other fruits; peaches & plums are yummy and you can even mix it up.   Texas Peaches are coming into season so maybe I'll do that version soon. Here's the recipe for whatever fruit you have in your area. 

Simple Fruit Cobbler:

Melt a stick of butter in 9" x 12" baking dish
Heat approximately 4 cups of fruit to boiling (if it's very tart you can add a small amount of sugar)
Pour fruit into pan with butter.
Mix together:
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teasp. salt
1 teasp. vanilla
Add 2 cups of milk and stir together well.
Pour batter over fruit.
Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.
Serve warm with ice cream (Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla is our #1choice)

Enjoy, stay cool, and be creative.