November 30, 2012

Blackberry Raspberry Cobbler

I love being a Mom. It's the only career I've ever wanted since I was ten years old and my little sister was born. I was just about the best babysitter in the world for the next ten years. (not to brag, or anything... :) I was even a nanny for a whole summer at a guest ranch! I love my boys with all my heart. The funny thing is, I didn't want boys. Like, really REALLY didn't want boys! It seemed that all the boys I babysat were violent, Power Ranger watching, snotty, dirty, grimy things. I even swallowed 2 live worms just to impress one that was being a total brat. I seriously earned his respect with that one. Anyway. Not a fan of boys. I was so disappointed when I found out Stephen was going to be a boy... shame on me! Now I know better. Boys are AWESOME. I love my boys!! Sure, they have a penchant for dirt and pain that I will NEVER understand, but they are so indescribably sweet. Joe brings me flowers whenever he can find one. Stephen is never too cool for snuggles. They both forgive me in an instant when I explode at them (and apologize!).

Someday soon we hope to get our adoption process back off the ground. Moving put quite a kink in it. Someday I will have a little girl... and I wonder which I will prefer by comparison? Hopefully neither. Hopefully they will just be our kids, each as sweet as the other. I can't wait!

Don't forget, the Nibbles and Novels party goes live tonight at 10:00 (Mountain time :) PLEASE link up!! I've got one of my favorite books in the whole world to share, and can't wait to see how you've been inspired! Or just what you're reading :) Any book-related posts are welcome. See you then!!


Blackberry Raspberry Cobbler (adapted from The Best Recipe Cookbook 1999)
Printable Recipe

Topping:
1 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
6 Tb cold butter
7 Tb milk
2 Tb sugar

Filling:
24 oz frozen blackberries and/or raspberries (or 2 pints fresh)
1 heaping Tb cornstarch
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 8x8 inch baking dish, and set it aside.

Combine all fruit filling ingredients in a large bowl. Toss to coat and evenly distribute. Dump into the baking dish and smooth into an even layer. Set aside.

Whisk flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar together. Cut in butter, either with a food processor, 2 knives, or a pastry cutter, until your butter bits are no larger than small peas.

Add 6 Tb of milk, and mix till it comes together in a crumbly dough. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, and knead just till all the bits come together in one lump.

Press (or roll) the dough out into an 8x8 inch square (it doesn't have to be perfect! Messy edges are fine!) Lift dough and place on top of the fruit filling. Brush with remaining Tb milk, and sprinkle with sugar. Cut a few vents in the top.

Bake for 45-55 minutes, until the crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes, then serve! It's amazing with vanilla ice cream.
Mmmm, look at that bubbly berry glaze coating the fluffy golden topping! Scrumptious! I've tried quite a few cobbler recipes since I've been married, and this is hands-down my favorite. Look no further, this is cobbler perfection!
They call this a "shortbread" topping, and that's pretty much what it is! It's lightly sweet, buttery and fluffy and delicious. Soaks up the juices just enough, but not too much, then it would be soggy!
And those berries!!! Tart and tangy and sweet, coated in a smooth glaze... It's glorious over ice cream!
This is one of The Geologist's favorite desserts. Raspberries and blackberries are our favorite combination, but you could use any berry combo! He prefers it hot, straight out of the oven, but I love eating it cold for breakfast the next day. I might have to try drizzling it with cream next time... Yum!

7 comments :

  1. Hi there, just letting you know that you are in my Featured Food Blog sidebar for December on Carole's Chatter. Have a great week.

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  2. Funny, I have five brothers, so, I always assumed I was destined to be the mother of boys. I certainly felt I wasn't prissy enough to have girls. *confession*: I had the same reaction when I discovered you were a girl! (which was when you were born.. Ultrasounds weren't as reliable back then) So.. three girls! I think I was able to raise girls who were more "game", and non co-dependent. I think you are raising boys that are more sensitive and intuitive... and you can foster their pronounced artistic side without being overindulgent!
    Back to the cobbler: I love using Costco's berries Rasp/Black/blueberries. I'm glad you've settled on a cobbler recipe for me. Mine was a recipe "cobbled" (ha) from several different sources, and altered for quantity. It wasn't a very reliable recipe.

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    1. This is definitely the winner. Cooks has like 4, all different. I've tried them all :) I think Stephen and I balance well in our influence on the boys... he keeps them from getting too "girly". They're definitely mama's boys though! :)

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  3. Thank you for the recipe!
    I must say I was very impressed with your boys when we got together for for some Pho. We all ate the dessert, your kids didn't have any and they didn't say anything! Knowing how I was as a kid ,if everyone had eaten dessert and forgot to give me some I would had thrown a big fit. I was such a spoiled brat but your kids were totally fine with it!

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    1. Aw, Thanks Nadja! They aren't always that heavenly. But we did promise them a make-up treat the next day. That helped :)

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  4. You are my new personal chef. It is a necessity. :) haha. Thank you as always for your scrumptious desserts! xo

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  5. I love that you tried all four or so of the CI recipes! I love their recipes and really love to compare recipes. I have the ATK Family cookbook and love that biscuit version, but this shortbread one also sounds amazing so I will have to try it! The only thing that I tried besides mine was their Texas-Style Blueberry Cobbler from Cooks Country which was good but not great enough to make again for me (I have too many other favorites begging to be made again, lol!). Thank you so much for this recommendation!!!

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