Purple Hands

I live out in the country.  One of the advantages of living in the country is that country folk don't pay with cash, we swap.  I raise dairy goats and you would be amazed what I can "buy" with the products that my dairy goats produce.

Last week one of our neighbors called to let us know that his berry bushes were loaded and we should come pick "us some berries".  So for a couple bars of goat's milk soap and a bottle or two goat's milk lotion, we "picked us some berries."  If you ever pick blackberries, wear gloves, otherwise, you will have purple hands.  BUT, you will have the best berries you ever tasted.  (Just in case you forget the gloves, the purple stain does go away after a day or two - don't worry - you won't have smurf hands forever!)

I froze a lot of the berries, also made some blackberry jam.  And I found this recipe on the Internet for Blackberry Cobbler.  This is an adaptation of a Betty Crocker recipe.  I had to make two because the first one didn't last very long. 

Mix the batter gently - helps make the cobbler moister.  Also, you can use half blackberries and half raspberries for a different taste.  The recipe says not to use blueberries - not sure why - can't see why that would make any difference.

Blackberry Cobbler

2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) blackberries (do not use blueberries)

1 cup sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 T sugar
1/4 t vanilla or 1/4 t cinnamon (depends on your taste)
1/2 teaspoon salt (I omit the salt - didn't seem to make a difference)
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted (I always use un-salted butter)

1. In medium bowl, stir together blackberries and sugar. Let stand about 20 minutes or until fruit syrup forms. Heat oven to 375°F.

2. In large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt and milk. Stir in melted butter until blended. Spread in ungreased 8-inch square pan. Spoon blackberry mixture over batter.

3. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until dough rises and is golden. Serve warm with ice cream. - YUM!

Glazed Lavender Tea Cakes

Oh, these are so good!  I use the small mini loaves pans and they are perfect with a cup of coffee in the morning - my teenage son even loves these (and this is the child that gives out our local McDonalds as his second address!).  The recipe uses the lavender leaves which gives a slight lavender taste.  If you want a stronger lavender flavor, use fresh lavender buds.  If you are using dried buds, usually only half the required amount - dried herbs are much stronger than fresh.

Glazed Lavender Tea Cake
Cake:
1 cup granulated sugar
5 tablespoons butter or stick margarine, softened  (I use only unsalted butter)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 large egg white
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup plain fat-free yogurt
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh lavender leaves (see note above)
Cooking spray

Glaze:
1/3 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 teaspoon water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°

To prepare cake, beat granulated sugar, butter, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 5 minutes). Add egg and egg white, 1 at a time; beat well after each addition. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; stir well. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with yogurt, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in lavender.

Pour the batter into an 8-inch loaf pan **coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 1 hour *** or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
** I use the mini loaf pans
*** I adjust the baking time for the mini loaf pans

To prepare glaze, combine powdered sugar and remaining ingredients. Spread over hot cake. Cool in pan 20 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Yield: 10 servings (serving size: 1 slice).

Enjoy!

If you don't have lavender available, do a search on the Internet for Culinary lavender.  There are several lavender farms that sell lavender buds.