Berry Good!

This is the wonderful season for great summer fruit.  I like apples, tangerines, bananas, and grapefruit, but I love watermelon, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, cantaloupe and honeydew.  I am willing to pay higher prices during the off season to get these fruits if they are shipped in and tasteful.  But, while the season is here and they are easily available in the grocery store, I try to keep my refrigerator stocked with fresh finds.

I also take advantage of the availability of these great berries and fruit to make fresh cobblers.  Our grocery store recently had blackberries for $1 for 6 oz. so I made my husband so happy and made a cobbler with them.  With just two of us here at home, I decided to make a small cobbler.  I should have made it full size because it was eaten very quickly and I must say, it was very good. 

I encourage you to buy what you find fresh and sweet in the produce section or at your local farmer's market.  Your family will love you for it!

Juicy Blackberry Cobbler

4 c. fresh blackberries

2 c. water

1/2 c. sugar

Pastry (recipe follows)

2 T. melted butter

2 T. sugar, divided

Combine blackberries, sugar, and water in saucepan.  Cook over medium heat 10 minutes; stir gently. 

Pour half of berry mixture into a greased 12  2 x 2" baking dish.  Roll pastry to 1/8" thickness on a lightly-floured surface.  cut into 1" strips, and arrange half of strips in a lattice design over berry mixture.  Brush with 1 T. melted butter, and sprinkle with 1 T. sugar.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until pastry is lightly browned. 

Pour remaining berry mixture over baked pastry.  Arrange remaining pastry strips in lattice design over berries.  Brush with remaining butter and sprinkle with remaining sugar.  Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden. 

(I used coarse sugar crystals.  You can find these at Wal-Mart on the baking aisle or with Wilton cake decorating items.)

Pastry

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 t. salt
1/2 c. shortening
1/4 c. plus 1 T. cold water

Combine flour and salt; cut in shorteningwith a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle water 1 T. at a time evenly over surface; stir with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened. Shape into a ball. Chill.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe.