Picking Blackberries

It's blackberry season, one of my most favorite times of the year. Well, of course that doesn't include Christmas or Thanksgiving. Or my birthday, when it's actually acknowledged. We've spent a couple of days now harvesting blackberries. If you've ever done this, you know how sometimes unpleasant it can be. If you've never done this, come by, I'll take you. Then you'll really appreciate it when I make you a cobbler. Blackberries have thorns. A lot of thorns. Sometimes the only way you know you've been stuck with one is that you feel it because they're sometimes virtually invisible. Big BK is a great blackberry picker so long as he doesn't get stuck. In that case, he whines a lot. I've nicknamed him the "blackberry squeezer". He doesn't like that and instead would prefer to be called the "cherry picker". I can't give you an explanation for this. I don't know why he's settled for that name. I'm not sure if he's ever seen a cherry much less picked one.

I've made four blackberry cobblers so far. They're super easy. I myself prefer blackberries fresh, out of hand, especially the big, fat ones that are so ripe that if you apply any pressure at all you'll be covered with juice. They're fantastic. In lieu of that, I don't mind a cobbler if it's warm and has a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting all over it. I'm not wild about the texture of cooked blackberries though because the ratio of pulp to seeds is skewed by the cooking process. The seeds are what really get me. Here is my recipe for blackberry cobbler. Try it. It's super easy and super cheap. I'd say, after picking my own blackberries which don't cost a thing, a cobbler to feed 8 people might cost a dollar.

BKC Mom's Blackberry Cobbler

1 Stick Margarine or Butter

1 Cup Sugar

1 Cup Self-Rising Flour

1 Cup Milk

3 Cups Blackberries, picked through and rinsed

Powdered Sugar to sweeten berries

Toss berries and powdered sugar together so that berries can macerate. I never actually measure berries, adding as many or as few as I want.

In a 13 X 9 baking dish, melt margarine or butter.

In another bowl, combine flour, sugar, and milk. Whisk together until thoroughly combined. Batter will be thin. This is a good time to add flavorings such as vanilla or cinnamon if you want it though the batter is good enough just the way it is. When I measure the sugar I use a scant cup full because of the sugar I've added to the berries.

Pour batter into pan with butter. Top batter with berries. Bake at 350 degrees until top is lightly browned. Allow to cool slightly or you will burn your tongue!

Enjoy!