Celebrating Life!

Well, here I am – my 1st official blog post!  I have to dedicate my 1st post to a “cyber-friend” that,  as she would have said,  “crossed over” recently.  I met Becky through my favorite food board “Contessa’s Kitchen.” which is dedicated to the admiration and love of cooking recipes from the Barefoot Contessa.  She was an avid Blogger, photographer, dish lover, cook and loved her family fiercely!  She was an inspiration to many, celebrated Life to the fullest, and I am really going to miss her.  I will remember her fondly - every time I pull out a Fiestaware Dish, or use the cutting board that I won recently on her blog celebrating her 5th anniversary or use one of the many recipes she has shared with us over the years.  She was truly “one in a million!”
Rest in peace, sweet Becky.   

And, what am I celebrating today!  Friends!  And boy am I lucky, for I have an abundance! As a matter of fact, I have a feeling that a lot of my celebrating will be because of friends!  Recently I had a call from my friend Jennifer asking if I would like to come over and “grill out” with her family.  Of course my answer was yes, because I love to visit with them.  We have shared “many a meal” over the years and hopefully will continue to share many more.  I told her I would bring a dessert, because the day before I had visited Jaemore Farms and came home with a booty of bounty which included juicy blackberries and sweet Georgia peaches.  So, I decided on a Cobbler.. Now, I will admit, right here and now, that I am not a pastry chef.  Pastry and I don’t get along,. My mother can make pastry in her sleep – it gives me nightmares!  I shamelessly use Pillsbury Roll-Out crust.  It just makes life easier for me since the thought of making dough is exhausting.  I know, I know it is probably a lot easier that I think, but YOU have not experienced my dough!  And I promise one day I will make my Mom and my friend “Jazzymom” proud.  Just not today!
On to the cobbler, which is one of those dishes that every southern girl worth a grain of “grit” should know how to make.  Its not difficult, I promise -especially when you use Pillsbury Roll-Out Crust. Also, in place of the sugar, I used Splenda, so that made it a healthy dessert, seeing as though I did use fruit.  I rolled out my dough and cut it in strips to form a lattice top for the cobbler, brushed it with an egg wash, sprinkled it with a little more Splenda and popped it on the oven for 45 minutes.

The result was all that I wanted it to be! When I dipped my serving spoon into the cobbler and broke through the golden crust, there was an explosion of juice and blackberries.  I won’t lie, I was awfully proud!” I served this with some fresh whipped cream, but vanilla ice cream would be fabulous! And, I won’t tell if you pull out a container of Cool Whip to top it either!
   

Ummm, warm Blackberry Peach Cobbler, great friends and one of Will’s famous Margarita’s, how can I NOT celebrate life!

Cobbler

This is a super easy, dependable dessert that can be made year round using frozen fruit (which is a girls best friend in those long winter months)

If you want to make life difficult (I can hear my mother now…you are making way too much out of this pastry deal) – make your own pastry, otherwise be a cheater like me and whip out the Pillsbury Rollout Pie crust.  You can either roll out and top your cobbler with the whole sheet, or you can cut in strips to make a latice top.  I figure if I am going to take the shortcut, I should at least challenge myself with an extra step.
                                        
                                         4 cups of fruit (depending on the size of your pan)***

                                         ½ cup sugar***
                                         2 TBS corn starch or All purpose flour
                                         1 tsp grated lemon zest

Cooks notes
***I used blackberries and peaches, blueberries are equally as good!
***I used splenda

Mix together ingredients and pour into greased pan and top with Pie Crust.  (If using whole sheet, cut slits for ventilation)  Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.  Bake at 375 until brown – 45-50 minutes.  

I told you it was easy!  

I hope you will visit me again!

Susan (aka Sissy!)

May the LORD bless his people with peace and happiness and let them CELEBRATE!  Psalm 64:10