Monday, July 12, 2010

summer tastes so good

One of the many delights about our little farm is that it is scattered with bramble bushes. For a short period of time, these wild and thorny bushes are covered with juicy raspberries. If you want to gather enough to make a pie, the trick is to get to them before the birds do. My daughter is vigilant, and every day she'd tour the bushes to see their progress. Finally, it was time. She harvested a heaping bowl full. Still not enough for whole pie, I mixed in some local blueberries and made the most delicious crumb pie. Add a little vanilla ice cream on the side, and I do believe you have a slice of heaven. And don't worry, there were still plenty of berries to be had by those birds.

My bramble berry and blueberry crumb pie recipe:

Mix 1 pint bramble berries and 1 pint blueberries with 1/2 cup of sugar, 2 tbsp flour and 1 tsp lemon peel. Fill a pastry-lined 9-inch pie plate with the mixture.

In a mixing bowl combine 1/2 cup sugar. 3/4 cup flour, 1/2tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/8 tsp mace. Cut in 5 tbsp of butter until crumbly; sprinkle mixture over the berries. Cover the edge with foil and bake on 375 for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 30 minutes more.

Enjoy!