Cobbler of Resourcefulness

At our house here in Lawrence we have a giant mulberry tree perched on the edge of our neighbor's driveway and shading our front lawn. Since this (elderly) neighbor has complained multiple times about berries dropping on her driveway we had considered cutting it down (at the suggestion of said neighbor). However, now that I know I can bake with the bountiful berries from the tree, I am content to sweep her driveway and reap the fruits of the season! After a bit of web research, I laid out a tarp on the front lawn and began vigorously shaking the branches to get the berries to fall to the ground. I probably looked pretty funny doing so, but I think it's worth it for an endless supply of free berries!

The first recipe I tried with the berries is a cobbler. I adapted a recipe from http://www.helium.com/items/1680476-mulberry-cobbler-reecipe, substituting buttermilk for some of the milk. If I made this recipe again, I would be sure to use unsalted butter, but this was a use-what-you-have-on-hand kinda day! I'd probably also add a little sugar to the batter.

2 cups mulberries, or more
1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar
6 T butter, melted
3/4 c flour
1/4 to 1/3 cup rolled oats (optional)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk (I used about 1/2 buttermilk)






Preheat oven to 350. Mix berries and sugar thoroughly. Pour butter into 8x8 glass dish. Mix dry ingredients and milk. Pour over melted butter (do not mix - the butter kinda makes the crust - yum!). Then sprinkle berries over the batter. Bake for about 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

A Different Kind of Cobbler!

With summer fast approaching I know I will be making my berry cobbler verrrry soon! But I do want to share this recipe I made for the 1st tiem voer the winter adn have made a few times since. I'm sure I sound like a broken record, but it is so good, EASY, and easy to keep the ingredients on hand- definitely qualifying it as a keeper in my book! It is originally from our local paper. Before I made it I though, "Chocolate cobbler, hmmmm, what is chocolate cobbler going to taste like?" And after sinking into a bite it was like "Oh, of course, chocolate cobbler!" YUM.

Chocolate Cobbler

Base:

2 sticks butter

1 1/4 c. sugar

1 1/2 c. self rising flour

1 tsp. vanilla

3/4 c. milk

Chocolate Layer:

1 c. sugar

6 Tbs. cocoa

2 c. boiling water

Preheat oven to 350. Place butter in a glass 9x13 and melt it in the oven while it preheats.

In a bowl combine rest of "base" ingredients to make batter. Pour over melted butter in pan and DO NOT MIX.

In a second bowl, mix sugar and cocoa, and meanwhile be boiling 2 cups water. Sprinkly cocoa mixture over butter and batter, again NOT mixing. Pour boiling water over the top and again DON'T STIR. Stcik it in the oven and bake 30- 45 minutes. Be careful not to over cook.

Don't know why I took the pic before adding the vanilla ice cream!?! What was I thinking?

I know, I know allll that sugar and butter- so bad, but oh so good!