Monday, July 22, 2013

Blueberry Buckle!!!

In the mid-west, June means strawberries, but July means blueberries!!!!

(Continued sympathies to the Fresh Pioneer on her shortage of blueberries this year.)

I bought these at Sam's Club. The price was good, and they're pretty good for grocery store berries - my only option for now.


But seeing these in my fridge, awaiting recipes, took me back to my earlier life - when I was growing up in southwest Michigan in the 1960's and '70's.

Boy, those were the decades, weren't they? We were all so busy storming into the future that we lost many of the traditions, not missing them until twenty or so years later....

But some traditions never died, and one of those was the yearly trek to Leduc's Blueberries in Paw Paw to pick pounds and pounds of berries to freeze.

If you've never been to western Michigan, you're missing out on some of the best fruit anywhere - berries, apples, cherries, peaches...on and on. Between the Lake (that's Lake Michigan) tempering the winter winds and the sandy soil, it's a perfect place for orchards. Oh, and I haven't even mentioned the vineyards! If you're into wine, Michigan rivals California in quality, if not quantity.

But my foray into my childhood memories was complete when I found that Leduc's is still around - check it out here: http://www.leducblueberries.com/

I was sad to see they no longer allow U-Pick. The last time we went picking there was when the children were small - but with four children and my mom along, we picked enough blueberries to last all year in no time!

And even though we now live miles and miles from southwest Michigan, if I'm visiting in July, we'll pick up some berries to bring home! I have an aunt and uncle who drive from Missouri to Michigan every year to fill their freezer.

A highlight at Leduc's are the recipes they supply (available on the website). On Saturday I tried one I had never tried before - Blueberry Sour Cream Cake.

When I got to this point, I thought maybe something was wrong.

The cake layer was a lot like a cookie layer, but I kept going.



It looked okay. It even tasted okay - but it was a bit dry. I'll keep experimenting with this recipe. I have a feeling something was left out when the recipe was printed....

But - never say die, right?

Sunday I made a tried and true Leduc recipe....

Welcome, Blueberry Buckle!

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

topping:
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Cream 1/4 cup butter with 3/4 cup sugar, then add the egg and beat well.

In a medium bowl, stir together 2 cup flour, baking powder and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternately with 1/2 cup milk, beating until smooth.

Fold in blueberries, and pour into a greased 9-inch square pan.



For the topping, combine the ingredients and blend well to form crumbs, and then sprinkle the topping over the batter.



Bake at 375° for 35 minutes.

The buckle came out of the oven at 6:00 Sunday evening - just in time to take it to share at our Sunday evening service.


Oh yes, it was delicious.


And those who walked in at the last minute? Well, they shared the crumbs with me :)



This is a quick and easy recipe. Do you know what really makes it, though? That bit of cinnamon in the topping. Mmmm.....

And it's a good thing I have a couple more cups of berries left - more buckle tomorrow!









16 comments:

  1. Did you read my mind? Quart of blueberries in fridge. Note on counter to myself. "Remember to freeze blueberries." Well I am going to make this today-Monday-first. Thank you.

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    1. Of course I read your mind, Tina. We're sympatico, right?

      I have two cups of blueberries left, and I have a feeling they're never going to make it to the freezer!

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  2. Can't wait to make one with gluten free flour. Ugh was so tired of restaurant food. Bring on homemade.

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    1. The idea of restaurant food always appeals to me...someone else cooking, cleaning up...all I have to do is enjoy it.... But after one or two meals, I'm ready for home-cooking, too!

      I assume you made it through the conference without starving :) But I'm sure it wasn't easy to find something to eat. Did your snacks hold out?

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    2. I watched others eat more cornbread than I've seen in a long time. Whaa.

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  3. I'm with you guys. And that buckle looks great! I am looking forward to trying it!

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    1. It was delicious. And it would make a great breakfast cake, too.

      And have you recovered from RWA yet, Piper? You must have been busy from all the pictures you were in!

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  4. Argh -- where's my gratuitous Thatcher picture?!

    Ahem.

    I love blueberry anything so I'll be making this Blueberry Buckle for sure. Love the name, by the way!

    And how did puppy kindergarten go?

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    Replies
    1. I have to apologize. A certain puppy would NOT stay still enough for his picture! All I got were several black/tan/white blurs. I guess we could call them art....

      The first night of puppy kindergarten went great. He focused on me rather than the other puppies, and even let the trainer take him and use him for a demonstration. It really helped that he's one of the older puppies in the class, though, and he had already learned some of the basics.

      We'll see how he does tonight. Homework has gone well.

      And the name, "Blueberry Buckle"? That's what we've always called this dish, but some of the people at church last night had never heard of it. I have a feeling it's a regional dish.

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  5. Jan, I love blueberries and I love blueberry buckle. Yum! Guess that'll be on the menu for this week.

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    1. Me, too, Mindy. The taste I had last night wasn't enough!

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  6. Well, I've ne er heard the term buckle. I guess it's what I'd call a blueberry crumble. :)

    YUM! i need to hit the grocery.

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    1. goodness, typing with grand dog bumping my elbow wanting attention.

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    2. I think buckle is a north/northeast thing. My friend who grew up in Maine knew the term, and it's part of my Michigan roots, too.

      My cat is the one who keeps me from typing coherently. When she wants to cuddle, she lays on my right arm. I can still use the mouse, but typing is impossible!

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  7. Oh Jan, you get so much credit for taking this to church with you. I'd want to keep every bite for myself. Not very christian, I know. Fattening too. But SO good.

    I adore blueberries. I made a similar recipe last week except I cheated and used a box of cinnamon streusel cake mix and put two pints of blueberries in. Luscious!

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    1. Well...actually...I took it along because it had JUST come out of the oven, and my husband was already in the car.

      It smelled soooo goood - so it came along. I wanted some while it was fresh and hot.

      And, apparently, so did everyone else!

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