Blackberry Crumble

There's something about picking blackberries that is intensely satisfying and addictive. I think it stems from our cave man times, before Tesco's was invented, when foraging for nuts and berries was the in thing. Once I start picking the free fruit, I want to keep going until my fingers are red raw from bramble scratches and I'm covered in sticky bobs. This is a good demonstration of why communism will never work.

It's been a bumper crop of blackberries this year, and I just couldn't wait to get on my bike and start gathering. I had been waiting for the berries to be ripe for weeks, so as soon as the first of the crop turned black I set off to the cycle track with 2 plastic boxes in my bicycle basket.

When I was a kid, my Mum used to give me a margarine tub attached to a string round my neck, with a little hole in the top to post the blackberries through. This genius invention was to stop me spilling the freshly picked blackberries all over the floor.

The best of the blackberry bushes were around Blacon, so I decided to leave my bike on the grass beside the cycle path, and let the picking commence.

Predictably, the best of the blackberries were very high up and towards the back, which would have been fine if I had arms like Mr Tickle, but to really get the best fruit Blacon had to offer I had to be prepared to get submerged in the brambles. This kind of commitment really makes you feel that you have earned your crumble.

As it was a sunny day, a lot of cyclists went past, unaware that I was lurking in the bushes happily picking blackberries. It wasn't until two youths went past on a bike (one was having a seatie) that I sensed something was afoot. I watched in disbelief as the two youths walked over to my bicycle with the intention of stealing it.

Imagine the shock they got when I ran out of the bushes with stained red hands. They must have thought I was some kind of pervert/murderess, because they took off on their bike looking terrified. Let's hope this deters them from a life of crime ;)

Once I had filled my boxes, I decided it was time to go home and get baking. The dish of the day was going to be a crumble.

After I had thoroughly washed the fruit, I put it in a pan with sugar and simmered. Once the sugar was melted and the fruit had sweetened I poured into an ovenproof bowl. I then sprinkled the home made crumble mix over the top and pressed down lightly. Finally, I raked a fork over the top of the crumble in neat lines.

I like my crumble best with evaporated milk. How do you eat yours?

Pumpkin Pie - Sort Of

I know what you are thinking. “Another pie? Bridie’s going to need a shoe horn to get into her new Renault Twingo.” Well, think on – this pie contains a root vegetable high in vitamins and dietary fibre, so it can’t be bad for you.

After last week’s Pecan Pie, I started reminiscing about a pie I baked with my Mum for Halloween, back in the day when Gladiators was the must-watch Saturday night show, and you got bullied for NOT owning a shell-suit. It was a recipe that we found in a women’s magazine for pumpkin pie, which was the ideal way to ‘use that left over pumpkin’

However, living in Lancaster circa 1989 the most exotic thing we picked up from the fruit and veg shop was a red pepper…and even then you were the talk of the town. We searched high and low for a pumpkin, but in the end it proved vegless and we resorted to tinned pumpkin instead. I remember we topped the pumpkin pie with pecan nuts, and I felt very refined as I ate my slice.

This sweet memory, together with the fact that I got a butternut squash for 35p in the reduced section of Asda, was enough motivation to cook this American favourite. I know a butternut squash is technically not a pumpkin, but it was the closest I was going to get in July. One of these days, I might just cook a pumpkin pie from an actual pumpkin.

Unfortunately, the recipe from my childhood had long gone, and I didn’t have the networking skills to search the archives of Bella magazine for that 80's Halloween food feature. For this reason I did a bit of googling and had a browse of a cookery book or two, and loosely formulated a recipe that I thought might work.

I steamed the butternut squash, and then put into a blender with sugar and cream. When it was cooled slightly, I added three whisked eggs. I then poured into a sweet pastry case that I made earlier, and topped with pecan nuts just like I did all those years before.

The results of my cooking experiment turned out great! I had some while still warm, but it was even better when it had been chilled in the fridge overnight.

Next week I’ll try and cook something other than pies – promise :)

American Pecan Pie

You wouldn’t think that vampire series ‘True Blood’ would provide baking inspiration, but that is exactly what happened when I watched series one. The series is set in Louisiana, and is full of good old fashioned southern manners, traditional home cooking, sex, and vampires.

For those of you who haven’t seen the show, there is a sad scene where Sookie (one of the main characters) is eating her late Gran’s Pecan Pie. It may be an emotional scene, but all I could think of was the pie. Ever since I saw it I have been dying to bake one, but have been waiting for just the right moment.

So when my friend Bob, who happens to be a great photographer, offered to take some professional photos of my next baking creation - I knew that it had to be Pecan Pie.

This week I feel compelled to do a little history lesson, and tell you about the past of the Pecan Pie. Although the exact origins are unclear, it is said that this pie hails from the French settlement in Louisiana around the 18th century. Pecan trees grow in this area, and can produce edible nuts for more than three hundred years. It’s amazing to think that the Pecan trees that were first used to make Pecan Pie for those early settlers, could still be producing Pecans for pies now!

First I made the pastry for the crust, which was unusual in that it contained a good dose of sugar and four egg yolks. Then I melted the butter, sugar, and syrup, and added three whisked eggs before pouring into the pastry case. I know what you’re thinking, ‘heart attack food’, but my Grandma always told me that a little bit of what you fancy does you good, and my Grandma is right about everything.

The recipe didn’t tell me to blind bake the pastry case before putting in the filling, which made me as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room of rocking chairs (southern saying). I had visions of soggy pastry, but decided that if the recipe had been around for three hundred years I should trust it.

Once the filling was in the pastry case, I placed Pecan nut halves on top, in a neat circular pattern. The recipe suggested putting them in any old way, but there is no way I could have ruined the symmetrical look of the dish. OCD? Definitely.

After about forty minutes in the oven the pie had turned golden brown, and the filling had set completely. It looked fantastic, and I was especially pleased, seeing as it was going to be subjected to a professional photo shoot.

The next day my kitchen became a photographic studio complete with lights, and other paraphernalia that I can’t remember the exact name of. Bob, you are not included under the term ‘paraphernalia’ - I do remember your name!

I am sure you will agree that the photo looks fantastic. If Playboy did a pie centre fold - this would be it.

I was relieved that the pastry was not soggy as I had feared, but just right. The Pecan Pie had a surprising texture too, not at all what I had imagined. The texture of the filling was almost like custard, but the taste was of buttery sweetness. Of course the Pecan crunch topped things off nicely, and I have to say I think they are a real ‘nut’s nut.’

After the success of the Pecan Pie, I now have a bit of a fascination with American desserts. America offers a whole continent of cakes and pies to be discovered, and I’m sure it won’t be long before Mississippi Mud Pie and Pumpkin Pie make it on to here.

Thanks y’all for stopping by! You’ve made me as happy as a clam!