I'm a southern gal with a passion for cooking and baking from scratch, the old fashioned way!
Buttermilk Pie has been a favorite in our family for many years. There is something about the simplicity of the recipe that surprises me every time, because the end product is so amazingly delicious. It feels like cheating it’s so easy to make! The pie itself has no crust but holds is own with a deliciously rich and fluffy custard. As wonderful as it is plain, it’s even better topped with fresh berries and a dollop of whipped cream….
Dear readers, I was eating some beautiful strawberries the other day. They were sliced into beautiful heart-shaped pieces, and it made me think of my oldest friend, who is awaiting a heart transplant. She and I grew up next door to one another, romping and playing together since we were in diapers. She is just barely 29 years old, and is in need of a new heart. Her life depends on the generosity of some yet-to-be determined individual who decided to become an organ donor.
Happy (belated) Fourth of July, dear readers! Among the many American traditions that go along with Independence Day, one of the greatest is EATING! This dish is based on a recipe from one of my favorite old fashioned American cooks: Nathalie Dupree. She calls this deliciously fresh dessert “Liberty Cobbler” for its red, white, and blue hues. It is essentially a strawberry cobbler with a blueberry sauce. The flavors are every bit as colorful as these pictures portray: a terrific combination of crispy cobbler, sweet-tart berries, and cool and creamy topping.
My dad even said that this was the best cobbler he had ever eaten. It’s definitely a winner!
This recipe hadn’t been made by anyone in my family in about twenty years – until last week. I made a loaf for hubby and me so that we could have a summery breakfast bread to take on the go in the mornings – and just one bite of this incredibly unique bread took me back to when I was a little girl. So moist and flavorful with a hint of spice, and the bursts of juicy-sweet berries . . .
He doesn’t like to flaunt it like I do (ha ha), but he is an amazing baker. This dish has wowed my parents, and several of our friends. And I still never knew the true recipe until tonight!! His family is definitely one for *secret recipes* – that I intend to chip away at over the years to come!
The shortcake is buttery and moist with a crispy sugared top. Delicate and tender, it absolutely melts in your mouth. Throw away your other recipes. This is The One!
Hubby’s Famous Strawberry Shortcake
4 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups Bisquick
1/2 cup milk
5 tablespoons sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
4 tablespoons butter, melted
Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
In a medium bowl, mix the sliced strawberries with the 1/4 cup sugar. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
In a separate bowl, mix the Bisquick, milk, 5 tablespoons sugar, and melted butter until a soft dough forms. Drop by 6 large spoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops with extra sugar. Bake at 425 until golden brown – about 10-12 minutes.
Top the hot shortcakes with the strawberries, and garnish with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. We usually do plain fresh whipped cream, but mixed it up this time with the ice cream. Enjoy!