Mixed Berry Cobbler

Mixed berry cobbler.

The News and Observer had an article recently about food served at the UNC home football games Catering for UNC football games  One recipe that caught my eye was the Mixed Berry Cobbler.  Since I don't expect to be sitting in the Blue Zone for a Carolina football game, I decided I would make it, and we could eat it while watching the football game in the comfort of our TV room.


Here's the recipe:

Mixed Berry Cobbler The chefs say you can change out the berries for whatever you like. I used 6 cups of frozen mixed berries: blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Adapted from a recipe from Rocky Top Hospitality. Ingredients: 1 pound pitted cherries, can be frozen 2 peaches, peeled, pits removed and sliced 1 pint raspberries 1 pint blue berries 1 pint strawberries 1 cup sugar, divided 3 tablespoons cornstarch 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 cups flour 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 sticks butter, cubed, plus more for greasing baking dish 3/4 cup milk Heavy cream Directions: PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. COMBINE fruit, 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice in a greased 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish.  Mixed berries with sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice. WHISK together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Blend butter cubes into flour mixture with two knives or a pastry cutter until butter resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk and stir until just barely combined. Do not over mix. Knead dough gently on a lightly floured surface. Roll or pat out the dough to a 9-inch-by-13-inch shape. Gently place on top of fruit. Brush with a little cream. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour until the fruit is bubbling and the dough is browned.  Into the oven. Out of the oven. Yield: 10-12 servings Cobbler with topping of vanilla ice cream. We may not be sitting in the Blue Zone, but we can enjoy our mixed berry cobbler right here as we enjoy the game on TV.

March Madness My 2012 Bracket

I become consumed with basketball this time of year.  I'm mainly a Tarheel fan (my kids and grandkids have Carolina Blue blood coursing their veins), my husband is a retired Duke professor (but not a big basketball fan), I have a master's from Duke, but my Ph.D. is from NC State.  So I could pull for the team that is winning among these three, and all three are in the NCAA tournament this year. 

Final four and final from my bracket this year.

Each year I enter my son Michael's office pool, Trust Company of the South.  Usually I end up on the bottom (in which case I get my $5.00 back), but last year I was number 27 out of 38.  My granddaughter, Grace, picked teams based upon the outfits of the cheerleaders last year, and she came in second. Perhaps I should get some advice from her. 

I wonder who Grace is picking this year (Photo by Meredith Palmer).

I'm picking Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Michigan State and Carolina for the final four with Carolina and Kentucky playing for the championship and Kentucky winning. I think it is going to be a very good tournament.  So basketball fans enjoy, and let the fun begin!