Gorgeous summer colors a table make: give me a grass, a seattle sunset, a lollipop, a taxi, a joy, a lemon, and then follow up with a creamsicle. Garnish with a crisp, snowy tablecloth, some strewn greens and dazzling blooms and your August dinner party is off the mark and running.
Oh... food you say? Way-ell? Let me see...
OK, baby green beans, teeny summer patty-pan squash, rosemary lamb chops with lemon on the grill, some country fried potatoes with olive oil in the oven, and heirloom tomato basil salad.
All of that is easy as pie, actually easier than pie. So why make pie with all the rolling out and fuss, (living is supposed to be "easy" in the summertime, remember?) when we can have a fine Blackberry Clafouti with all those fabulous plump blackberries that are growing wild in and about the environs? Send the kids out with their pails. (For anybody interested in this one-pan-wonder, I will write the recipe at the end of the blog. Whipped cream and extra blackberries can be served up alongside in a twin-set of vivid, summer-sassy glassybaby.)
I just heard about a brand new baby boy whose mama's friend bought her a hudson glassybaby to celebrate his birth. Excellent choice it seems, as that bouncing bundle of joy is named, you guessed it: Hudson! How perfect! Congratulations to all of you!
As I sit here on this exceptional summer's day gazing at Mt. Rainier and the beauty about me, I appreciate how truly lucky so many of us are: safe and sound in our insulated worlds. My heart goes out to Anna whose husband was recently killed in Afghanistan. His birthday is coming up at the end of August and her dear friends have banded together to send her anonymous gifts on special days, saying they are from "Anna's Angels."
For Anna's husband's birthday, Michelle (one of the Angels) is sending Anna a glassybaby in his memory and to remind her how much her husband loved her. Michelle spoke of their "one of a kind love... you see so rarely."
Michelle immediately thought about glassybaby, she said, "when I heard about her husband. In fact, we lit candles the night of his funeral since we're all spread throughout the country - and I lit my glassybaby. He and I share a birthday too, so I wanted to send something for that day specifically... I just ache for her."
Thank you so much Michelle for sharing this story of deepest friendship. We send your group of close friends all of our best wishes and send love and hope to the families of all of our service-people deployed to other lands.
Thank you dear glassybaby friends for being here.
Until next time,
Alice
aliceblog@glassybaby.com
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BLACKBERRY CLAFOUTI
6 to 8 servings 375 degrees
1/3 cup plus 2 Tablespoons sugar, divided
Scant 2 cups fresh blackberries
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup whipping cream
4 eggs beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon kirsch, optional
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Powdered sugar
1. Generously butter a 10-inch glass pie plate and sprinkle evenly with 1 Tablespoon sugar.
2. Spread berries in the plate and sprinkle with 1 Tablespoon of sugar, set aside.
3. Whisk the milk, cream, eggs, vanilla and kirsch, if desired, together until throughly blended. Combine the flour, 1/3 cup sugar and salt in a separate bowl. Whisk the milk mixture into the dry ingredients until blended and pour over the blackberries.
4. Bake in preheated 375-degree oven 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is puffed and golden. Remove to wire rack and sprinkle top generously with powdered sugar. Serve in wedges when slightly warm or at room temperature.
Hope you enjoy it! Calories, Blalories! Remember, this is a dessert for summer fun! (PS If anyone finds out what "clafouti" means, let me know.)
