The season so far has been good for blueberries both for high bush and the coveted wild berries. So many other local crops have not done as well. Local peaches are a bust, and sour cherries were nearly nonexistent. I bought two pounds of cherries and have used them up, one time in a cobbler and the other in a small 8-inch pie. In other seasons I’ve had many pounds that I pitted and froze for future use. Not this year.
As for blueberries, they’re everywhere, and I’ve taken to combining both high bush and wild in various pies, tarts and cobblers. I like the combination. The high bush add heft and the wild add their delicate sweetness in a great combination.
One unusual recipe that I came across this summer was in a community cookbook called “Summer Food, Recipes from Members of the Tarratine Club of Dark Harbor.” It’s a charming collection of family recipes enjoyed on this well established island summer colony. Many of the recipes come from local ladies who work as generational cooks for the summer families. They are as original Maine cooking as it gets.
The one that intrigued me is what I deem and adapted blueberry cobbler pudding. It’s got the elements of a crisp-topped cobbler and creaminess of a pudding. It’s absolutely original and delicious.
Ingredients
- I pint blueberries, either high bush or wild or a combination
- 1/3 cup butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 cup flour
- Pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1cup boiling water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Lightly grease a 7 x 11 Pyrex pan. Spread the blueberries in the pan.
- In a bowl cream the butter and 3/4 cup sugar. Stir in the egg, flour, salt baking powder and milk. Pour the mixture over the berries, spreading to cover.
- Put the remaining 1 cup sugar and the cornstarch in a separate bowl. Using thumb and forefinger, mix the two together until well combined. Stir in the boiling water.
- Very gently pour the mixture over the batter. Bake for 40 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or unadorned.