Blackberry Cobbler Cake

Blackberries, are a sweet, juicy, low-calorie food that adds a variety of nutrients to your diet.


NUTRITIONAL FACTS: Blackberries, like most berries are low in calories and high in nutrients. Per half cup, blackberries have 37 calories, 9g of carbohydrate and 4g of fiber. Other nutrients in blackberries include vitamins A, C, and K, magnesium, potassium, and fiber. Vitamin A helps maintain eye health while vitamin C promotes wound healing, keeps gums healthy and helps the body absorb iron. Vitamin K, along with magnesium, are important in promoting bone health. Potassium plays a role in health blood pressure levels. And fiber helps control cholesterol and keeps you regular.

(Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/110325-blackberries-nutrition/#ixzz1izqK1C7L)

This sweet and tangy dessert is perfect after a Sunday lunch and a great way to use up a tart batch of Blackberries. I saw these yummalicious berries in my supermarket on sale and had to buy them, Ofcourse...

RECIPE: Blackberry Cobbler Cake

(Adapted from John Shields)

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp vanilla
1 pint (2 cups) fresh Blackberries
1/2 to 1 cup sugar, for berries
1 cup hot water

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8 by 8-inch baking dish.
2. Stir together 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 2 Tbsp butter, 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 tsp vanilla .
3. Toss the berries with the sugar to taste and stir into the batter.
4. Spoon the batter into the baking dish. Pour 1 cup hot water over all and bake for 45 (50 minutes for frozen berries), until the batter rises to the surface around the edges of the pan and is light golden brown.
5. Serve plain or with vanilla Ice-cream.

Step-by-step proccess,

 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8 by 8-inch baking dish.

NOTE: I get asked a lot, "Do I have to use an 8 by 8 inch dish or do I have to use a tube pan for a recipe?" Answer is NO you don't. You can use whatever you have on hand. To demonstrate, I have used an oblong dish that I use for serving food. You don't need every pot and pan that a recipe asks for. Just get creative and use whaever you have. I promise it will taste delicious no matter what shape or pan you use :) Since there was less surface area exposed to the heat it took about 8 minutes more in the oven so make sure you adjust the timing depending on the size of your vessel.

Stir together 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 2 Tbsp butter, 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 tsp vanilla.

   

Toss the berries with the sugar to taste and stir into the batter.

Spoon the batter into the baking dish. Pour 1 cup hot water over all and bake for 45 (50 minutes for frozen berries), until the batter rises to the surface around the edges of the pan and is light golden brown.

   

Serve plain or with vanilla Ice-cream or green tea sorbet.

Enjoy!!! The sweet-tart and savory cobbler was just perfect ending to a perfect meal.

Bean and Spinach Stew/Soup

This recipe is from a couple of weeks ago when it was raining very hard in Autsin.

It has been raining cats and dogs since yesterday (Jan 24). Flash floods, power outages, tornado warnings and thunder so loud that the windows in my house rattled last night. So this weather calls for a hearty bean soup/stew that will warm and comfort us all. Best part, it is super healthy. This chilli is packed with protein, fiber and nutrients and low on fat as well as calories. This pairs really well with some corn bread. So lets get this baby cooking...

RECIPE: Bean and Spinach Stew
Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

1 Tbsp garlic, minced

2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp chili powder

2 cans diced tomatoes (14.5oz)

1 can dark red kidney beans, rinsed & drained

1 can black bean, rinsed & drained

1 can white beans, rinsed & drained

4 cups fat-free low sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

3 cups fresh baby spinach leaves

 

Method

1. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in 4-quart saucepan. Add onion and sauté about 5 minutes, until softened but not browned. Add garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Do not brown garlic.
2. Add spices and tomatoes and simmer about 5 minutes. Add 3 cups (2 cans) of beans and 2 ½ cups of broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer.
3. Place remaining beans and broth in bowl of food processor or in blender. Add cilantro and puree until smooth. Add mixture to stew.
4. Add spinach and heat just until wilted. Stir well and serve hot.

Step-by-step process,

Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in 4-quart saucepan. Add onion and sauté about 5 minutes, until softened but not browned.

Add garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Do not brown garlic.

Add spices and tomatoes and simmer about 5 minutes. Add 3 cups (2 cans) of beans and 2 ½ cups of broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer.

Place remaining beans and broth in bowl of food processor or in blender. Add cilantro and puree until smooth. Add mixture to stew.

Add spinach and heat just until wilted. Stir well and serve hot.

This is just a perfect meal seved with some corn bread and avocados.

Avocado-Mozzarella-Tomato Salad

This is such a simple and refreshing salad that you can whip up in a couple of minutes. The tangy dressing adds so much oomph to this amazing dish.

RECIPE: Avocado-Mozzarella-Tomato Salad
(Adapted from Appetizers)
Ingredients
2 large Vine Ripe Tomatoes, sliced
5-6 Oz Mozzarella Fresca, grape size, avalable at grocery stores
2 Avocados, sliced
4 Tbsp Olive oil
1 Tbsp Aged White Wine Vinegar
1 tsp Mustard, coarse grained
Basil leaves, torn up
10-12 Olives, spiced with red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Slice up the tomatoes and avocadoes into thick wedges with a sharp knife.
2. Arrange them on a platter with the Mozzarella balls.
3. Mix oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper and drizzle over the salad.
4. Garnish with torn basil leaves and serve with bread.

Enjoy!!!