Blackberry Crumb Bar

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I know I should be posting this recipe in Spring or Summer but what can I say, temptation got the better of me.  So, I was at Costco the other day and I picked up a big pack of fresh blackberries and there was definitely more than my daughter could eat in a day or two.  I mean it is only so much she could eat before the freshness of the fruit was lost.  You see, I was tempted to buy, but only my daughter enjoys eating them fresh so much in this family.  Therefore, with the plenty left over I could make this delicious crumble which was on my 'to-do list.' for a while. Perfect !

  Just like the Martha Stewart site says, this bar is a marriage between the Cobbler and the Cake.The cakey bottom, merry-berry middle and crumbly, crunchy top layer are all there in this Blackberry Crumble Bar. The best part is that you can use berries of your choice.

My kids are usually not big on cobbler and fruit cake but they absolutely loved this.  The gang has already placed requests for more.  Do I need to compel you any more? I doubt it!



Are you seeing all the three layers here?



It is soooo yumm !



Ingredients:

For the Top layer:

Melted butter- 6 Tbsp
Packed Brown sugar- 1/2 cup
Salt- 1/4 tsp
All Purpose Flour- 1 cup

For the lower layer:

All Purpose Flour- 3/4 cup
Baking Powder- 1/2 tsp
Salt- 1/4 tsp
Butter,at room temp- 1/2 cup
Eggs- 2
Confectioner's sugar- 1 cup
Pure Vanilla Extract- 1/2 tsp

Fresh Blackberries- ~10oz

Method:

1.Wash and dry the berries on a paper towel.Preheat the oven at 350 degree F.Line a 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, with an overhang on both sides.Grease and flour the paper.
2.Mix the things for the top layer using a fork till everything becomes crumbly.Big crumbles will give you a continuous layer, whereas smaller crumbles will give you the texture I got ;-) Keep in the refrigerator till ready to use.
3.In another mixing bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt for making the bottom layer.
4.In a medium mixing bowl,beat the butter,vanilla and confectioner's sugar and beat till it is creamy.
5.Add eggs one at a time and beat well to mix everything.
6.Mix in the flour and mix again at slow speed.
7.Now spread this mixture evenly on the prepared baking pan.
8.Sprinkle the berries on it.
9.Finally spoon out the crumble mixture whihc was kept chilled on the top, evenly
10.Bake for about 40-45 minutes till a skewer comes out clean and the top turns light brown in color.
11.Cool in the pan and take out with the help of paper hang.Cut into squares.
12.Store in airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature and for a week in refrigerator.




Notes:

1.You could replace the confectioner's sugar with granulated sugar.For 1 cup confectioner's sugar you need to use 1/2 cup granulated sugar + 1 tsp cornstarch.
2.Makes about 16 bars.

Sending this and Kappa/Tapioca Biryani to Smitha's event Best food I have eaten or blogged about



Contributor: Namitha
Recipe Courtesy:Martha Stewart

TGIF! Salad, Roasted Asparagus and Cottage Pie

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   Ahem! It's been a long while.  I have been apartment huntung in the new place we are moving to and it has  not been easy.  To add to the chaos, I was out, for a week, with influenza.  Hmmm! Yeah, a lots been going on.

  Now I am sitting here watching the snow white garden in our friends Indiana apartment, and this weekend will move to our new place in Illinois, very close to CHICAGO.  So, we are with friends and to say I had a good time except for the cold will be an understatement.  I feel a lot younger because most of the activities resemble the kind I had during my college times.  Cooking together with friends, eating out and general banter and pulling each others leg. We have been busy, enjoying ourselves, which could be the reason house hunting was such a trial task!

  Getting back to what you might be more interested in listening to, here is what we had on a Friday.  A foodies haven.  We have had a lot of Indian food the last couple of weeks, but I just didn't take any photos, a shame indeed.  However, will share some other fun stuff we cooked and ate and I hope you will enjoy.



We served up some green salad to begin, dressed up with a simple vinaigrette of extra virgin olive oil and white vinegar, equal portions.  Seasoned it with a clove of garlic finely chopped, two shallots chopped and a generous sprinkle of oregano.  Add all the ingredients and salt , shake it up well and pour over the salad before serving.

 To make grilled or baked asparagus start by cleaning and snipping off the hard ends of the asparagus.  Dry off and put them in a zip lock bag and pour extra virgin olive oil, black pepper and salt and shake well.  Marinate this for about 1/2 hour and then either grill, bake at 400 F for about 10 minutes to 15 minutes or until soft.



Cottage Pie cooked in red wine and seasoned with thyme and rosemary. Yum!  Follow the method here but change the seasoning to a few sprigs of rosemary and thyme, finely chopped garlic about 1 Tbsp, red wine vinegar 1/2 cup and paparika and black pepper to taste.  Do not forget to add beef broth to keep the pie moist.




Moist beef with a rich and creamy potato top.  Don't forget to enjoy.

Contributor: Sunitha

Mixed Veggies Thoran

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   Today, I have a simple recipe of a 'thoran' for you.  As you can see I got a little excited about the photography even though this is a simple recipe, then again, isn't presentation vital in cooking?   A good time to make recipes like this is when you don't have enough of one vegetable but have an assorted little of many.  Really, thats what I did! Mixed up this and that to make a thoran and I really loved this combination. 

Have fun!



Did you like the broccoli tree with carrot flowers? My kids did ;-)



A great way to use up the leftover veggies in your fridge




Ingredients:

Broccoli Florets,cut into small- 1/2 cup
Carrots grated- 1/4 cup
Beans ,chopped finely- 1/4 cup
Cabbage ,chopped finely- 1/4 cup
Coconut Grated- 1/3 cup
Green Chillies- 3-4
Turmeric Powder- a pinch
Salt- To taste

For seasoning:

Shallots, chopped finely- 2-3
Mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp
Dried Red chillies- 2-3
Curry Leaves- 1 sprig
Oil- 2 tsp


Method:

1.Make all the veggies ready for thoran, by cutting them like I've mentioned above.
2.It's up to you whether to grate or cut the broccoli florets.
3. Grind(not much-maybe for a couple of seconds) coconut and green chillies together. If you do not have a grinder/small bowl for your mixer grinder, leave this step and just add more green chillies slit into halves.
4.Heat oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds followed by rice.
5.Add sliced shallots and saute it till golden brown.
6.To this add red chillies and curry leaves and saute .
7.Add the Broccoli and beans along with, turmeric, salt and coconut mix from step 3 and add into the pan.
8.Mix everything together and cover the pan.Add a couple of spoon full of water.
9.Cook on medium flame for about 5-6 minute.Open and stir everything well.Add the carrots and cabbage now. Continue cooking till all the veggies are cooked, but still a bit crunchy
10.Open the pan and cook till the thoran is free of any water by stirring in between.