A Blueberry Weekend!

It was my kind of weekend! No, I never did sit in front of my Janome to work on the pillow shams.  No, our sons did not unexpectedly drop in nor did I get a dose of culture at a museum.  This kind of weekend involved "elbow grease" and it's a weekend that occurs every year each summer.   It's Blueberry season!  When the local blueberries are ripe, it's time to make Blueberry Freezer Jam!  Yum!  Currently, 2 batches are sitting undisturbed on our Dining Room table.  Yesterday was a HHH kind of day and as I was stirring the crushed Blueberries, Sugar, Lemon Juice and Certo, I thought back to the "old days" when stirring jam over a hot stove was my only option.  On  these HHH days I rarely heat the oven to bake. Needless to say Freezer Jams are my way to prepare jams. Recipe link.

Blueberry Freezer Jam

After purchasing my supply of Blueberries on Saturday, many pints were cleaned, packed, labelled and stored in our large freezer.  It's wonderful to defrost a Ziploc Freezer Bag of Blueberries to bake Yummy Blueberry Muffins in the frigid colder months.  Recipe link.

Yummy Blueberry Muffins
(File Photo)

Oh definitely Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes were served for breakfast yesterday AM!  Recipe link.  It's great to have the extra pancakes in the freezer to enjoy for breakfast on other mornings!  There are also Blueberries for snacking!  

This past weekend was a Blueberry Weekend!  Do you enjoy Blueberries?

Enjoy!
Yummy!

                  

Blueberry Delisimo!!!

Valentine's Day is a few days away.  I do know what scrumptious dessert I'll be baking in two days. The Blueberries that I'll be using are in my freezer and they will be defrosted in my fridge. Yes, fresh berries can be used, but in my freezer is my year's supply - just ready to use.  This is one of those times! 

For many years I have baked a very tempting blueberry dessert, but never had realized how much my family really enjoyed it.  I've always baked yummy goodies, and we've always eaten them very quickly.  While growing up, my sons always had hearty appetites.  I knew my family always enjoyed the taste of Blueberries and cake combined with vanilla ice cream. 

A few years ago one of my sons was "back home" working very late hours.  He would return to our home in the wee hours of the morn after work and reheat his dinner.  One night we had Blueberry Delisimo for dessert.  My ravenous son sat down with the smaller of my Rose Colored Pyrex baking dishes that contained this dessert and he devoured the remaining half - before he realized it.  He totally forgot about the nutritious dinner waiting to be placed in the microwave. 

The next AM I saw the cleaned Pyrex in the dish rack.  From that moment on I've called this dessert "Blueberry Delisimo."  Occasionally if there is time the day before when we are driving in to visit him & his family, a Delisimo that has been baked in a Glad OvenWare container (by following directions for usage) makes the trip down the Mass Pike with my DH and I.  This dessert will always be a favorite in my family!

***Before placing the unbaked Delisimo in the oven it is not unusual to question how a delicious dessert would ever result from the scene going on in the baking dish.  Oh, but it does!  When making this mouthwatering dessert, do not be fooled by the "place water over the top" method. It all works!

Blueberry Delisimo
Oven:  350°F    Time:  50 - 60 Minutes 

Ingredients 
2 Cups Blueberries, defrosted & drained, if not fresh
2 teaspoons Minute Tapioca
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice - I use Realemon.
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt
3 Tablespoons solid Crisco shortening
1/2 Cup Milk, can be Soy Milk
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Topping
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
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7/8 Cup Hot Water - boiled or microwaved for 1 and 1/2 Minutes

Method 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Spray PAM in a glass 8"x8" pan.
3. Place Blueberries in pan.
4. Sprinkle with Tapioca and Lemon Juice.
5. In a small bowl combine Sugar, Flour, Baking Powder & Salt. 
6. Add solid Crisco shortening.  Blend with pastry blender.
7. Add Milk, stir together.
8. Place spoonfuls of mixture over Blueberries.  Then, spread mixture over Blueberries.
9. In another small bowl, combine additional Sugar, Cinnamon and Cornstarch.  Sprinkle over batter.
10. Heat water.  Pour water over entire mixture in pan, making sure all dry ingredients are covered with water.
11. Bake at 350°F for 50 - 60 Minutes - until brown on top.
12. Serve when cooled with vanilla ice cream.
13. Cover and refrigerate any leftover dessert.  

***In the past when sharing this recipe I'm asked about the unusual 7/8 Cup of water.  When I used 1 Cup, the blueberry juice bubbled up and my oven was a mess.  When using 3/4 Cup water this dessert was too dry.  My solution - 7/8 Cup easily measured with my Pyrex liquid measuring cup worked well.  :)

My family still chuckles whenever we remember the dinner our son enjoyed in the wee hours of the morn a few years ago.  It lasts so much longer when it is not an entree.  :)  

Enjoy!
Yummy!
Happy Valentine's Day!!!