My father called me yesterday.  When he asked what I was doing, he seemed amazed to hear that I was making a blueberry cobbler.  I don’t know why he was so shocked; he has had several of my homemade cakes on holidays and birthdays.  Maybe it was because I don’t particularly like to cook and he knows that.  I cook everyday out of necessity or for special occasions or to make a special treat for my family, but I’m not one of those people who like to piddle around in the kitchen for fun or because I find it relaxing.  But yet there I was looking very domestic in my apron, whipping up a quick blueberry cobbler on a random Thursday.   It helped, of course that I was using a Real Simple recipe that I had made before; it is insanely quick and easy.  

The Real Simple recipe below uses blackberries, but you can use any berry and even combine it with stone fruits like peaches.  I used blueberries because my son brought home a freshly picked bucket from the mountains of North Carolina.   The consistently of the finished product is more like a blueberry cake, but I guess it’s called a cobbler because it is sort of “cobbled” together.  My kids ate it for dessert right out of the oven and also for breakfast the next day.  We put whipped cream on ours, but ice cream would be pretty good too.

*Note: It has a tendency to be more “cakey” in the middle; next time I would use a 1/4 less of the batter.

Ingredients:

butter for the baking dish

3 half-pint containers fresh blackberries or one 16-ounce bag frozen unsweetened blackberries, thawed  (or blueberries or peaches and raspberries, etc).

2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

2 cups pancake mix

1 cup whole milk

2 large eggs

1 7- or 8-ounce container whipped cream

Directions:

Heat oven to 375° F.  Butter an 8-inch square baking dish.  Add the berries and 1 1/2 tablespoons of the sugar to the dish and toss.  In a large bowl, combine the pancake mix, milk, and eggs until no lumps remain.  Pour the batter over the berries.  Bake until the crust is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.  Remove from oven. Let cool for 5 minutes.  Sprinkle with the remaining sugar and serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

Doesn’t that look yummy?

And it is!

I am a big fan of Trader Joe’s from living in California; there was one within walking distance from my apartment and the cheap prices were right in line with a graduate student’s budget.  Back then I didn’t cook a whole lot and mostly bought wine and cheese, but since then I have learned that Trader Joe’s has other great items for sale.   It’s not on my weekly shopping route, but since the store opened in Midtown Atlanta 2 years ago (finally!), I try to go every 2 or 3 weeks to stock up on my favorites TJ goodies.  

Of course they still have a great cheese and wine selection.

The nuts and dried fruit section is chock for of interesting snacks.  Wasabi Wow is a delicious mix of almonds, wasabi peas, peanuts and cranberries.

I buy many of my staple items here (they are such a good price!) like pasta, rice, pesto, marinades and pancake mix.  Trader Joe’s Brown Jasmine Rice is the best; even my kids, who don’t care of brown rice, eat it right up!   And the pancake mix is really easy, but  yields perfect pancakes every time.

I buy many of my beverages at Trader Joe’s.  The kids like the Organic Tea & Lemonade.  I like the Pomegranate Limeade, but I don’t buy it much; I will seriously drink the whole bottle in one sitting!  Instead, I drink the unsweetened green tea; it has enough favor to forget that it isn’t sweet.  The Blueberry & Pomegranate is my favorite.

I don’t buy much meat at Trader Joe’s, but the chicken sausage is delicious–especially the mango.  Sometimes I put that in jambalaya or with Trader Joe’s Biryani Curried Rice and it’s soooo good.  The Biryani Curried Rice is found in the frozen food section and it’s great as a side dish also.  It takes about 5 minutes to make so I always keep some in the freezer.

The frozen vegetables and fruit at Trader Joe’s are interesting and a great price.   I keep these French Green Beans in my freezer for my daughter, who loves green beans, and the frozen fruit  for my smoothies.

In the summer my kids eat a popsicle every day and Trader Joe’s has some good ones.  The Fruit Floes are refreshing and pretty guilt-free at 80 calories and fat free.  The Mango & Cream Bars and Raspberry & Vanilla Cream Bars are delicious and only 60-80 calories each; they are small, but just enough to satisfy a craving for a frosty, sweet treat.

Rarely do I leave Trader Joe’s without buying a bouquet of flowers; I love having fresh flowers in my house and Trader Joe’s has a good selection at awesome prices.

Besides all these great products (and much more) for sale, the store is easy to shop, there are always great samples to taste and there is a place to tie up your dog while shopping (since owning Chili Dawg I am more appreciative of dog-friendly establishments).   Thank you Trader Joe’s for–finally–coming to Atlanta!  

As in “Easy Reader, that’s my name–uh-uh-uh” from The (original) Electric Company.  Morgan Freeman was supercool!

I love to read, but lately my time has been devoted to other matters, so I haven’t been reading many books.  Now I remember why….when I read a book it consumes me until I am done.   I stay up late at night (which effects what I do the next day), I don’t want to break to cook dinner or blog or check my email or do anything–I just want to read until I finish the book.   But it’s summertime and what better time to indulge; I have read 3 books in the past 3 weeks.

Marley & Me by Josh Grogan

I know this book has been out for awhile and I am probably the last person on earth to read it, but here I am.  I started reading the book during our winter vacation to Amelia Island, but I just couldn’t get into it and put it away.   This time when I picked it up, I was immediately drawn into the story and didn’t stop until I was done.  I don’t know if this is because now I have Chili Dawg, but like everyone else I was bawling my eyes out by the end of the book.   Yes, out of sorrow about Marley’s last days, but also the story just touched me so much; the dog was a witness to the making of a family.  I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I can’t imagine that it captures this story of unconditional love as well as the book does.

Belong To Me by Marisa De Los Santos

This book had been on my reading list for quite awhile and I finally bought it to read on our trip to Disney World in April.  I don’t know what ever possessed me to think that I would actually read a book after spending all day in the parks; I would come home each evening and collapse!   It took me awhile to really get into this book, but half-way through I was invested in the characters and cared enough to read to the very end.  An enjoyable read about friendship and family and how those relationships define us–for better, worse or in sometimes surprising ways.

Palace Council by Stephen L. Carter

I bought this book over a year ago to read on a Mexican vacation.  Why do I always think that I will read on vacation?  Have I not learned yet that when I travel with my family it is not a vacation, but a change of scenery?  Why do I think that I will be lounging around reading instead of doing everything that I do at home, but in another location?   Anyway, I finally picked it up this week and began the long journey.  I have read Cater’s other books, The Emperor of Ocean Park and New England White and I know that reading them is a real commitment–they are so long–and this one is his thickest book yet.     So began a week of late-night reading and groggy mornings.  I have always liked mysteries, but not so much politics and Carter’s books are filled with politics–especially this last one–but he tells such a good story that I am instantly drawn into his world of political intrigue.    Espionage, murder, love, conspiracy and family ties set among upper-class society and intertwined with American historical landmarks made for an excellent book that even after 510 pages had me wanting more.

It’s summertime!  Grab a glass of lemonade, find a shady spot outside and spend a lazy hour or two reading a good book.

If you read my blog regularly, then you know the drama that the Tooth Fairy brings around here.   

Independence Day, July 4th, starts my official birthday countdown; exactly 1 month until August 4th.  I just LOVE my birthday!  When I was little it used to suck that my birthday was in the summertime because I never got to celebrate at school like the other kids, but now I love it because it usually means that I am on vacation somewhere.  If I do happen to be at home, I like to have several celebrations: one with my family, one with friends and one by myself.  As for gifts, well I’ve given up hope long ago that I will get what I really want, so I just plan to buy it myself.    Here’s what’s on my list so far:

Over the past couple of years I’ve come to accept that I like buying watches; after all, they are just bracelets that tell time, and I love bracelets.  I have about 3 watches now that I currently wear, and I could for sure use another one.  I saw this Toy Watch at Nordstrom last week and think it will look fabulous on me; I love that it looks like a tattoo!

I’m not really a designer purse-type of person, but I do like Coach wristlets; they are the perfect size for the times when I want to just carry my phone, i.d., a credit card, cash and lip gloss–like when I’m on vacation.   I love the look of the wild new Poppy print!

Aunt Micki, now she always listened to my gift requests and a few years ago she bought me a Juicy Couture bracelet along with a lion charm (for Leo, the lion).  Since then more charms have been added: cherries, a peace sign, lipstick, a take-out coffee cup and a diamond ring.   I think that I will make a habit of buying a new charm every birthday; this year I am looking at the popsicle or dog.

That’s a good start.  I’m sure by August 4th that I will find even more things to celebrate me!