PLUM KUCHEN

While Dad is getting the graphics together, I get to write my part...This is the basic recipe all of you in the family should have had access to by now, but thought I would include for any others who may be interested. It came by way of a memory for me of something grandma would make in the late summer or early fall with all the plums which were so prolific on our trees.  I have since used the cake portion for other similar stone fruits (mostly apricots) and find it to be a very simple, but good dessert especially for potlucks.  The  picture for this one is of one I made to take to Linger-Longer at the branch; unfortunately the handle on the bag gave way as Dad was trying to carry it and it bit the dust in the parking lot, breaking the dish. This one never made it into anyone's tummy, but I have made four of them this past week.  Most people don't have that much fruit to bake with, so it becomes an unusual, but popular cake at a potluck and is something different than store bought cookies!

½ C. Butter or margarine

1 C. Sugar

2 Eggs

1 C. Flour

1 Tsp. Baking powder

1 Tsp. Vanilla or almond extract

¼ Tsp. Salt

¼ C. Cinnamon sugar

1¼ Lbs. Plums

Powdered sugar as desired for garnish

-Mix butter and sugar together until fluffy

-Add eggs, extract

-Gently add flour, baking powder, and salt

-Pour batter into greased 9 X 9 baking dish

-Pit plums and place plum halves in the batter skin-side down covering the

  surface of the  batter

-Bake 350° for 60 minutes or until done

-After baking and while it is still warm, sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired

Blackberry Cobbler

Mom brought a blackberry cobbler to the family reunion last weekend. It turned out to be a hit, especially with Uncle Andy. Blackberries seem to have taken over the farm. Almost any other time of year, I would probably be bothered by that, but this year, I am glad I am in town to enjoy them. Now, if I could just figure out how to get them back to Utah!

Berry Mixture
6+ C blackberries
1 C sugar
1/2 C flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Topping
1/4 C butter
2 C flour
1/2 C sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbs baking powder
2 eggs
3/4-1 C milk

Combine blackberries, sugar, flour and cinnamon in large bowl. Pour into 13x9 baking dish
For the topping, combine butter, flour, sugar, salt and baking soda in bowl until mixture forms coarse crumbs. Add eggs. Add enough milk so mixture resembles cake batter. Pour batter over berries and bake at 425 for 20-25 min. Drop temperature to 375, and bake another 20 min or until berries are bubbling.