Monday, August 1, 2022

Two more pot holder sets, and my favorite fruit cobbler

July went by in a blur.  Some part of me wonders if I will ever quilt again!  It took me a month to finally tack back the binding on these last two sets of scrappy pot holders: 


The backs are from tenugui that I bought over ten years ago, the first time we lived in Tokyo.   It's really high time I use the things I've been saving!  Yes I am counting these pot holders as a "mini" for July.  Look at all the minis linked by Wendy at The Constant Quilter


Kaela and family have moved into their dream home.  Many hands have made lighter work for them but it is still overwhelmingly exhausting.  Everyone is focused on helping them get settled before the twins arrive.  I am humbled by how tiring it is to keep up with a two year old! 

Lots of family have come around to help.  I love seeing my two girls working and laughing together! 


Scorching hot days.  I lasted 30 minutes at the park with Charlotte the other day - 


Our sea shipment arrived from Japan!  But, since we are moving so soon, we asked the crew to just stack the boxes in the garage.  When we are finally able to move into our "new" townhome in September,  we will open everything up and TRY to find a "place for everything".   Downsizing isn't for the faint of heart but I do believe in it!   We have already moved an entire bedroom set over to Kaela's home for one of their guest rooms. 

Yesterday my niece Alyssa joined us for Sunday dinner and brought these cheerful flowers - loved looking at these as I set up "August" in my bullet journal today: 


Lastly I just want to share a wonderful recipe with you.  This is a fruit cobbler I've been making for over twenty years.  I make it all the time in the summer.  Last night I used blueberries and blackberries.  Peaches are amazing in this cobbler too.  You can use any fresh fruit.  


I love getting everything ready for it while I am making dinner.  From this "mis en place" setup, I can very quickly get it into the oven right as we sit down to dinner.  

Batter Fruit Cobbler 

serves 4-5 

This is from The Perfect Recipe by Pam Anderson, and it is adapted from a recipe from Nathalie DuPree, a very well known southern cook from the 80's.  

4 T butter

3/4 C flour

3/4 C sugar (reserve about 1 T for sprinkling) 

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 C milk

2 C fresh or frozen cut fruit or berries (not sweetened or thickened) 

1.  Preheat oven to 350.   While oven is preheating, put butter into a pan  (8 inch square, or 9 inch round, or deep dish pie plate, or cast iron skillet) in the oven to melt.  

2.  Meanwhile in a small mixing bowl, mix the dry ingredients together, and then add the milk.  Whisk just long enough to incorporate the ingredients. 

3.  Remove hot pan from the oven.  Poor batter into the pan over the butter (don't stir).  Arrange or sprinkle fruit over the batter.  Sprinkle with the reserved 1T sugar.   Do all of this quickly and get the pan right back into the hot oven. 

4.  Bake until batter browns, 40-50 min (sometimes longer).  Just make sure the middle is done.  Cool slightly and serve with good vanilla ice cream.  YUM. 

xo 

Cynthia 


11 comments:

  1. Four minis for the price of one! They're wonderful, love those tenegui backings as much as the fronts. Yes, downsizing is so difficult, especially when living with a pack-rat as I do. We're "trying" tiny bits by tiny bits to get rid of some stuff that hasn't been touched since we moved in here nearly eight years ago. I've purged all but one of my old quilting magazines after tearing out a few inspiration patterns. A start at least. I make a batter fruit cobbler similar to yours and think the recipe came from my mom many years ago. Especially yummy with mixed peaches and blueberries. The blackberries look amazing too!

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  2. Charlotte is so cute!!:))) It definitely is a challenge to try to keep up with a two-year old!!
    Love your little minis--I haven't been able to get back into any quilting lately either after my year hiatus. Hand quilting is only what i am doing right now...trying to finish up all those little UFO's calling my name...
    hugs, Julierose

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  3. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Potholders definitely count as minis and I need to make myself a few!😊. I bet you’ll get back into quilting once you are settled into your new place; it’s hard to create when everything is in upheaval.

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  4. I count it as 4 mini finishes! Unpacking and settling into a new home or a new space can be exhausting. Glad everyone has been able to pitch in.

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  5. It sure sounds like you are staying busy! The cobbler sounds delish!

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  6. When you have too much on your plate you just have to set one thing to the side. This time it was quilting. Once the two homes have been moved into you will have a bit more control of the situation.
    The pot holders are scrappy and charming.
    Charlotte is sweet and full of energy.
    Your daughters are having a good time.
    The boxes from Japan have arrived.
    You serve your family not only dinner but can whip up dessert too in a jiffy.
    You have so much to be grateful for.
    Enjoy life.
    Queenie

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  7. Don't you just love it when your kids get along a adults, We aren't big on celebrating birthdays around here any more. The focus is more on the grandchildren. My oldest daughter had a birthday a couple of weeks ago and my oldest son showed up at her door with a fresh pastry on that morning. They are only 18 months apart and are still there for each other. This summer has been a challenge with quilting for me too. It's just been so darn hot! So glad you containers arrived from Japan safely

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  8. what an exciting a busy time for your growing family. Sweet photos of your daughters.
    Thank you for the recipe, with the fruit coming into season it is perfect timing,
    Your 4 potholders absolutely count and they are so cute! (and useful)

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  9. Great potholders. I have a stack of tenugi, good idea to use them as backing. I remember when our boxes came from the US to Japan after six or eight weeks. I was excited to open them up. You are smart to wait a little longer until you get to your next place.

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  10. Oh, what a busy time for you! So glad to hear your daughter has moved and now you are all together again. Sweet monthly mini potholders :) We downsized when we moved here in 2020. It was an enormous task after living in our house for 47 years. But it felt so good! Thinking of you!

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  11. Love the lovebirds in your potholders! Thanks for the recipe. It looks great.

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