Wishing For Spring

We are finally in our last month of winter. So long tall naked trees all wrinkled and gnarly. Goodbye mittens, beanies and oversized furry jumpers. Au revoir warm pancakes and French toast in the morning. Actually, I will be generous. The last ones can stay

I am feeling Springy. Yes, it is not even close to September but I think I may have caught the totally-clichéd-but-much-loved Spring fever. Admittedly I am not running around cleaning the house (because honestly, spring cleaning is what?) but I am certainly drifting off into daydreams of flowers, puppies and rainbows.

To celebrate the feelings of Spring which make me

1. Overwhelmed with happiness
2. Forget to do my schoolwork
3. Daydream all day
4. Have a greater appetite

I would like to share with you a dessert which is light but delicious, heaven for the palate no matter who the artist is (ugh, those savouries can be snobs though ) and looks so gorgeous! Oh, and has Spring written all over it.

Sounds too good right?

Without further ado, I bring Spring into your mouth accompanied by vanilla ice cream tohave a party in the mouth celebrating berries, mint and freshness with a dessert so tempting, one piece will not be enough!

Oh, oh and just before I forget, it is actually not very sweet so go ahead and take another piece. Ok fine, finish it off
And for all you soon to be Autumn dwellers, soften some apples with butter and apple, drizzle with caramel sauce and you have made an, as you say, fall version of this Spring dessert

I have sweetened, richened (yep it is a word now!) and made this cobbler recipe more into the decadent dessert it is as opposed to something low-cal and edible for breakfast… though if you eat my version for breakfast no hard feelings

Maple Berry Coconut Skillet Cobbler

Adapted from: How Sweet Eats

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

Filling

• 3 tbs butter
• 6 cups mixed frozen berries (not thawed!)
  
• 2 tbs white sugar

Cobbler Crust

• 1 1/2 cups plain flour (or use half oats as well)
• 1/2 cup sweetened desiccated coconut
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp allspice
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 56g butter, softened to room temperature and cubed
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tbs strawberry (or coconut or vanilla) essence

Drizzle + Serving

• Maple syrup
• Fresh mint
• Vanilla ice cream
  

Method

1. Preheat oven to 220 degrees C
2. In a bowl, place mixed berries and sugar, stirring and let sugar dissolve into the fruits for 1/2 hour
   
3. Heat a large iron cast skillet (oven-safe) on medium heat and add in butter, letting it melt until nutty and browned – add in immediately the berries and stir into the butter until soft (3-4 minutes) – take off heat
   
4. In a large bowl, combine flour, coconut, baking soda & powderm spices and brown sugar
   
5. Using your hands (since a fork works horribly, as you can see I tried!), work the butter and cut into the flour mixture till you have llittle pebble like crumbles strewn through
   
6. Make a well in the centre and pour in the buttermilk and essence
   
7. Gently stir together with a wooden spoon till the dough comes together
   
8. Spoon and pat down globs of dough on top of the berry mixture evenly till most is covered
   
9. Drizzle maple syrup generously all over pastry
   
10. Place skillet on a baking tray and cover handle in foil
11. Bake at 220 degrees C for 15-20 minutes, before turning the heat down to 180 degrees C and baking for an extra 10 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown
    
12. Serve with ice cream, extra maple syrup and fresh mint

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And so comes to an end my early dedication to the beauties of Spring, keeping my mind of Jack Frost and his crazy cold touch in Australia right now

Before I go, I would like to acknowledge  The Versatile Blog Award I have received from the awesome blogger at A Pug In The Kitchen – Her pugs are sooo adorable, it is true but the main reason to visit
my friend’s blog is because of her sunny disposition and fantastic cooking skills! Thank you so much

So rules of this award are:

• Thank the blogger who gave it you (can’t believe that is a rule, it is human instinct!)
• Link back to said blogger
• Tell 7 things about yourself
• Pass on to 15 other bloggers
• Tell chosen bloggers and make their day

Because I am constantly telling you my life stories because of these award, I am skipping that part but awarding out? I can do that

Congrats to these nominees:

• Allen @ Cook! Bake! Share!
• Becky @ Baker Becky
• Susan @ Savoring Time In The Kitchen
• Peter @ Feed Your Soul
• John @ Kitchen Riffs
• Charlie @ Hotly Spiced
• On The Homefront And Beyond
• Amy @ Fearless Homemaker
• Emily @ Life On Food
• Hannah @ BitterSweet
• Barb @ Profiteroles And Ponytails
• Debra @ Eliot Eats
• Betsy @ Bits And Breadcrumbs
• Sawson @ Chef In Disguise
• Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness