Friday Favorites
Blackberry Cobbler with Biscuit Topping and ways to support Texas during this devastating tragedy.
This week’s Friday Favorites is dedicated to the girls of Camp Mystic and the Eastland family, to the loving director of Heart of the Hills, to the first responders and rescue teams and to everyone who lost their life or lost a friend or family member in the Texas floods.
What I’m Cooking
Instagram is a funny world. Sometimes you develop Instagram friends that you’ve never met in real life. One of those people for me is Bebe from theordervescompany. She shared a recipe from one of Tweety’s paperbound Camp Mystic cookbooks and it seemed like the perfect way to spread some love. It’s an old school recipe, like the ones you’d find in an old church cookbook or Jr. League tome from the 50s. I love recipes like this—ones that are passed down in families or shared at potlucks. You can update the ingredients and swap out the shortening with butter, or just make it as is and count it as a tribute to Mystic.
Blackberry Cobbler with Biscuit Topping
Filling
4 cups blackberries
1 cup water (you could halve this amount and it would still work great and be less “saucy”
1 cup sugar (this could probably be cut down to 1/2 cup if you’re using in season berries)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (this is used as a thickening agent; you can also use cornstarch)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
Topping
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (if you’re gluten-free, the whole-wheat and AP flour can be substituted with 1 cup gluten-free baking flour and use arrowroot powder or cornstarch in the filling)
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons shortening (you can also use softened butter)
1/3 - 1/2 cup milk
Method
Filling: Heat oven to 400°F. In a 9x9 baking dish, add the blackberries and water. Whisk together the flour and sugar and sprinkle over the berries. Dot with butter.
Topping: Whisk together dry ingredients and then cut in the shortening. Add milk and mix lightly until the mixture clings together. Drop large spoonfuls on top of the blackberry mixture in the pan.
Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350°F for an additional 15-20 minutes, until the biscuit topping is golden brown and the juices are starting to thicken. Cool and serve.
As Bebe said in her post, “Miracles happen around the table.” I couldn’t agree more.
You can find all the SITK recipes I’ve shared on Substack in my Recipe Index.
What I’m Reading
The last week has been beyond difficult. I grieve for close friends who have daughters who experienced intense and heartbreaking trauma, neighborhood families who lost children, friends and school friends who lost children and a community that is grieving. Then I feel guilty even mentioning that I’m grieving because there are families who are GRIEVING and will continue to do so. There are a few articles and posts I’ve read that were particularly helpful and I thought I’d share those here.
This article, written by a former Mystic camper, is beautifully written.
I watched a Zoom session with Sissy Goff about helping kids with grief and I found it informative and helpful.
Sissy also shared this list of Texas therapists. Nick Finnegan Counseling is another great resource if you’re based in Houston.
What I’m Coveting
That is always the heading for this section of my Friday Favorites newsletter, but it feels out of place this week. Words escape me for most things right now, but just know this is a brief collection of items that benefit flood relief. If you have any additional resources or items to share, please include them in the comments so everyone can benefit.
Friends from Houston have been lending proceeds of sales to relief funds for Kerr County. Here are a few to pass along.
Lindsey Leigh Jewelry offers a Hill Country Jewelry Collection, with proceeds donated to charity. However, shop quickly as these items are available only through today (Friday).
Sharp Style Jewelry is donating 20% of sales this week to Hill Country relief efforts.
Hibiscus Linens is donating 100% of proceeds from beautiful green embroidered linens to flood relief.
James Avery is donating 100% of the proceeds from this charm to help those impacted by the floods.
If you’d like to donate directly, I recommend Mercy Chefs for providing local, boots-on-the-ground meals to first responders and crews. World Central Kitchen is another option, and you can earmark your funds for Texas.
Texsar is an organization involved in search efforts and they’re always quick to respond and help in natural disasters.
What I’m Grateful For
In the midst of this heartbreak, I’m grateful for time in my “happy place”, phone calls with friends, being with my family and the deep connections with those I love.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. Engaging with Substack writers by liking and commenting on their posts and notes, even as a free subscriber, is a valuable way to show your support. Your involvement makes a big difference!
Check out my past Friday Favorite items on ShopMy. Using an affiliate link is an easy way to show your support, at no cost to you. It doesn’t add up to much, but helps “keep the lights on.”
GIFT CARD
Looking for a birthday or “just because” gift for your best friend, mom, sister, or aunt Sally? I have the perfect idea! You can gift a subscription to my Substack! The annual subscription can begin at any time.
Order my award-winning cookbook, Dinner is Done! It includes over 100 weeknight and family-friendly recipes, including chapters on meatless mains, fish and sauces, appetizers and snacks, cocktails, desserts and more.
lovely.thank you