Today’s post is the next in our series of Blog With Friends themed collaborations. Each month a group of bloggers get together and each publish a project based on a theme. What I love about his partnership is that it's not bloggers with similar interests or strengths but a diverse group coming up with a variety of posts. In any given month we may a recipe, sewing tutorial, crocheting, crafts project, book review, and/or technology post all related to the theme of the month.
This month's theme is Self-Improvement.
There will be individual project pictures and links to what everyone else has to offer at the end of my post, but here's a peek at what we all came up with:
I made a Berry Pie Crisp.
Berry Pie Crisp
For me, since becoming a parent anyway, self-improvement has been about balance. How could I get everything done that needed to be done in a day, many of those responsibilities at the same time, and still be able to focus on myself? Growth, I found, only came with balance. I worked on a strategy that included making lists and prioritizing tasks. If I went to bed at night feeling accomplished, I woke up a better me. Pride serves as inspiration, frustration attacks the ego.These days, self-improvement is less about balance and more in finding success through compromise. Three things are very different now. First, the boys are grown, taking some of the pressure off in terms of what needs to be done for others on any given day. Second, there's Covid. Being in a "denial" state resulted in a self-imposed stay at home order. With lack of verifiable public information, that's not only been more strict than should been necessary, but has been more prolonged. The third is the compromise between Hubs' need for a lower fat diet and my continued need to express myself through recipe development. When it comes to being a better me, especially in this stress filled time when friendships are strained, my exposure to news needs to be curbed to lessen anxiety, and I'm desperately missing my son, pride continues to serve as inspiration.
It may seem absurd, a bit of a stretch, maybe even as though I'm missing the point, that I'm sharing a dessert recipe as a representation of self-improvement. I get that. But, back to the balance and compromise that foster self growth, this simple act of creating something satisfying for all fits the current bill. I ended the day feeling accomplished, the main ingredient for waking up the next day ready to strive to be a better me.
We love summer fruits in desserts, especially berries. I had been craving my Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie, and Hubs was asking for my Mixed Berry Pie. I was concerned about the amount of butter in the Mixed Berry Pie crust, and knew I couldn't use the cream cheese in the Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie. In the fall, I had made a pie hybrid, my Butterscotch Toffee Pear Crisp, I could use that template and create something that would satisfy both of our cravings nicely.
First, gather and prepare the fruits. Use whatever assortment you choose as long as you have about 6 cups of berries:
Make the topping:
Prepare the crust:
Then just assemble. Mix the filling and spread into the crust:
Dollop with the topping:
Bake:
Cool, cut and serve:
As always, any time you make one of my recipes, feel free to post a picture of it to my Baking In A Tornado Facebook Page. I'd love to see it!
Be sure to visit all of this month's other Blog With Friends projects:
Tamara of Part-time Working Hockey Mom shares Get more sh** done ✅.
Sarah of The Crazy Mama Llama shares Don't Mind Me . . . I'm Just Homeschooling.
P.J. of A 'lil HooHaa shares Self Improvement.
Tamara of Part-time Working Hockey Mom shares Get more sh** done ✅.
Sarah of The Crazy Mama Llama shares Don't Mind Me . . . I'm Just Homeschooling.
P.J. of A 'lil HooHaa shares Self Improvement.
Berry Pie Crisp
©www.BakingInATornado.com
Printable RecipeNOTE: It doesn't matter which berries you use or the ratio you choose as long as the quantity is about 6 cups.
Ingredients:
1 pie crust
1 TBSP flour
3 cups strawberries
2 cups blueberries
1/2 cup raspberries
1/2 cup blackberries
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp allspice
1/3 cup toffee baking chips
6 TBSP butter substitute, softened
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup quick oats
OPT: whipped cream or powdered sugar for serving
Directions:
*Rinse and pat dry all of the fruit. Hull and slice the strawberries. Set aside.
*Cream the butter substitute, 1/3 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup flour and oats. Set aside.
*Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Roll the crust to a 10 X 13 rectangle. Grease an 8 X 11 baking dish.
*Spread 1 TBSP flour over the pie crust, then flip it over into the baking dish so the flour is on the bottom. Gently manipulate the crust to fit into and up all sides of the dish, then fold under any excess crust.
*In a large bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup brown sugar with the cornstarch, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and toffee chips. Gently mix in the fruit and arrange evenly in the baking dish.
*Drop the oat topping, by tablespoons, onto the fruit. Bake for 45 - 50 minutes, until the fruit is bubbly and the top and sides have browned.
*Cool, cut and serve. Can top with a dollop of whipped cream or a dusting of powdered sugar.
Improvement is all about making things better - baked goods qualify!
ReplyDeleteI read your post about Colorado's crazy weather forecast, so here's to hoping your son makes it home in time for a square of that berry pie crisp!
Love your optimism, but he actually starts back going into the office on Thursday. Wish he had come home 6 months ago.
DeleteWe can continue to improve in any and all areas. And, between you and me, one of the best areas is that of desserts. Husby would totally agree with me. (He is in the kitchen whipping up a batch of his famous cherry cinnamon jam as we speak.)
ReplyDeleteMy eldest daughter and I just spent a day and a half making pies from the apples on our trees. (Husby was processing them into applesauce outside in the sunshine and ED was mixing the crusts while I radically altered said applesauce into magic pie filling. Then the two of us, ED and me, rolled pies) It was quite a process and resulted in 60+ pies, which we then donated. Totally fun. What did I learn? I love working with my eldest daughter. And when family is working together, any job can be fun! Plus ED makes a heck of a pie crust. The student has surpassed the teacher!
I get great satisfaction from both working side by side with family, and being able to donate. I can fully understand the joy you felt after such a big undertaking.
DeleteWow, commenting on the comment from Diane, Diane (I'll get back to you, Karen) 60 plus pies. What a lot of work! Just reading your comment exhausted me, but good for you in donating these pies! And I had a good laugh, sorry about that, because every time I saw ED...(hopefully you have those commercials in Canada and know what I was thinking) you made my day! OK, Karen, in these days of COVID, I've temporarily given up on self improvement,and am glad you haven't. What a loving wife you are for working over these recipes! I love crisps. I've never thought of one with a pie crust. When I make apple crisp, I usually put blackberries in it. So...berry nice. We are in apple season here in New York now, but I will give this some thought! Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great combination the apples and blackberries, now I have something to think about too!
DeleteOh such nice berries I do like t he look of this
ReplyDeleteBerries are a favorite around here, I hate that the fresh berry season is over.
DeleteThat looks so good!
ReplyDeleteSelf-improvement can be something like baking...why not, right?
Knew you'd back me up!
DeleteI am 75, how much more do I need to improve? Big question how much time do I want to spend improving. I guess as much time as God decides I need. It could be a while.
ReplyDeleteI think you're pretty great just the way you are.
DeleteAww, I think you are great the way you are. You keep me thinking and laughing and every now and again trying something new You also gave me the courage to step out and shout. You’re pretty cool.
DeleteGoing to bed with an accomplishment under your belt is a great idea. We've all heard about making the bed first thing in the morning to set the tone for the day by accomplishing one thing early, but combined with a successful day before, that could only boost it more.
ReplyDeleteYes, start the day well and end the day well.
Delete