Blueberry Boy Bait and the Pioneering Spirit

Since we planted our garden, I've been thinking about the pioneers. People who were brave and inventive. People who made use of what they had around them. People who learned to think outside the box. They couldn't run to the store to get the ingredients they wanted. They cooked with what the had on hand. They couldn't run to the hardware store for that just right tool, they used what they had and made it work.

Maybe it was as a result of these uplifting reflections that I was able . . . but I'm getting ahead of myself.

One of the things that I inherited upon my marriage, along with the control of the kitchen, was about fifteen pounds of frozen blueberries. We have been faithfully eating them on cereal, but recently, I pulled out my Cooks Country magazines. Variety is a good thing, and it wouldn't hurt if we could use them up a little faster. It wasn't long before I spotted a picture of an appealing coffee cake, chuck full of plump blueberries. Blueberry Boy Bait, named for it's ability to attract hungry boys - perfect! I glanced at the ingredients: frozen blueberries - great, I'm making it!


I removed my new kitchen aid mixer from the box, and set it up on the counter. I washed the bowl and mixing blades. I collected my ingredients and measured the butter and sugars into the bowl. I lowered the mixing blade into the bowl, moved the switch . . . and nothing happened. There was a split second of shock (how could it be broken, it's brand new!), then I laughed as I reached to plug it in. There was just one problem. The plug has three prongs and our outlets have two.

Great.

I have all my ingredient out and measured, and I can't plug in my mixer.

Now, I have encountered this problem before. Somewhere in our house there is one plug adapter, which I know I recently used on something. This realization was followed by a frantic examination of all the electrical appliances in the house. Or at least, I examined all the appliances except the one I left it on, because I couldn't find it. Bother.

It was at "this dark and hopeless hour" that the Pioneering Spirit arose within my heart. "There must be another way to make this machine work!" Sure enough, after a little thought and investigation, a solution was found. Twenty feet of green, kinky extension cord conducted electricity from the outlet to the mixer located five inches away. A little odd, a little excessive, BUT IT WORKED! The mixer mixed, the frozen fruit was used, the Blueberry Boy Bait was made, and the Pioneering Spirit prevailed!

We'll have to see how the Pioneering Spirit does against that cute Lettuce & Spinach Eater that hopped across the front yard the other day.


For those you who have hungry boys around, or who have too many frozen blueberries, here is the recipe for:

Blueberry Boy Bait

1 green, kinky extension cord, op.
2 C. plus 1 tsp. flour
1 Tbs. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 sticks butter, softened
3/4 C. packed light brown sugar
1/2 C. granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 C. whole milk
1/2 C. frozen blueberries (don't thaw)

Topping:
1 C. frozen blueberries
1/4 C. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Heat oven to 350. Grease and flour 9x13 pan. Mix dry ingredients. Beat butter and sugars on medium-high until fluffy, about 2 min. Add eggs, beating until just incorporated. Mix in a third of the flour mixture, half of the milk, another third of the flour, the rest of the milk, then the last of the flour mixture. Toss blueberries with remaining 1 tsp. flour. With rubber spatula, gently fold in berries. Spread batter into pan.
For the topping, scatter blueberries over top of batter. Stir sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle over batter. Bake until toothpick comes out clean 45-50 min. Cool 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

We also liked it with whipped cream on top. Enjoy!


P.S. My husband does not recommend using an extension cord under normal circumstances, as it can mess up your motor.