Friday, July 13, 2012

Blueberry Cobbler

Today I am starting off with a question...What makes some people give up on their dreams? What is it in some people that makes them settle for less? I feel it is both a blessing and a curse that I am very very driven. If something doesn't work out, I work harder until it does. There was a time when all I did was work. Work on being a wife, work on being a mother, work on my career and making an income, work for the "dream" house, work for the "dream" car, the list goes on and on. Then I realized I was working so hard at working for what everyone else says you are supposed to want. On the outside I had what everyone wanted, but on the inside I was so unhappy. After a few years and more wisdom... my driven personality has not changed, but I have changed what I work for and toward. I am not sure when the actual moment was that I had my "aha" moment. I am very thankful it came though. There is only so much time in our lives. Why waste it? What is it that you love to do? I know, money gets in the way of our dreams. Sometimes you have to work hard doing something you don't love, to obtain the life you dream of. I had my share of 18 hour work days and sleepless nights. It got to where it took over our lives. I could not ever fully be off work. Even when we were on a "dream" vacation, I had to find a way to get internet and had to work several hours each day. I remember once being in Cozumel Mexico with my family and having to buy coins for internet access in the lobby on an old dinosaur computer, while my family was having fun at the beach. I found myself getting so overworked and not seeing an end it sight. I am not complaining, my business served my family well. I was so blessed to have a wonderful profitable business! I am also very pleased because now my business has been sold to a wonderful family who will now hopefully profit from it the way we did. It is funny though. How one day you do have to stop and say: "who am I and who do I want to be?" Sometimes the answers are different. For me it was about accepting my driven personality, embracing it, rather than dreading it. Once I embraced it and made no apology for it, then it was time to answer the "who do I want to be?" part of the question.  I have always loved to cook. Everybody knows that. I don't however, wish to have a restaurant. I love where cooking takes me. If I had to cook 12 hours a day for strangers I would never meet, then I would probably not enjoy cooking anymore. A restaurant is definitely NOT on my list of things I want out of life. So I wrote down my top 3 favorite things to do:
1. Cook
2. Writing
3. Business/Marketing
So I decided that was just what I would do writing, cooking, and marketing. This blog is not going to make me rich with dollar bills, but instead it is making me rich with knowledge, friendships, and opportunity. The opportunities are endless and keep coming and I am so thankful for that! 

In January I was approached to write a cookbook, and I said "Yes!". The cookbook is coming along great. Almost all the recipes are done and the content is coming together. As of right now the book is set to have 150 easy gluten free recipes, tips, tricks and aid to help you find good gluten free products. I don't have an official release date yet, we are hoping it will be released early in 2013.  The facebook page was just put up. Feel free to like it if you want to keep informed on the release date. As well as it being available in a book,  It will also be available for kindle and other e-readers as well. The title? Gluten-Free is Easy. I will try to keep you posted from time to time on here. There are other things brewing as well. I am in pure bliss and so happy I took the leap to follow my dreams. What is next? I am hoping to one day combine my cooking ambitions with Randy's sailing ambitions. Sail the world and explore all the food the islands have to offer. 

Now on to the food... Today I bring you a yummy gluten free blueberry cobbler! Enjoy! 

Gluten Free Blueberry Cobbler
adapted from The Cultural Dish

For the Filling:
1 pint fresh blueberries
1 lemon zested and juiced
1/3 cup of sugar -or- 1/4 cup stevia
2 tablespoons cornstarch


For the Crumble:
1 cup Maninis Multipurpose gluten free flour
1/3 cup sugar  -or- 1/4 cup stevia
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold, unsalted butter, diced


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.


Mix together the blueberries, lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, and cornstarch.
Spoon the berry mixture into ramekins.


For the topping, mix together the flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Fork in the butter or use an electric mixture to combine. At this point, I usually use my hands to finish mixing everything together until the mixture crumbles.


Sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the blueberries and place the ramekins on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.


Bake the crumbles for 40-45 minutes, or until the tops look browned and crisp and the berry mixture is juicy and bubbly.


I like to top it with some vanilla ice cream, but it can be served plain as well. 

3 comments:

  1. Great looking cobbler! I agree... I have gained more riches from not making any real money on my blog because I have gain so much knowledge and friendship. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations on the cookbook, Christi! I'm excited for when it is published! I totally agree that you should do what you want. I'm trying to get there! Slowly, but surely :-)

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  3. Mmm such a great treat! I love the photos with the ice cream scooped on top!

    ReplyDelete

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