2777. BLACKBERRY APPLE COBBLER with BACON-SAGE CRUST

yields twelve servings


2 cups fresh or frozen blackberries, stems removed
8 apples peeled, cored, cut into wedges
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
freshly grated zest of 1/2 lemon
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour or all-purpose flour
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
scant 1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 egg 
1/3 cup milk
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled into 1/2″ pieces
2 fresh sage leaves, chopped very finely, or 1/4 teaspoon ground dried sage

Preheat oven to 425. Butter a 9 x 13 inch baking pan and set aside. Combine berries, apples, 1/2 cup sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest in the prepared pan. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder and 1 tablespoon of the sugar.  Work in the butter with a pastry blender or your fingertips. Lightly beat the egg and milk together, and slowly but firmly (you don’t want too many strokes) stir into the flour mixture. Stir in the chopped bacon and sage. Knead lightly, sprinkling on a bit more flour as necessary to form a smooth dough. Break off portions of the dough and place them on top of the fruit in the pan, pressing and spreading the dough as you go. Cover the entire surface. Sprinkle remaining sugar over the dough and bake until well browned, 35-45 minutes. Serve immediately, with ice cream of course.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Cheryl Herrick, CrankyCakes, September 12, 2009 | adapted from The New Basics Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins