Change of Plans & Mixed Berry Crisp Recipe

Since I lasted blogged about my vacation, there has been a change of plans. My original intention was to drive up to Canada on Monday morning giving me three glorious days to work on my things to do lists and get stuff done around the house. But, I found out Saturday morning, my aunt and her Hubby were going to be at my mom’s place on Sunday, so the Hubby and I worked like maniacs and hit the road a day early. I’m generally not so agreeable or flexible when it comes to last-minute disruptions (and this is putting it mildly), but in this case, it was well worth it. My yard work didn’t get done, but I saw my Aunt for the first time in four years.

My mom lives in a cabin in the middle of the woods. I’m not kidding. She gets her eggs from the lady down the street and she gets her meat by the half animal. She has called before and said, “Hey, I’m picking up half a cow today, is there anything you want.” To which I always respond, “Um, which half?” It’s a great lifestyle for her, and I’m always happy to visit, but I can’t be too far from a city for very long or I start to get twitchy. Plus, there are all kinds of bugs and other strange things in the country. I think I uttered the phrase more than once, “Things are touching me.” Don’t get me wrong, its beautiful out there and the drive is peaceful and serene, except when it’s not and then it’s actually scary.

The drive in daylight with nice weather is great, but Sunday was not that drive. It was wet and raining heavily. The fog had descended the mountains and was slowly creeping towards our car, while we passed the last bit of civilization miles back. Off in the field was a lone rusty tricycle, laying on its side, one wheel spinning lazily and I’m thinking, “Oh boy, we are not in Kansas anymore,” followed closely by “Please tell me we have enough gas.” I’m convinced we are in the beginning of a scary movie, and if we have to stop for any reason, a homicidal maniac will come out of nowhere, and it will be a slow and painful death.

Thankfully, there wasn’t a psychopath in sight and the sun finally made an appearance. My mom also made a delicious lunch with a ton of vegetarian options (Thanks Mom!). We had a large slab of some kind of meat (it might have been a half cow), quinoa salad with black beans, greens, and edible flowers (pictured), potato salad, coleslaw, homemade bread with two different kinds of pesto, and a mixed berry crisp. I had two servings of the crisp, and I scored the recipe because it was fantastic. You definitely want to make this one.

Mixed Berry Crisp

Ingredients

• 5 cups fruit (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries)
• 3/4 cup sugar (the white devil)
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup oats
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnuts work really well)

Directions

• Combine fruit and 3/4 cup sugar in 8 inch pie dish.
• In a separate dish, melt butter and stir in remaining ingredients. Spread over fruit and sugar.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

If you’re watching your waistline, the crisp may not be for you. But if you are content, love berries and want to indulge, then enjoy because this dessert was worth every calorie.

Oh and by the way, beach blogging rocks. I can hear the waves rolling up on the shore, a gentle breeze is blowing off the lake, as I sit and type, all while “borrowing” the neighbor’s Wi-Fi. Here’s to hoping my connection lasts.