“Blueberries have consistently been ranked among the top fruits and vegetables tested for antioxidant activity.”  The World’s Healthiest Foods

When did you last enjoy eating blueberries?

I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty,” declares the LORD.  (Jer. 31:14; NIV)

With the bounty of fresh fruit available now, continuing with our July “dessert” theme has been fun and dare I say it, “fruitful.”  As I’ve mentioned before, desserts were always being made at our house.  One old-time favorite that we don’t hear much about nowadays is Blueberry Buckle.

I’m sure we’ve all heard of cobblers and crisps, but what is a “buckle?”  One source was almost humorous in the description.  “I like to think of it as a trifecta–part fruit, part topping, with an extra bonus component of cake.  Here’s the lowdown: A greased baking dish gets lined with a simple vanilla-y batter.  Fruit goes on top, then gets the final touch of a sugary ‘crumb topping.’   What happens is that as batter rises, the sandwiched fruit does too, and kind of ‘buckles’ in the process, giving it a dimply appearance.”

Essentially, a buckle is an old-fashioned, single-layer cake with a streusel-type topping. The batter is quite dense. As the cake bakes, the batter sinks to the bottom of the pan, which makes the streusel “buckle” on top.  Most all recipes use white flour, white sugar, margarine, or shortening.  I’ve created a recipe that uses whole spelt flour, real butter, and honey.  This recipe is a little denser than traditional recipes.  I also use Sucanat.  Sucanat is non-refined cane sugar.

Unlike refined and processed white sugar, Sucanat is essentially pure dried sugar cane juice. The juice is extracted by mechanical processes, heated and cooled at which point the small brown grainy crystals are formed.  Of all major sugars derived from sugar cane, Sucanat ranks the highest in nutritional value, containing a smaller proportion of sucrose than white cane sugar.

Wholesome Sweeteners says, “It’s made by simply crushing freshly cut sugar cane, extracting the juice and heating it in a large vat. Once the juice is reduced to a rich, dark syrup, it is hand-paddled. Hand paddling cools and dries the syrup, creating the dry porous granules we call Sucanat. Nothing is added and nothing is taken out.”  Sucanat is now readily available in the health food section of the grocery store.  Even though this is a wholesome dessert, it’s still a dessert.  Enjoy it on a special occasion.

Prayer Power
Father, we are so blessed by Your goodness to us and for the many blessings that You pour out on us on a daily basis.  May we never take Your bounty for granted.

Link of the Day
Blueberry Lemon Buckle

Blessings on you as you enjoy some blueberry buckle.