
So many different ways to bake fruit with butter, sugar, flour, etc.
I’m not trying to be the word police, but there’s so many different ways to bake fruit with butter, sugar, flour, etc. My first experience with cobbler was in the Boy Scouts. Fruit cooked in a big black dutch oven, using fire and coals. A sweet cakey mixture on top and bubbling syrupy goodness on the bottom. It was amazing. I’ve since learned how to pull this off on my own car camping trips using frozen berries, a box of yellow cake mix, a stick of butter and a Sprite. Everything tastes better when you’re camping.
For a more refined and delicious baked fruit dessert I prefer a crisp or a crunch. One has oats and one does not. Whether a crisp, crunch or cobbler, it’s all about the topping. Don’t skimp on the topping. That’s the part everybody wants. Here’s a basic recipe for you to try.

How Research, Deer, and Trial-and-Error Built Our Blackberry Rows
A few years ago I was approached by Durham County’s Agricultural Agent with the Cooperative Extension to see if I would grow a row of blackberries. They were interested in comparing several common varieties to a new blackberry variety developed at NC State. I was supposed to record observations on vigor, yield, disease and insect pressure for the 5 varieties. Sure. Sounds like fun. I had absolutely no idea how to grow blackberries. I got the soil tested, spread the appropriate amendments, and plowed the area to prepare for planting.

Still Picking, Still Planting: Music & Memories
I posted a video on facebook this week that featured a snippet of the song “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers, a song seared into my brain by my dad. I can still picture him dancing to his favorite country tunes, especially “Elvira” by The Oak Ridge Boys. My dad gave me a lot of things. Love of music, carpentry skills, a work ethic, anger issues, confidence. I don’t think I was a very nice son when I was young, but that didn’t matter. My dad would still bend over backwards to help me with whatever. And the cycle goes on. I have a son who loves music, has an incredible work ethic and sometimes isn’t very nice to me. I love him no matter and would do anything for him. Father’s Day is June 15th.