Ten years ago, we planted blackberry bushes. Naively, we believed it was only a matter of time until we were picking quarts of berries and making them into jam and pies and freezing them for the long, cold winter. By "matter of time," we were thinking a couple of years.
A couple of years passed, and then a couple more. It was probably a good five years before a single berry appeared on those bushes. By "single berry," I mean just that. Exactly one.
In subsequent years, our crop grew exponentially. By "exponentially," I mean that the next year we would have three times as many berries (for a total of three), and the following year three times that (for a total of nine). However, these berries would ripen one at a time, so it wasn't like we were wondering what we were going to do with, say, all nine berries at once. They would ripen days apart, one at a time. We're never ones to overlook nature's smallest gifts, but it's really hard to get excited about nine blackberries over the course of a summer.
This year's crop looked promising (possibly as many as 27 berries over the course of a month) but we knew better than to get our hopes up. And then, miraculously, more berries appeared. And two weeks ago, while my sister-in-law was visiting, we were strolling about the garden and realized that we had possibly a cupful of blackberries all ripe at the same time.
We were ecstatic. I knew exactly what I would do: I would make this cake. We picked the berries Saturday afternoon and planned to bake the cake Sunday.
Except that when I came downstairs Sunday morning, I discovered that all of the berries were gone. One of my son's college friends also was visiting, and apparently when he remarked upon the bowl of glorious blackberries on the counter, my son, being the good host, offered them as a snack.
And we, of course, said nothing. (Who really wants to go through life being known as the kind of people who scream at two 19-year-olds for eating fresh berries?)
But two weeks have passed, and amazingly, there are even more blackberries. And so this Sunday, I finally got to make the cake. This is my favorite summer cake, and maybe my favorite cake, period. It's light and not overly sweet, but with a sugary top that crackles just a little when you slice into it. Because there's buttermilk in it, and fresh berries, it seems healthy. And the berries (up until now, we've used raspberries) kind of melt and slump and take on the texture of jam but without the sweetness. It also takes about five minutes to mix up the cake if you remember to put out a stick of butter to soften first.
It tastes great no matter how you serve it or what you serve it on, but with a little whipped creme on top and a Jade-ite plate underneath, you start to wonder what you did to deserve such goodness.
Especially if you have a Jade-ite cream pitcher and sugar bowl sitting nearby. You might remember a couple of weeks ago that I mentioned buying a box lot of Jade-ite that included a lid without a sugar bowl. (It wasn't a hint - I really was relishing the thought of having a piece to look for.)
I don't think a day had passed when Pam e-mailed me to say that she had an extra (!) sugar bowl without a lid and would be happy to send it to me. Which she did, just as soon as she somewhat recovered from a bike accident that required an ambulance ride (double !).
And so here I am, with my Jade-ite and my crop of blackberries, and I'm thinking that life is pretty good indeed. And if you'll excuse me, now that the photo shoot is over, there is a piece of cake calling my name.
I can't believe your blackberry bushes took so long to produce! I am going to head out and pick some roadside as they are in season and everywhere right now. That cake looks scrumptious and can't wait to try it. (not on a jadeite plate tho). Good call not going bonkers over the bowl of devoured berries...indeed the friend would have thought you had gone off the deep berry edge.
Posted by: laurie magpie ethel | August 30, 2010 at 11:47 PM
Such a delicious looking cake, I've bookmarked that recipe now. So I'm off in search of fresh blackberries, which won't be coming from my bare garden. I'll have to forage for some at the local farmers market. Love the jadeite!
Maureen
Posted by: Maureen | August 31, 2010 at 12:19 AM
Hahaha! You are really patient! And, wasn't it a smart move making the cake AFTER young Mr. Oodles and company are off to college? Feel free to take a Little Red Hen moment and enjoy it all yourself.
Posted by: Tina | August 31, 2010 at 01:13 AM
That's funny about the blackberries -- it's a constant struggle to keep the blackberries in our greenbelt from taking over the garden. They grow everywhere here and can be a real menace -- sort of the kudzu of the Pacific NW. However, they do produce delicious berries, and I'm going to use them to make your cake.
Posted by: Martha | August 31, 2010 at 01:59 AM
For the 2nd time in my life I started a diet XD! I cannot read this post, except for the sugar bowl part of course. Lucky girl.
Posted by: LiLi M. | August 31, 2010 at 03:14 AM
That cake looks amazing! It reminds me of one I make with figs, and even though I don't like figs, it is ridiculously good. Thanks for the recipe; I need to make that now!
Posted by: Gina at Vintage Junk in My Trunk | August 31, 2010 at 08:55 AM
I am so wanting a piece of that cake. Served of course on Jadeite along side your sweet creamer and sugar bowl with lid (How sweet of Pam (hope she is fully recovered from her bike accident). Enjoy!!!
Posted by: Linda @ A La Carte | August 31, 2010 at 09:22 AM
Berries, cake, jadeite --- all I see is that vintage tablecloth! Very cute and I've never come across that pattern before. OK - back to planet earth now. Your blackberry crop sounds a lot like my tomato 'crop' this year.
Posted by: Into Vintage | August 31, 2010 at 10:32 AM
Great pictures! Love the jadeite and vintage tablecloth!! The cake sounds yummy! I was giggling about the teenagers eating your berries-I too lose all kinds of food to teenagers (and their friends) in my house-so I know what that is like! :)
Posted by: Kim | August 31, 2010 at 06:06 PM
You have the best luck finding really nice things. The blackberries are wild in the back of my yard, and there are a lot of them.
I am going to make your cake for the holiday weekend. yummmmm.
Posted by: acorn hollow | August 31, 2010 at 06:42 PM
That's a story to tell the grandkids! I remember last year a blogger in California had her first home grown tomato. She was so excited that at dinner she served it up to four people eating and they thought it was a feast.
Brenda
Posted by: Brenda Kula | September 01, 2010 at 07:31 PM
I always love to try another's favorite recipe. Sounds yummy and the 5 minute creation time is just my speed.
Posted by: georgiapeachez | September 02, 2010 at 07:53 AM
Looks yummy!
Posted by: Mary Ellen | September 02, 2010 at 10:21 PM
Oh life is good, indeed! I love blackberries, and I love those simple cakes with the sugary crust the best of all. I've bookmarked the recipe. Thank you.
As one of your other readers remarked, here in the PNW we have blackberries galore, and they are a real treat. I'm hoping to pick some at my sister's this weekend. Part of her property is protected wetlands, and another greenbelt on her property is protected because an endangered woodpecker nests there. She's not allowed to get rid of the blackberries growing in those places, so she has plenty to share. It's lovely to be able to pick enough for now, and some to freeze for later. There's nothing quite like baking a blackberry cobbler on a snowy day.
xo
Lena
Posted by: Mrs.Staggs | September 02, 2010 at 10:49 PM
That cake looks delicious! Sounds like your patience paid off in the end. :) Hey, next year you might be able to make two cakes!!
Posted by: Rebecca | September 06, 2010 at 10:00 AM