Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Blueberry Cheddar Cobbler, gluten-free + book #giveaway from @AveryAames

SAY CHEESE!!

Another giveaway today!  See below.

But first…

I have an empty refrigerator. Unlike all the people on the East Coast, I did not go to the store. I did not fill up on staples. All I have in my refrigerator is cheese and berries and milk, butter, and eggs. That’s about it!

Staples…for a mouse!

But our Clean Sweep Week theme from earlier this month has gotten me charged. I can make something tasty with what’s on hand, right? And since I’m in Cheddar Mode, because of the upcoming release of FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE (Next week!!! Eek!!), I decided I should make something with the cheddar cheese.  I used Kerrygold Private Reserve Cheddar.


But I wanted sweet. (Yes, I do have sugar and such in the cupboard.)

So I looked in my cookbooks and searched for a recipe with cheese and blueberries. I didn’t find anything, so I resorted to the Internet, and I landed on a site called HowSweet It Is!  There was this beautiful skillet dessert, and I thought, yes, I can make this gluten-free.

Side note!  As I started the project, I couldn’t find a 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon and that was because, though my refrigerator was empty, my drawers were full: i.e., cluttered. Have you ever done that? Started a project and stopped to complete the other project first? I emptied out my utensils drawers, found a box of things I could give away because I would NEVER use them, and then continued with baking. Welcome to spring cleaning…three months early!  Sheesh.




Anyway, here you have it, my tweaked version of How Sweet It Is Skillet Blueberry Cobbler with Cheddar Cheese!

PS  I did NOT find an oven-ready skillet in my clean-out, so I had to scramble for another solution. See below.



BLUEBERRY COBBLER WITH CHEDDAR
(Gluten-free version, serves 6)

Blueberry Filling Ingredients:

3 cups blueberries, rinsed
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 tablespoon gluten-free flour (*I used sweet rice flour)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Cheddar Biscuit Topping Ingredients:

2/3 cup gluten-free flour (*I used sweet rice flour here, too)
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated (about 2/3 cup grated)
7-8 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

*vanilla ice cream or whipped topping for serving

Note: if you don’t need to eat gluten-free, swap out the sweet rice or GF flour for regular flour and omit the xanthan gum! Easy as, um, cobbler!

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a bowl, toss the blueberries with the sugar, flour, salt and cinnamon and add them to a 6 or 8-inch oven-safe skillet. *THIS IS WHERE I realized my 8”-skillet wasn’t oven proof, so I used an 8-inch square baking pan. [If I do this recipe over again - and I will - I’ll get a skillet, or I will use increase the whole recipe by 1/2 because 8”-square is MORE THAN 8”-round. THAT’S YOUR MATH FOR THE DAY!]





In a larger bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, xanthan gum, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add in the butter and mix with a fork or pastry blender until the mixture looks crumbly, like little peas. [PERSONALLY, I REALLY LIKE A PASTRY BLENDER!]

Add in the grated cheese, then add milk and vanilla extract and mix until the dough has come together but is just combined. [IT WILL RESEMBLE COOKED OATMEAL]. Spoon the dough on top of the blueberries. It does NOT have to be uniform and smooth.






Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the topping is set and the blueberries are juicy and bursting. Serve hot with vanilla ice cream. 




PS  KNOW your oven. I finally got this gadget [by Taylor, about $12] to make sure my oven is the right temperature. And guess what?  My oven has been running about 10 degrees too hot which reduces the baking time. Now I get the 350 degrees correctly by reducing my oven temp. Yay! My sister gave me that tip!




THE GIVEAWAY!


Leave your name and email so I can contact you if you WIN, and tell me do you have a spring cleaning project?

 I'll be giving away your CHOICE of the first 6 Cheese Shop mysteries. I'll also pick two more winners to win some fun swag. Winners will be chosen this Friday.



Savor the mystery and say cheese!


Daryl Wood Gerber aka Avery Aames
Tasty ~ Zesty ~ Dangerous!


Friend Daryl and Avery on Facebook
Follow Daryl on Twitter
Follow Avery on Twitter
Follow both of us on Pinterest


Plus check out our website with lots of trailers, excerpts, plus a fan club with puzzles and giveaways!


FUDGING THE BOOKS, the 4th Cookbook Nook Mystery, is HERE!  Click to order.




New in February
FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE
Click to order.



55 comments:

  1. My spring cleaning project just involves switching up some color schemes - I keep my home tidy all year long, so that there isn't a stressful Spring Cleaning fiasco, haha. Liz Stark EMS591@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My home is tidy but somehow my drawers are hit by a whirlwind about once a year! LOL

      ~Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  2. My project is to donate some clothes (I am not a big fan of cleaning). Thank you for the giveaway.
    myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do clothes every Christmas. That seems to be a good plan for me.

      ~Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  3. I always have a project. It's the doing I have trouble with. I have all of your books so I don't want to win. I've preordered the next one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, Sue, you're so good, so you won't "win" but I can't tell you how much I appreciate you chiming in always! It's so wonderful to have true blue fans!

      ~Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  4. I plan to clean all my windows and scrub all my floors. Thanks for the chance to win. poohwine1217@Gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Windows. Gack. I hate doing windows. I'm a streak-freak!

      ~Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  5. Since we did a major remodel that finished in late fall of last year and had a relative come to live with us, my spring cleaning project this year will probably be everything. Especially the boxes in the new storage shed. Might be a little like Christmas - no idea what's in the box until you open it. Thanks for another great gluten-free recipe and giveaway.
    sallycootie@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Boxes without labels? Always exciting. Ooh, maybe that should be in one of my mysteries. ;)

      ~Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  6. Looks delicious and cozy for a winter's day! Working on the kids' closets, which are pretty darn full, will be a more than one day project!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kid's closets. Hard to through out the precious things, isn't it? Sweet memories.

      ~Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  7. There is a big rummage sale near us every spring. I want to go through our jigsaw puzzle closet and my TBR piles and donate some. If I get time I'll go through some of the clothes I haven't worn in a while too.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love jigsaw puzzles but I haven't done on in ages! Only the Internet kind.
      ~Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  8. I've never tried a combo of blueberries and cheddar, but since I really like both and I'm adventurous---I've got to try this recipe. Thanks for the contest.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know. Blueberries and cheddar. Who imagined? But it's tasty. The cheddar gives a salt to the sweet.

      ~Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  9. I love this delectable recipe. My cleaning project is rather daunting. Go through every room and clear out and then the garage. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Every room? One at a time. Breathe. Do the next. Breathe. Hey, how about one a month?

      ~Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  10. Mmm, warm, bubbly cobbler. Perfect.

    My favorite spring cleaning? Avoiding it at all costs!

    ReplyDelete
  11. That cobbler looks delicious. I always have a spring cleaning project (like the linen closet), but I never seem to get it done. We have been married 50 years this July and I still have gifts from my bridal shower, in their original boxes, up in the linen closet!!!! I'd rather cook than clean. sharonquiltsatyahoodotcom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, Sharon, that's amazing! In their original boxes. Now...do you remember who they are from? Love that.

      ~Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  12. My project is the same one I've been working on. Slowly cleaning out my house. Some progress has been made.
    jawdance@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good. Slow and steady wins the race, as they say.

      ~Daryl / Avery

      Delete
    2. Judy, by random generator you have won one of the swag giveaways! I'll be in contact. Congrats! ~ Avery aka Daryl

      Delete
  13. A good dusting, sweeping and open up all the windows to let the fresh air in. Washing and putting away winter blankets until next year. I love Spring! fsumom99@aol.com. Debbi Powers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debbi, by random generator selector, you have won one of the swag giveaways! I'll be in touch. Congrats! ~ Avery aka Daryl

      Delete
  14. Cleaning for Spring is a difficult but necessary task. The closets and cabinets need a complete overhaul. Spring is soon arriving. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Traveler ~ spring is soon arriving in some parts of the country, but I fear it will be a long haul before the East Coast feels spring, don't you?

      ~Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  15. Looks yummy, Daryl -- and a good adaptation job!

    Sure wish I could find my oven thermometer -- alas, cleaning out the kitchen drawers did not reveal the little bugger.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leslie, I had to get a new one. Luckily it wasn't expensive. And it works so well!

      ~Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  16. Kitchen cabinets are my next project. Recipe looks great. elainehroberson@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a big project to tackle, Elaine, at least in my kitchen. :)

      Delete
    2. Elaine, by random generator, you won the giveaway of the book. I'll be in touch! Congrats! ~ Avery aka Daryl

      Delete
  17. I certainly do i want to take all the things out of the kitchen cabinets and wipe them down then go to the living room and have hubby move the chairs and he can vacuumn for me as i am disabled so he gets to do things like spring cleaning with me! Of course we do it before he heads back to work as he is laid off till April. peggy clayton ptclayton2@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sometimes a bit scared to move the living room furniture to clean under them, you never know what you'll find.

      Delete
  18. Pat (patdupuy@yahoo.com)January 27, 2016 at 12:51 PM

    Spring cleaning? How about a year round entire house cleaning project! We need it. Too much stuff cluttering our house. I think I'll try the room by room approach and see if I can thin out our books and knickknacks. Aaaagh.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Room by room is a great method - or sometimes section by section. Good luck with your decluttering project, Pat!

      Delete
  19. Pat (patdupuy@yahoo.com)January 27, 2016 at 12:54 PM

    P.S. That recipe looks yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love how resourceful you ladies have been this month! I also love the recipe (thanks!) - I've never tried baking a dessert with cheddar but I'll take your word for it and add it to my must try list since it looks so delicious and you've obviously cleaned your plate (per your Facebook post!). Also, I learned this tip from King Arthur Flour regarding measuring spoons (I could never find them in the drawer either...): take the rings off of them and put them in a small glass, vase, jar or whatever else you have handy and place it on your counter so that they're always visible and in reach. I used an empty Bonne Maman jam jar, it works perfectly, and since I have 3 or 4 sets of spoons they all fit and I have easy access. Happy baking! Nicole nicolev.girldetective@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That sounds like a great tip from King Arthur (I love them!) and keeping more than one set of measuring spoons on hand is a boon when you are in the middle of a baking frenzy.

      Delete
  21. First of all...Congratulations on your newest release next week! I won't need to spring clean this year since we will be moving within the next few months (from California to Arizona) & while packing, I will be weeding out some of the things that I have no idea what we were keeping them for anyway. Thanks for the chance to win. sxygrndma48@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Keep... ~ I moved a number of times and each time weeded out stuff. I'm not a minimalist, but boy do I have a lot less than I did 15 years ago. We moved from CA to Florida to NC to CT and back to Los Angeles. I like being "home." ~ Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  22. My spring cleaning project is to clean out my drawers in my bedroom and get stuff better organized. Great recipe, can't wait to read your new book.
    diannekc8@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. My spring cleaning project it to clean out toys. My kids have an entire room full of them and then some. Every time someone stops at my house I give them something to take home. My kids friends are going to love coming to our house! Brittany utaker555@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittany, every Christmas, I would tell my son we had to give 5-10 things to needy children so there was room for Santa to bring something. He always picked the toys. Usually he wanted 1 back, and he got it. But it sure helped knowing he was the one doing the picking. :) ~ Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  24. Unfortunately we spend the winter months in the southwest. Not much spring cleaning to do there. I do more of a fall cleaning when I am home. And that is more like getting rid of clothes that I keep hoping I will fit into again and realizing it isn't going to happen. So sad...

    ElaineE246 at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Elaine, what fun to spend time in both places. Good for you!

      ~ Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  25. I am trying the 50 items a month cleaning giveaway. I can find things from my cosmetic drawer, old medicines and clothes whatever and then just get rid of it. Otherwise it seems overwhelming...gah...I am one of those that thinks if I give this away will I need it tomorrow? lol...good luck to us all and thanks for the Contest. I love the cheese books...
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marilyn, that's interesting. Is that a campaign, 50 items a month? Sounds smart! I'm so glad you love the books. Thank you! ~ Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  26. That looks yummy! I plan on cleaning out everything and getting rid of the clutter. I love your books!
    Lisa H.
    hseaside5@aim.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. The winners of this giveaway have been selected! They include Elaine R, Debbie P and Judy W! Congrats to all! ~ Avery / Daryl

    ReplyDelete