the berry patch.

i believe in... goals, dreams, lists. one of my summer goals {along with tubing/rafting the coosa} was to pick blueberries and make fresh, tasty treats. done. and done.

blueberry crumble in the making. 

i have spent the past week searching for a local grower that i might could visit to pick berries. i found just the farm in hueytown {west of birmingham}. you pass a few rail road tracks and there you have it. there is a secret to "the berry patch" but i will let you figure that out for yourself. p.s.- i love secrets. 
after my trip to hueytown i baked a recipe that i borrowed from my girl, our girl, pioneer woman. here it is:

Ingredients

• ½ sticks Butter
• 1 Tablespoon (additional) Butter
• ¾ cups Sugar
• ½ teaspoons Cinnamon
• 1 whole Egg
• ½ teaspoons Vanilla Extract
• 2 cups All-purpose Flour
• 2-¼ teaspoons Baking Powder
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• ¾ cups Whole Milk
• 2 cups Fresh Blueberries
• _____
• FOR THE TOPPING:
• ¾ sticks Butter
• ½ cups Sugar
• ½ cups Flour
• ¼ teaspoons Salt

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour, baking powder, and a salt. Stir and set aside.

Cream 1/2 stick plus 1 tablespoon butter with cinnamon and sugar. Add egg and mix until combined. Add vanilla and mix. Add flour mixture and milk alternately until totally incorporated. Do not overbeat. Stir in blueberries until evenly distributed.

Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Pour in batter.

In a separate bowl, combine topping ingredients and cut together using two knives or a pastry cutter. Sprinkle over the top of the cake.

Bake cake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Cut into squares and serve with softened butter.

note: my personal secret is to not add in the vanilla. but, that is simply because i was lacking. improvise, people. 

whole grain flour. duh. 

note: all photographs and adventure laughs compliments of my dearest, georgiaruthcardinal. 
you can ask a few of my closest friends if it was as delicious as it looks. i have spent the evening delaying studying for my summer graduate school finals to deliver treats.

where there is love {and 2 cups of blueberries}, 
there is art.