LOOKING BACK WITH MRS. COY

by Coy's Kitchen

It seems we have cake or cupcakes for many special events. Cousin Brad’s Wedding, Graduation, Cousin Brad’s Divorce Party, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Pet Birthdays, Cousin Brad’s Second Wedding, Holidays - you get the picture. I’m not really a cake person. I love to bake cakes and create beautiful cakes. Cakes remind me of Jake from 16 Candles, you know the ending? Jake is pretty and I wouldn’t mind sitting in the dining room with him. However, I would have to ask meaningful questions before blowing out my candles? What’s underneath his beauty? Is it fondant holding everything together like Michael Myers in the movie Halloween. Or is it more cream cheese, calm and soft spoken, like Tom Hanks. Again, you’re not sure what’s on the inside, but who cares? It looks pretty at your table.

Then we have pies. When I think of pie, I think of Mrs. Doubtfire’s whipped cream face. I think of pie eating and pie in the face contests such as Eugene and Coach Calhoune from Grease. It seems to be a hurried competitive experience. Pies are fun to bake and have a complexity of sweet and savory, but I don’t feel like setting my timer to go the distance.

It’s not my go-to on the dessert table, no matter if the pie sounds like Mrs. Doubtfire’s, Well, Hello Dear.

Onto puddings. Pudding People remind me of Two-Face in Batman, played by Tommy Lee Jones. One side is dessert and another side is an entree side dish. You're expecting one face and then, BAM - here comes another face that you weren’t expecting. Is it bad, no, but not a sure bet.

Finally, Cobblers. Cobblers have the complexity of a cake with the batter topping. The inside is filled with flavorful fruit. Cobbler is a big warm hug holding you tight. Bonus points for lattice work and intricate details on the crust. Add some homemade whipped cream on the side, not on top. With its Southern Charm and long standing traditions, Cobblers are like Steel Magnolias. My favorite colors are not blush and bashful. My favorite is peach cobbler, and my husband makes the best - and that’s a sure thing.

Signing off with singing in the background, words of happy birthday. A peach cobbler on the table filled with candles. My husband is smiling and I blow out my not so 16 birthday candles. What did I wish for?

More peach cobbler, of course.

COY'S COBBLER (WATCH VIDEO HERE)

Ingredients

2 - 15 ounces cans favorite fruit in a can

½ cup (1 stick) butter

1 cup self-rising flour

1 cup sugar

1 cup milk

Homemade Whipped Cream:

2 cups whipping cream

4 tablespoons sugar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Drain 1 canned fruit and set to the side. Place the butter in a 9 by 12 inch ovenproof baking dish. Heat the butter on the stove until it’s melted. In a medium bowl, mix the flour and sugar. Stir in the milk and pour in the canned fruit that is drained as well as the whole can (plus syrup). Pour the batter over the melted butter in the baking dish. Arrange the fruit over the batter. Bake for 1 hour. The cobbler is done when the batter rises around the fruit and the crust is thick and golden brown. Serve with fresh whipped cream.

Homemade Whipped Cream

Yield: 4 cupsChill a large metal mixing bowl and a wire beater attachment in the freezer for about 20 minutes. Pour the chilled cream and sugar into the cold mixing bowl and beat until it forms soft peaks, about 5 minutes. The mixture should hold its shape when dropped from a spoon. Don’t overbeat.