Fickle Friday #3

Tis peach and huckleberry season in the Pacific Northwest and I’m here to share. But I don’t plan on splitting the peach/huckleberry pie that’s in the oven; oh, no–go get your own!! But I will share the joy of combining those two flavors. I pick fresh peaches, do a quick blanch to skin them easier, slice them and freeze those nuggets of heaven. But don’t toss them in the freezer yet. Grab a handful of huckleberries and put them in with the peach slices.

Now wistfully think that it is chilly November day. Make peach/huckleberry crisp with your frozen fruits. I make my little freezer packs small enough for 2-3 servings, so it is a quick easy chore to cook them up. Make a cobbler, crumble, crisp, brown betty, or even a pie. And what is the difference, you may ask.  So let me illuminate your mind.

• Cobbler is a fruit-like stew with biscuit dough dropped on the top. Many think the word cobbler comes from the appearance of the spooned dough looking like cobblestones.
• Crisp is a baked fruit mixture with a crumb or streusal topping on top. Oats, brown sugar, walnuts, and butter is my favorite topping to use.
• Crumble is the United Kingdom’s version of a crisp. (But since the UK is older than the USA, wouldn’t you think that crisp is the USA’s version of a crumble?)
• Brown Betty is a baked concoction of a fruit layered with buttered crumbs. Often made with apples, this dessert goes back to colonial days. Apple brown betty rings a bell, right?

I was reading the news today about the West Memphis 3. Three men were convicted of killing three cub scouts. They have maintained their innocence over the years. Apparently there is new evidence which may exonerate them. But they accepted a plea deal (an Alford plea) where they plead guilty, but their sentence is considered served. And they  cannot sue the state for their unlawful imprisonment in the event they are indeed innocent.

This whole scene reminds me of The Life of David Gale, starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet. David Gale (played by Kevin Spacey) is against capital punishment, but is accused of murdering a fellow activist and faces death row. Kate Winslet plays a reporter assigned to write a story about Gale. Strange things happen and it isn’t until the end of the movie that you are presented with the shocking ending. A must see!

I’m so depressed; Borders bookstore is closing. I hate it when bookstores close. Apparently, electronic publishing is not helping their business. Although I have a Sony Reader and am into borrowing e-books from the library and purchasing e-books, I can’t pass up print books on sale. I was able to find several books by some of my favorite authors; books I could not find at the library and I could purchase cheaper in print than in electronic format. Was also able to grab some birthday and Xmas presents!

I better end my fickle thoughts because I’m watching The Unsinkable Molly Brown, starring Debbie Reynolds and Harve Presnell. Wow, they could sure made entertaining movies back then (in 1964)! Harve Presnell is so handsome and Debbie Reynolds is as precious then as she is now (she certainly had a lot of spunk and energy back then). Daughter cannot figure out why I would watch a movie like this. Geez, she doesn’t know what she’s missing. I love this movie and the music in it, such as Belly Up to the Bar, Boys. It’s a classic!