I promised....

I promised to share my Blueberry Cake recipe earlier this week, when I mentioned Berried Treasure.  It is the best Blueberry cake I have ever had, perhaps the best in the state of Maine. Maine is known for its blueberries. It is the Blueberry state, after all. We are also known for our Lobstah and our rocky coastline. It was where I was born n' raised.

I would love to say this recipe is an old family favorite, it is, but...  It isn't my families recipe. I did tweak it a bit, I do that a lot.  I'll bake something and then find a way to make it my own. I usually tell my kids " the secret ingredient is... ".  They now think everything I make has a secret.  It doesn't, ssshhh, don't tell them, its a secret!  




When I was little, my Dad was always rotating our fun. Sometimes we had a boat, sometimes a snowmobile. You get the idea.  My parents friends went cruising on the weekend. He decided he was going to do just that, so he bought a motorcycle.  Mom saw him leave and decided she was going to find us a sitter and go, too.  I wasn't old enough to watch my brother, who honestly was really Tarzan's child.  I swear, he swung from the curtains and jumped off the furniture...another story, for another time.  One of the couples that biked with them went to our church. They became friendly and this lady brought Blueberry Cake to our BBQ/Guitar party.   It was moist, with lots of blueberries and a cinnamon, sugary crust on top.  Yes, the kind of cake that makes your taste buds sing and makes you want to kiss your Mom or Grandmother for baking it!  


I have another name for this cake BE#itch Cake.  It is work to make this cake and you can't make it on a rainy day. It is a temperamental kind of cake.  The sun must be shining, certain birds singing in trees..I'm joking.  Honestly, the weather is key...you have to whip egg whites till stiff,  to get the cake to rise. And the blueberries need a bit of snow(flour) so they won't all sink to the bottom.   You get the idea..but it is so worth it!   Let me know if you make it and what you think :D

*Blueberry BE#itch Cake*

You will need a well greased(veg shortening) cake pan 13x9x2 " for this cake. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  and you will need to bake this be#itch on the middle over rack. 

In a medium bowl you will mix or sift and set this aside:

3 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

In a large bowl, cream together these ingredients:

1 c. Vegetable shortening(do not use the oil)
2 c. white granulated sugar
Here you will need to separate 4 eggs...save the egg whites in one bowl to whip later. Now you will use the 4 egg yolks.
To this adding alternately the flour mix(from the Med bowl) you will do with with 2/3cup of milk. I
add a bit of flour, to the wet mixture in the Large bowl and then add some, not all the milk.  You will want a friend to help you stir. This is killer for your bicep muscle. You can do it...but if you have help...share the fun.   They will help you eat the cake, right?!  Keeping mixing adding the flour and some milk, mix and repeat,  till it is mixed.

Now beat those egg whites until stiff . Now  be gentle with these darlings and fold them delicately into your batter.   I mean it grrrently... I use a rubber spatula and gently fold the batter over. You are aerating the batter, with this process.  (this is key)

Now, in a colander rinse 3 cup of blueberries frozen or fresh...doesn't matter.  YOU are going to sprinkle them with some snow(1 tbsp of  all purpose flour). Now shake the colander and dance...ok, make the berries dance, till they are covered with snow.  Now, pat your butt and everyone will know you worked hard..they will see floured hand prints, as you walk away, lol. Now, add the snow covered berries and 2 tsp of Vanilla extract(real or artificial, your choice).

Pour the batter evenly into the pre-greased cake pan.   * YOUR CHOICE, please use some of this mixture, but you do not have to use it all.  I use 2/3c. sugar and 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon.  Mix in a small bowl with a fork.  I  sprinkle all of it on the cake batter, your choice.  The topping as it bakes will separate like fault lines and flavor the cake.  The topping is crunchy...you'll see!

Bake in a 350 F oven for 40-45 minutes(you know this depends on your oven, so I would check your cake with a toothpick around 35 min).  OOooh, be sure to bake this cake on the middle rack of your oven.  This cake takes a bit of work, but it is soooo worth your efforts~  Me, I'll be biking mine off. Cakes at my house have a time limit...if it isn't gone in 24 hours,  I give it away!  Yes, I still am the Cake Nazi...lol.