How can you not feel hope in the spring? Flowers have just exploded into bloom and birds are happy and chirping! You do have to deal with the rain but when the sun comes out it just dazzles you. I’m so glad that stay at home does not equal stay locked in your house. It is soothing for your soul to step on your porch and greet neighbors, walk around the block and admire gardens and gaze over the creek and imagine boats on the crisp blue water. It also perks up a mood to bring some flowers inside! Small touches of spring to spark happy thoughts of good times in our future.

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I really enjoyed the blueberry pie challenge of last week, and it was appreciated very much by my people. But this week I wanted something simpler and more comforting: Chocolate Cobbler! Easy to make and very easy to eat…maybe a bit too easy, but chocolate tends to be like that. It was a bright spot on a gloomy afternoon. How are you holding up with the “safer at home” experience? We are finding it difficult some days and more easy on other days, probably like most everyone. I would like to be able to say I will never complain about the grocery store, gym or work again. Hopefully I will say that, but time will tell.

Usual Cast of Characters

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup whole milk or cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Chocolate Cobbler Topping:

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1cups boiling water

Steps to Glory

• Preheat the oven to 350º F.
• Place butter into a 9×13 baking dish and into the oven to melt. Then, remove from the oven and set aside.
• Mix together the sugar, cocoa powder, flour, milk, and vanilla extract, baking powder and salt for the batter. Spoon the mixture into the baking dish on top of the melted butter. DO NOT STIR.
• 
• In a separated bowl, mix 2 cups sugar and ½ cup cocoa powder. Sprinkle this topping mixture on top of the batter. Pour the boiling water over topping. DO NOT STIR.

• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until top is set. The bottom of the cobbler will still be a little loose. Cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
• 

The day may be dreary but you can always find some joy in it!

Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Your whim. Share your style. Waste not. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm. Friday features. Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters. Create bake grow. Snickerdoodle. Happiness is homemade. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Over the Moon Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday celebrate your story Little cottage Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Farm Fresh simple homestead. Hearth and Home. Anything goes

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I needed a challenge this weekend. Something multi -step with an incredible payoff at the end. Something to cheer up my family and celebrate our many blessings of work, health and friends. Pie! I mean who doesn’t like the idea of pie? Chiffon pie? Well I had the time, I just needed to see if I had the skills…are you ready for the challenge?

For my crust, I went a little crazy and used animal crackers instead of a classic graham cracker crust. Sometimes you need to live on the edge a bit.

Blueberry Lemon Chiffon Pie

The Usual Cast of Characters

1 ½ tablespoons ground arrowroot

2 tablespoons water

½ teaspoon salt

1 package unflavored gelatin

¼ cup orange juice

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

½ cup lemon juice

4 egg yolks

2 egg whites

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup confectioner’s sugar

¾ cup heavy cream

 

Steps to Glory

1. Combine blueberries, 1 cup of sugar, arrowroot, water and ¼ teaspoon salt in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook until reduced by 1/2 , about 12-15 minutes.

2. Using a fine sieve to remove blueberries, pour into a bowl using a spoon to press all the juice. Pour sauce into the prepared pie crust and refrigerate.

3. Sprinkle gelatin evenly over orange in a bowl to soften.

4. In a metal mixing bowl, combine zests, lemon juice, remaining sugar, egg yolks, and remaining salt. Place bowl over a large pan of simmering water. DO NOT LET THE BOWL TOUCH THE WATER, and cook 4-5 minutes stirring consistently until it forms a soft custard. Remove from heat and add gelatin and vanilla. Stir to dissolve.

5. Refrigerate and stir often until it thickens about 25-30 minutes.

6. Beat egg whites until fluffy, add confectioners sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form.

7. Beat heavy cream until stiff.

8. Gently add lemon mixture to egg whites. Gently add cream. Do not over mix

9. Spoon over blueberry sauce. Refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours.

10. Serve cold

This pie is best eaten on a front porch on a sunny afternoon, while talking to neighbors and admiring their dogs.

And maybe fly a kite!

Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. . Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Your whim. Share your style. Home and garden. Waste not. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm. Friday features. Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home. Pit Stop. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters. Create bake grow. Snickerdoodle. Happiness is homemade. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Over the Moon Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday celebrate your story Little cottage Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday fresh farm. Pink Saturday simple homestead Happy at Home what’s for dinner

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things – Pin

Penny at Penny’s Passion – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

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