Desserts : Eula Mae's Blackberry Patch Cobbler

• 1 gallon fresh blackberries, picked over
  
• 3 1/2 cups sugar, divided
  
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, at room temperature, divided
  
• 4 large eggs
  
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  
• 2 1/2 cups cake flour
  
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
  
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
  
• 1/4 cup water
  
• Vanilla ice cream (optional)
  

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Combine the berries and 2 cups of the sugar in a large, deep pot over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until a syrup forms, about 10 minutes. Remove 1/2 cup of the hot berry juice and dissolve the cornstarch in it. Return this to the berry mixture and stir until the mixture thickens, then remove from the heat.

Combine 1/2 cup (1 stick) of the butter, the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar, and the eggs in a large mixing bowl and mix until smooth. Add the vanilla and stir to blend.

Smear the remaining 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter over the bottom of an 18x12x2-inch baking dish. Pour the berry mixture into the dish. Spoon the batter, about 2 tablespoons at a time, to form drop biscuits or dumplings over the top of the berry mixture. Bake until the dough is golden and the mixture bubbles, 55 minutes to I hour.

Scoop a large spoonful of the berries with a biscuit into each dessert bowl. Serve with ice cream, if you wish.

Makes about 20 small servings.

Recipe from "Eula Mae's Cajun Kitchen Cookbook"