blueberry crumble {crap no. 5}

blueberry crumble | movita beaucoup

I have writer’s block. (It’s probably just extreme laziness, but saying I have writer’s block makes it sound more artsy.) I blame my writer’s block on four straight days of Haddy Birthday posts last week. So, here’s another edition of crap I’ve been meaning to tell you about. You know you kinda sorta like it.

I went back to baking school last week. I was asked to talk to the new baking and pastry students about my experiences with portfolio learning whilst at the college. I utilized a confusing stream-of-consciousness type delivery style, and paced across the front of the room like a crazed hyena. I loathe speaking in public.

blueberry crumble | movita beaucoup

I have a brother. Yes, I HAVE mentioned him before, despite the fact that some of you claim to have never heard of him before Haddy Week. I wrote this letter to him (that was in June, by the way – not that long ago). Oh, and in July I mentioned him again. That’s July of 2013, dorks. And he made appearances here, here, here and here. So, now I am seriously considering adding quizzes to my posts to make sure y’all are payin’ attention. That said, it’s pretty obvious that I need to tell some embarrassing stories about him. It’s a gaping hole in need of filling, and it will probably make the concept of Adopamop stick a little better.

I’ve taken to responding to annoying comments on my blog with equally annoying replies. I’m just keepin’ it real, people. For example, on one of my tutorials someone commented: sounds ok, but havnt got time for all that stuff. So I replied with: thank goodness you had time to make that comment. But I didn’t correct her spelling of haven’t, so I believe I exercised restraint.

Twice in recent weeks I have opened my eyes in the morning to find myself looking directly into the face of a small beetle. (I feel like grammar could have helped that sentence.) I’m not sure if it was the same beetle, or two different beetles. If it was the same beetle, I’m incredibly impressed with his/her determination to get to know me better.

blueberry crumble | movita beaucoup

I hate leaf blowers. Actually, hate doesn’t even begin to describe it. I don’t wanna get into a longversation about ’em, but I will tell you that they send me into a complete rage. So, 2.0 brought one home from work recently, climbed atop his truck, held it over his head and revved it up while I watched from the living room window. That’s why he’s dead now.

I’m not sure if I should host a Pumpkin Carve-Off this year. October is gunna be pretty busy around here (you’ll see – squeeeeeal!), so I’m wondering if we should just focus on Ginger 2013. What do you think? Were you planning to enter Pumpkin Carve-Off? Or should I just roll that prize pot into Ginger 2013 and make it even more epic? (Maybe we could have prizes for the top THREE Gingerers!) Please advise.

blueberry crumble | movita beaucoup

My freezer is full of blueberries – that’s how you get summer to visit you in the winter. This blueberry crumble is based on a family recipe for apple crisp that Rosie Beaucoup makes, and it loves frozen blueberries. The sweet, crumbly topping makes for a tasty treat after dinner, and balances out the tart blueberry filling. I adore tangy fillings, but if you aren’t in agreement, you could always reduce the quantity of lemon juice I have listed. There is nothing quite so lovely as hot, stewy blueberries on a cold autumn evening. Also, the topping has pecans in it. ‘Nuff said.

. . .

Blueberry Crumble

recipe: adapted from a family recipe treasure

print and bake

Yields one 9×13 inch pan, serves about 6 people.

For the crumble topping:

  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup rolled oats (not the quick cooking kind)
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup unsalted butter, cold
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans

For the filling:

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 6 cups frozen blueberries
  • 1-2 teaspoons lemon juice (according to taste – more lemon juice will give the filling extra tartness)

Mise en place – begin by getting organized. Measure out all of your ingredients. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.

Begin by assembling the topping. In a bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add the pecans and mix well. Set aside.

Next, make the filling. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour and salt. Add the blueberries and lemon juice, tossing to combine and coat the blueberries with flour. Transfer to your prepared baking dish, sprinkling any dry ingredients that have accumulated at the bottom of the bowl over the blueberries in the dish. The flour will be absorbed during baking and help to thicken the filling slightly, though it will still be somewhat loose.

Sprinkle the topping evenly over the filling.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the filling is bubbling and the topping is golden and lightly browned.

52 Comments

  1. Stacy on September 22, 2013 at 1:53 pm

    Good on you for keeping it real! We wouldn’t expect anything less, Movita! As for the beetle, I feel like you haven’t done your share of the friendship making. Interspecies relationships, like those of a solely human kind, are a two-way street. Think about all he does know about you! And you don’t even know if he’s alone or a twin? Some friend. Hmmph. The least you can do is make a peace offering of blueberry crumble. Because blueberry crumble makes people like you. At least, I imagine this beautiful one would. Or havnt you got time for him? 🙂



    • movita beaucoup on September 22, 2013 at 5:38 pm

      Now I feel really bad about taking that beetle(s) out to the garden. I should have crafted tiny pyjamas for it.



  2. mellissa @ ibreatheimhungry on September 22, 2013 at 3:43 pm

    RIP 2.0, we barely knew ya. :'( Since I lack the both the skill and patience for either gourd sculpture, or pasting together cardboard-like “cookies” with inedible “icing” into domicile shaped structures, I’ll be sitting out both competitions. However, I look forward to seeing what craziness others come up with. I’m hoping for a Ginger Sydney Opera House from Shannon this year. I totally think she could pull it off…



    • movita beaucoup on September 22, 2013 at 5:39 pm

      I plan to ginger Shannon’s ass off.

      Just sayin’.



      • ibreatheimhungry on September 22, 2013 at 9:20 pm

        OH SNAP! Shannon??? Are you reading this??? You betta bring it!!!!



        • shannon on September 24, 2013 at 8:34 am

          OH OKAY, Bacon Cake, it is ON NOW. 😉



      • shannon on September 24, 2013 at 8:34 am

        what the…? :/ i’m gonna ginger YOUR ASS OFF. and mellissa, here’s the problem you created by saying that: I instantly want to figure out how to bend ginger into a ginger sydney opera house. I concur: let’s just focus on Ginger this year, because i suck it at carving, and also, relentless work on detailed cookie projects? totally my jam. let’s do this.



        • ibreatheimhungry on September 24, 2013 at 8:55 am

          Yessss!!! I’ll be in your corner cheering you on girl – you got this!!!!



          • movita beaucoup on September 25, 2013 at 7:25 am

            Imma gunna start my gingerbread house, like, this week.



  3. Anonymous on September 22, 2013 at 4:01 pm

    Yes!!! I hate leaf blowers, too!! What is it with them? I can’t understand the logic – you have this thing that sounds like twenty hairdryers blowing leaves around so the wind can blow them back so the stupid people with the leaf blowers can start all over again. (Not saying that 2.0 is/was stupid, may he rest in peace…)



    • movita beaucoup on September 22, 2013 at 5:40 pm

      Thankfully, 2.0 doesn’t ever actually use a leaf blower here. He just likes to taunt me. There is a man in our neighbourhood, on the other hand, who likes to use his for HOURS AT A TIME. He.Must.Be.Stopped.



  4. lorrielorrieb on September 22, 2013 at 7:29 pm

    Blueberries make me happy!



  5. Juls on September 23, 2013 at 12:52 am

    I like your Random Crap posts, they make me happy. Thankfully there aren’t enough deciduous trees here to warrant the ongoing use of leaf blowers, but there is a neighbour that puts up wind chimes every Summer and I HATE windchimes; ghosty, tuneless clattering everytime there is a little breeze. I don’t know if hating windchimes is like if I were to be hating on puppies and eclairs in that it makes me a miserable and cold person, but seriously, f*ck windchimes.



    • movita beaucoup on September 29, 2013 at 9:09 am

      I can’t believe you hate windchimes.

      But I support you, Juls, and will never hang windchimes here at the Cat Farm.



      • Juls on September 30, 2013 at 1:33 pm

        You’re a good person.



  6. Lan | morestomach on September 23, 2013 at 10:37 am

    i also have an assload of blueberries in my freezer so i thank you for this recipe. honestly, though, even though it’s called a crumble and that’s dessert, i immediately thought this was a breakfast dish and one that i could make on a lovely sunday to be enjoyed in the mornings Mon-Friday. that was seriously my thought when i first saw this post.



    • Lan | morestomach on September 23, 2013 at 10:38 am

      PS. if you didn’t host a pumpkin carve-off, i’d still be your friend. but if you did host it, i’d enter again. i like losing in your contests.



      • movita beaucoup on September 23, 2013 at 2:36 pm

        So you, Amy and I are in… maybe we should do this thang!! I mean, do we really NEED more than three competitors?



      • shannon on September 24, 2013 at 8:36 am

        i also enjoy losing, just like Lan does. At this point, i just track my losses like wins? although i think maybe Lan and i have lost an equal amount of times…not sure who’s in the lead there.



  7. Amy @ Elephant Eats on September 23, 2013 at 1:24 pm

    I bet your speech to the incoming students was amazing! And funny! Since you are both 🙂
    Aw, I had already started brainstorming pumpkin ideas with Nate to enter into the Pumpkin Carve-off! Assuming I came up with something good I was hoping you’d have the contest…if you’re too busy I completely understand though. I’ll just have to share my creation on my own blog.
    Also, this crumble sounds so yummy…i only made one crisp/crumble this summer so I think it’s time to remedy that for fall.



    • movita beaucoup on September 23, 2013 at 2:36 pm

      It still may happen, Amy!! I’m just trying to gauge Pumpkin carving interest. I mean, if you, Lan and I want to compete… that’s enough, right?



      • Amy on October 3, 2013 at 3:30 pm

        Yes. In fact, you could just have all three of us win 😉 I guess that would be more like a pumpkin showcase than a pumpkin contest, but that’s o.k. by me 🙂



  8. Richele on September 23, 2013 at 4:18 pm

    You are hilarious! I always love reading your blog posts . . they leave me with a huge grin . . not even kidding ahha. The recipe looks deee-lish! (and i bet your speech was phenomenal!)



    • movita beaucoup on September 29, 2013 at 9:10 am

      Thanks, Richele! This comment made ME grin!!



  9. emma on September 23, 2013 at 8:45 pm

    Well geez am I ever feeling sorry now that I missed a few of your posts. Can I make it up to you by inviting you to go see Hanson with me in Moncton? (Halifax is too far for me, duh)



    • movita beaucoup on September 24, 2013 at 8:01 am

      You can make it up to me by NOT making me see Hanson in Moncton.



      • emma on September 24, 2013 at 8:03 am

        Figured.



  10. shannon on September 24, 2013 at 8:43 am

    i wonder what would happen if you and i were asked to speak in public TOGETHER one day? because i do the same SOC nervous-talking when i have to speak in front of people, so it would be pretty ugly. We could always invite Katherine to speak for us, so long as she brings wine and does it in the style of last year’s Halloween post.
    every time tim comes home with a new tool or machine-y thing, i’m convinced he will die from it. he’s almost died i think, although he won’t admit to it.
    I’ll echo lan’s sentiment here: i’d be fine without Carve-Off this year, but i’d enter/lose if you held one. I feel like we need to get together on Ginger’s rules a bit (I’M TALKING TO YOU, PROFESSIONALS WHO ENTERED THEIR NATIONALLY-ACCLAIMED NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING GINGER CASTLES/HISTORIC HOME REPLICAS LAST YEAR) so that maybe we can weed out, hmmm, i don’t know, people who know what they’re doing from people who don’t necessarily have two decades’ experience and some sort of ginger degree. I like to just think i have a shot at winning, even though i never win. it’s nice to even entertain the thought for a day or so, but when i’m competing against a scale replica of the most famous castle ever? i think you get what i’m saying.



    • movita beaucoup on September 29, 2013 at 9:17 am

      Dear Shannon,

      When you compete in one of my epic competitions, you must compete against little children AND professional carvers/gingerers/bakers. That is the beauty of it all. At least, that’s what I tell people, as I’m not willing to devote four weeks of my life every quarter to hosting three different levels of competitions so people won’t cry when a six year old or professional pumpkin/ginger/cake prodigy beats them. Now, suck it up. You can do this. You WILL do this. THIS IS TOUGH LOVE.

      Also, I’ve never won any of my competitions. YOU’D THINK MY OWN READERS WOULD SUPPORT ME. But no.

      Sincerely,
      movita beaucoup



      • shannonnon on October 1, 2013 at 1:59 pm

        this is utter crap news. 🙂 i’ll compete anyway because i love you, and maybe it’s best if i try to take down an actual professional ginger house, right? BAR = SET.

        excellent point: i always forget you never win, either. so i suppose i’m in good company.



        • movita beaucoup on October 1, 2013 at 2:54 pm

          One year, my pumpkin entry got only one vote. Which means only one person from my family voted for me. And the rest voted AGAINST me.



  11. shannon on September 24, 2013 at 8:43 am

    i am obviously feeling hilarious today.



  12. jessieharrold on September 24, 2013 at 4:30 pm

    Despite supposed writers’ block, I am a fan of the…ahem…diversity of topics covered in this post. I really feel like it helped me to get to know you better. And, alas, I can relate to the writer’s block thing right now. Sometimes, you know, it’s a decision between another episode of Downton Abbey with a highly appropriate cup of tea versus making my brain work. Soon, I fear this double threat (specifically, Downton addiction and writer’s block) will result in blog posts that read a little like this:

    Here’s a recipe.

    Cheerio, old chap!

    That is all.



    • movita beaucoup on September 29, 2013 at 9:18 am

      I’m totally stealing that post format next week.



  13. Choc Chip Uru on September 24, 2013 at 5:46 pm

    Thank you for giving me delicious blueberry gasms this morning and a huge bowl of laughter as well 😀

    Cheers
    CCU



  14. natalie @ wee eats on September 24, 2013 at 7:55 pm

    “writers block” is going around these days. it’s like the bloggers flu. Too bad they don’t have anti-writers-block shots. although i wouldn’t get one anyway because i hate needles. they’re the worst . ever worse than leaf blowers.

    RIP 2.0. You will be missed. Movita, you may send all of his portions to me directly. Thank you.
    on a semi-related note, is it the machine itself that you hate or the people who wield them at ungodly hours of the day?

    wait, you have a sister? AND a brother? I don’t think you’ve ever mentioned that before. Nope, I’d definitely remember. I actually qiuz myself after I read each post.

    I’m always curious what to do with comments like that, I always hear a voice in my head saying “be the better person” but then I remember that I’m already better than them so what is a little bit of poking going to hurt? 😉



    • movita beaucoup on September 29, 2013 at 9:21 am

      It is the machine, the sound it makes, and the laziness of the user that makes me hate leaf blowers. There’s NOTHING I like about them, Natalie. NOTHING.

      Also, I recently replied to a comment that told me I was rude and sarcastic with: This space is mine. People are not required to come here. Those who don’t like this space are welcome to never come back again.

      Too much? Phffffft. Like I care! It’s MY BLOG!!



      • themessybakerblog on October 2, 2013 at 3:31 pm

        Your sarcasm is what attracted me to your site. It’s what I love about you. Heck, it’s what I love about myself. Don’t worry, lady. We’ll stick together.



        • gottagetbaked on October 2, 2013 at 8:51 pm

          Sarcasm is the best! It’s what runs in my veins. This is why we’re all friend.



  15. Sharon on September 28, 2013 at 3:05 am

    My writer’s block is so bad it took me all week to write this comment. Baby steps.



    • movita beaucoup on September 29, 2013 at 9:22 am

      Dear Sharon,

      Your comment is some of the best writing I’ve read all week.

      Keep up the fight.

      Sincerely,
      movita beaucoup



  16. Amy Tong on September 28, 2013 at 6:56 pm

    haha…..it would be fun if you really incorporate “quizzes” into your post. 😛 How fun. Your blueberry crumble looks scrumptious and I love the pecans in the topping. Can’t wait to give this a try.



    • movita beaucoup on September 29, 2013 at 9:22 am

      Thanks, Amy! The pecans? Magic.



  17. Caroline on October 2, 2013 at 1:32 am

    Calling you rude and sarcastic is a bit unfriendly. You did offer to handcraft tiny pajamas for that friendly beetle. I mean, do these people actually know who you are?



    • movita beaucoup on October 2, 2013 at 6:52 am

      RIGHT? It’s almost like people don’t have a sense of humour anymore. Or care about beetle fashion. It’s a real problem…



  18. Willow on October 2, 2013 at 11:53 am

    Okay, I’ll admit it… I really like your “crap I’ve been meaning to tell you about” posts. This one is no exception. I would like to note, however, that I WAS aware of Adopamop prior to Haddy week, and I DO pay attention. (Please don’t quiz me on stuff, though, because I will totally fail despite all my attention-paying.)

    As for the pumpkin carving vs. ginger-breading, I’m afraid I probably won’t be able to participate in either event… but the thought of seeing Shannon create a ginger Sydney Opera House means my vote goes for all ginger this year.

    Also, I’m now highly inclined to come up with terribly rude/snarky comments just so that you’ll respond to them in equally rude/snarky ways. Must… resist… urge…



  19. themessybakerblog on October 2, 2013 at 3:27 pm

    This post is the very reason why I love you. I really should consider answering snarky, know-it-all comments with snarky, I-don’t-care responses. I think you’re on to something. Public speaking causes an unknown stutter. I knew you had a brother. Ha, I’ve been paying attention. Now, fork over a cookie 🙂 Leaf blowers drive me insane. Everyone who owns one decides to blast it a 7am on a Saturday. I’m sleeping at 7am on the weekends. Hmm, maybe I need to make these people mysteriously disappear. I don’t do pumpkin carving. It attracts kids to my house and cuts on my fingers. I’m going with Ginger.



  20. themessybakerblog on October 2, 2013 at 3:29 pm

    Well, would you look at that. I got to chatting and forgot to comment on the very thing I came here to see: blueberry crumble. It looks rustic and delicious. I want it in my belly, forever and ever. That is all.



  21. Nancy @ gottagetbaked on October 2, 2013 at 8:49 pm

    They monitor us like hawks at work and I’m not supposed to be on any websites not law related. There’s a surveillance camera pointing right into my office. I just laughed out loud (gah! I hate how overused that term is but it’s true, I did laugh) when I read “that’s why 2.0 is dead.” I’m gonna be fired now for wasting time at work. Thanks, Movita. The laugh was totally worth it though cause I really needed it today. I love.love.love this post, so much in fact, that maybe you should have writer’s block more often if this is what it produces! And yes to the blueberry crumble.



  22. bakerbynature on October 3, 2013 at 12:04 am

    This crumble is a thing of beauty, my friend! I wish we were catching up over big bowls of it right now 🙂 xo



  23. movita beaucoup on December 28, 2015 at 10:45 am

    Comments on this post are now closed as it was published in September 2013. Thanks for stopping by!