blackberry Archives

It’s COCKTAIL TIME!!! Do I sound like Sandra Lee? Cool I was trying to. This weekend was busy with family bonding before my brother moved to Seattle, so I’m bringing you a short and sweet recipe today. Don’t be fooled by its simplicity though, it’s maybe my favorite drink I’ve ever made. To begin this story I must first explain to you that we went berry picking this weekend. It’s becoming a Lewis family tradition really, and I’m certainly not mad about it. We drive to Eastern Long Island for pie, berries, and wandering, and maybe a quick ride on the carousel (yes I am 24 years old, why do you ask???). But anyway, we picked a surplus of blackberries at the berry farm, and, having just made a pie two days earlier, I was looking for something else to do.

We all accidentally dressed the same and I’m not mad about it for sure.

Enter this Blackberry Gin Fizz. Inspired by this recipe here, it combines berry puree, lime juice, gin, and a splash of something fizzy. THAT’S IT. The original recipe calls for club soda, but since the grocery store didn’t have that and I LOVE my fruit flavored seltzers, I swapped it out for grapefruit seltzer. It’s worth mentioning that I made more the next day with a Passionfruit La Croix, and it was NEXT LEVEL delicious, so feel free to mix up your seltzer flavors. This drink is refreshing, light, and a little herby from the gin, and the most perfect summer drink. For real, I used to think I wasn’t a gin person but suddenly, a blackberry gin fizz is just the beginning of my new life of gin fizzes.

Before we get started, here are your 5 things to be happy about today!!
ONE. Rainy summer walks.
TWO. Longstanding family traditions.
THREE. Coming into the air conditioning after being outside.
FOUR. Giving your room a good clean and finding something you thought was lost forever.
FIVE. Peach and berry cobbler, bubbling from the oven.

Let’s go!!

Blackberry Gin Fizz

Sweet, fizzy, herby and refreshing, this is the perfect drink for when you never want summer to end.

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Prep Time 15 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Course Drinks

Servings 8

Ingredients

12 ounces fresh blackberries
1 cup sugar
2 cups gin
1 cup fresh lime juice
Fruit seltzer or club soda
basil + rosemary sprigs, for garnish

Instructions

In a blender, puree together the blackberries and sugar until smooth. Let the mixture stand in the blender, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved. Strain the berry puree through a fine mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or bowl. Measure out 1 cup of the puree and transfer to a large pitcher. Pro-tip: use the remaining berry puree as a non-alcoholic mixer for seltzer!
Stir the gin and lime juice into the pitcher with the blackberries and chill before serving.
To serve, fill each glass with ice, then fill each glass a little more than halfway with the gin mixture. Top with club soda or seltzer, and garnish with one sprig each of basil and rosemary.

Keyword blackberry, cocktail, gin

Need some more summery recipes? Look here, here, and here!

Okaaaaaaaaay hello! Happy Tuesday, how was your weekend? Mine involved a trip to the gardens with a dear friend, a family viewing of Toy Story 4 in which I bawled my eyes out, and…COOKING! Specifically a baked pasta and this gorgeous summer tart recipe. *Cue the fake shock lol* I go through this weekly Sunday dilemma where I spend all day wondering what to cook for Sunday dinner. I have an instagram folder full of recipes I’ve saved and yet when the time comes, I can’t think of anything. This week I was saved by Smitten Kitchen, with this summery pasta bake. The best part is, remember that garden I mentioned a few weeks back? Guess where all the herbs came from?? I felt like fricken Ina Garten strolling right outside and cutting herbs for myself. All that’s missing is the Hamptons house, but that can’t be far behind right??

Anyway, for dessert I made this GORGEOUS summer tart recipe, which I literally found by chance. I haven’t picked up a magazine in my house in ages, but I happened to open up a new Southern Living magazine on Saturday afternoon and was immediately drawn to this recipe. Originally made with a Ritz crackers crust, I changed it to a chocolate cookie crust because why not, plus I thought it complemented the berries nicely. I was particularly proud of how this looked with all the berries on top, feel free to call me for all your food styling needs in the future lmao. The filling is rich with a little tang, almost like a cheesecake but in tart form, so really what’s not to like?

I warn you all to not make the same mistake I did though. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a fool who often fails to read a recipe through before diving right into them. Do we remember this? Good. So I was about halfway through the filling of this tart when !!!! I noticed that it has to chill for approximately 8 hours before serving. Keep in mind this was at 3:30 when dinner was at 6. Yeah. I’m a fool. Miraculously, chilling the filled tart in the freezer for 45 minutes and then into the fridge until serving seemed to work just fine, but I would always recommend following the recipe if time allows.

Don’t forget about your 5 things to be happy about today, share them with your friends and strangers!!
ONE. Your favorite TV show starting a new season.
TWO. Finding a silver lining in something that felt hopeless.
THREE. Having a second chance at something.
FOUR. Hair masks.
FIVE. Playing cornhole in the backyard during a barbecue.

Let’s bake!

Black and Blue Buttermilk Tart

The most perfect combination of chocolatey crust, rich cheesecakey filling, and the season's ripest berries, this summer tart recipe is one you'll want to make over and over.

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Prep Time 30 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Inative Time 8 hrs

Total Time 8 hrs 50 mins

Course Dessert

Ingredients

Chocolate Cookie Crust

2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs ex: chocolate wafers or oreo cookies
4 Tbs unsalted butter melted

Black and Blue Buttermilk Tart

¾ cup heavy cream
1 vanilla bean or 2 tsp vanilla bean paste
1¼ tsp unflavored gelatin from 1 pouch
½ cup white sugar
12 oz. cream cheese softened
¾ cup buttermilk
blueberries + blackberries for topping

Instructions

Chocolate Cookie Crust

If using chocolate wafers, pulse the cookies with salt in a food processor until they are even crumbs. If using oreos, separate the cookie from the filling and then do the same. Measure out 2 cups of crumbs and add to a medium bowl, along with the melted butter.
Stir until the mixture is evenly moistened, then pour into a tart pan with a removable bottom. Using your hands and a small dry measuring cup, press the crumbs into the bottom and sides of the pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, and then allow to cool completely before filling.

Black and Blue Buttermilk Tart

Pour heavy cream and scraped vanilla bean + pod (or vanilla bean paste) to a saucepan, and mix. Sprinkle the gelatin evenly over the mixture and let sit for 5 minutes. Whisk in the sugar and heat on medium until the sugar and gelatin are dissolved.
Transfer mixture to a food processor, then add the cream cheese a little bit at a time. Pour in the buttermilk and process until the mixture is smooth. Pour into a cooled tart crust and chill in the refrigerator for 8 hours, up to overnight. Before serving, top with berries. YUM!!!

Keyword blueberries, summer, summer recipe, tart