How to Catch a Man

The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. This is what the old wives say  and I don't know whether there is any truth to it or not. All I know is that when I saw this recipe for Blueberry Boy Bait on the Smitten Kitchen website I had to try it. I loved the name and the recipe sounded so delicious! The recipe was easy enough to make and it turned out buttery, sweet, and full of blueberry yumminess.

Blueberry Boy Bait

2 cups plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon table salt

16 tablespoons unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 cup whole milk (I used fat free since that is what I had in the fridge, but it probably would have been better to use whole milk. My batter was a little thin.)

1/2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen

Topping

1/2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen (do not defrost)

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350º. Grease and flour the pan.

Cream together the sugars and butter. In another bowl whisk together 2 cups of the flour, baking powder and salt.

Add the eggs one at a time mixing just enough to incorporate them into the batter. Then add 1/3 of the flour mixture, again mixing just enough to incorporate. Add ½ of the milk and mix. Add ½ of the remaining flour and mix. Add remaining milk and mix. Then add remaining flour and mix.

In separate bowl toss blueberries with the 1 tsp of flour and then gently fold into the batter. Spread batter in the pan. Top with remaining blueberries. Mix together sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle across the top.

Bake on the center rack for 45- 50 minutes. Cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. The original recipe said to cool 20 minutes and then turn out on a serving platter. I found the cake was still too warm to come out of the pan nicely. If I make again I will probably leave it in the pan to serve. Can be served warm or at room temperature. Store in air tight container for up to 3 days.

Serves 12

 

So, are the old wives right? I don’t know, but if any of you single girls try this recipe and catch yourself an amazing man, please invite me to the wedding!

What I do know is that as a naïve 17 year old high school junior I thought I would test out the theory that you could hook a boyfriend by cooking for him. After all, during my high school years I thought having a boyfriend was the end all and be all.

During my junior year I spent my spring afternoons, evenings, and weekends with the baseball team as the manager. It was a magical time as I fell in love with the sport and not surprisingly, a player or two. I learned the lingo and learned how to score the games. I knew the throwing, batting, and catching habits of the players. And, for some reason junior year I decided that a good way to get the boys’ attention was to make cookies for them. A onetime deal morphed into making cookies for them to enjoy after every game.

This wasn’t some great scientific research experiment, but I can tell you that all the baking didn’t net me a boyfriend. No, sadly, the only thing to come of that experience was some wicked cookie baking skills that have languished over the years. In college I made a mean lasagna that netted me not one, but two marriage proposals. Thankfully, by that time I knew that a strong relationship is not built on how well one cooks.

Since those days I have learned that being married or having a boyfriend is not the end all and be all that I once thought it was. In the intervening years I have come to know myself and my God and to understand that He has a plan for my life. Up to this point it hasn’t included marriage. Part of my purpose in life was to be there for my mom and dad during Mom’s illness. Marriage would have complicated that purpose. I know now my singleness was a gift from God for that period of time and that being in the center of His will for me was better than being in the center of a relationship that wasn’t right.

When people ask me if I want to get married I tell them that I am open to marriage if it is for the right reasons with the right person. My mom and grandma have been known to say to me, “Jede topf hochzeit deckel.” The way Mom and Grandma pronounces it is like this....yayduh hoffa hotzai daigle. It is German for every pot marries its lid.

I'm still looking for my daigle and if he shows up then I will definitely take a walk down the aisle. Until that happens I am going to enjoy the life God has given me!