This is the quintessial Canadian Maritime Dessert.Have you heard of it....Blueberry Grunt?
It is a type of dumpling dessert that has long been popular in Nova Scotia...where I come from.
It's strange name, "grunt, " is said to have come from the noises made by the fruit as it softly stewed in a pot on the wood stove or fire. It's definitely an 'old time' dish made in just about every household in Nova Scotia at one time or another. In many homes, grunts were often not considered to be desserts, but were served as an easy main course, where a busy rural housewife had spent the day canning or 'putting up' and could make this dinner for her family with little effort after a busy day. Personally, I think 18th century 'fast food' of grunts or stewed fruit & dumpling are far more better for you than today's fast food.
I make this in the later summer, fall & winter for my family as a dessert. It's great served with whipped cream, as shown here, or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Blueberry Grunt
Ingredients
1 quart blueberries
1/2 cup sugar {or more, depending on how sweet you like it}
1/2 cup water
Feel free to add a little cinnamon, nutmeg or lemon zest if you like!
Put berries, sugar and water in a pot, cover and boil gently until there is plenty of juice. {Add 1/4 cup flour if you like a thicker blueberry sauce.}
Dumplings:
2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon shortening
1/4 cup-1/2 cup milk
Sift flour, baking powder, salt and sugar into a bowl. Cut in the butter and shortening and add enough milk to make a soft biscuit dough. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto hot blueberries in pot. Cover closely and do not peek for 15 minutes. No peeking allowed! Serve hot. Store any leftovers in fridge. Reheat to serve again.
My kids love this dessert....especially on a cold winter's night. I love it because it reminds me of home!
It can easily be made with fresh or frozen blueberries, or strawberries, rhubarb, apples, raspberries, or any combination.
Whew! Can you believe August is almost coming to an end? I am so torn between ripping apart closets that badly need to be re-organized or crafting some items for Fall. Decisions!
This post is linked to these terrific parties:
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