Cowboys, Cowgirls, and Cobbler

Cowboys, you gotta love 'em!

I love cowboys - and even cowgirls - although for different reasons. I'm a western kind of gal, in spirit as well as having been born and raised in the Southwest. Part of my growing up was done in a rural area and later during my teens we lived in the "big" city. At twenty-five I decided to move back to a rural lifestyle and now over three decades later I'm still living the country life.

Here in my local area, like most rural locations, cowboys rule! We have pickup trucks, cowboy hats, and Wrangler jeans. Every spring we "gather" up the calves born fall through winter to brand and castrate. Yep, just like in the olden western days! However, today's cowboys are just as likely to move the cattle with quads as on horseback, with the help of their ever present working dog.

My dear friends have their annual gathering in April, once warmer dry weather sets in. Family friends get a call with the date - usually a Sunday - and time, usually mid morning. Dan, the lead cowboy, goes out with his two working dogs, and whoever shows up early, and gathers the cows and their offspring to bring them into the arena.

A great day for a gathering!

Then the trucks and trailers start arriving. Horses are unloaded and saddled up. Ropes are readied, the fire is hot with branding irons heated. The cowboys and girls start by separating the calves from their mamas. The result is quite noisy as the pairs pine for each other. Once the work is done they will be reunited.

The goal is to get each calf branded and wormed. The bull calves are also castrated. The cowboys and girls take turns roping (or trying to rope) the calves. The young ones are encouraged to try their hand right along with the older experienced ropers. There is an air of cooperation and camaraderie, everyone pitching in knowing their contribution is important.

After all the hard work, time to visit and eat!

Once the work is done, and the calves are turned out with their mothers, the call comes that lunch is on. The hungry cowboys and girls head down to the ranch house knowing there will be a big spread to welcome them and thank them for their hard work. Although the menu varies from year to year, the one constant that has been served every year is Cowboy Cobbler. Although Shirley usually makes this from wild blackberries that were picked and frozen from the previous summer, she also does a delicious version using blueberries. A few years back she entered it into our local fair along with 30 other entries and won first place. Yes, it is that good!

                                                                                 

 

Young and old alike, it's a great time!

Cowboy Cobbler

Melt one stick butter in 9 x 9 pan

Batter:

1 cup sugar

1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup milk 
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg

Mix dry ingredients and then add combined milk, vanilla and egg. Combine until all dry is mixed with the wet. Pour batter into the melted butter in pan.

2 cups blackberries or blueberries with juice

Pour berries with juice all over the batter. Don't worry about mixing it in as it will all sink to the bottom while baking. Bake at 350 for one hour.


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