Fourth of July Berry Cobbler

How lucky it is that just as Americans are celebrating the Fourth of July, probably the largest celebration of the summer season, that two of the country's flag colors are in full bloom in fields where shiny red and blue berries are growing in abundance and waiting to be picked. Why not take advantage of this happy circumstance and use these fresh berries in a tasty berry cobbler that can be made, packed in a picnic basket and taken to wherever you're going to enjoy some spectacular fireworks lighting the night sky. Even better, if you're going to be attending a Fourth of July barbecue or party, why not think of your hostess and put together a very patriotic-themed hostess gift?

Start with a flat picnic basket. You can find a variety of baskets at craft stores, home stores like Ikea and some department stores. Line the basket with some red-and-white dish towels and place some berry baskets filled with fresh raspberries, strawberries and blueberries. If you want, you can include your favorite pie crust and a recipe for making a delicious blueberry pie or berry cobbler. Don't forget to include the recipes: You can either handwrite them on recipe cards or print them out, attach them to card stock, and tie to the basket handles with red, white and blue ribbons.

RECIPE
Summer Berry Cobbler
Serves 8 to 10

• 4 cups fresh berries, such as blueberries, raspberries and strawberries
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light-brown sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the berries, juice, sugar and cinnamon. Place the berries in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
2. In a small mixing bowl, blend the butter with the egg. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and sugar. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and stir until the mixture begins to come together. Drop the cobbler topping by tablespoonfuls on top of the berry filling. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the juices from the fruits are bubbling. Allow the cobbler to cool for about 15 minutes before serving.