MAMA'S SOUTHERN BLACKBERRY (OR ANY FRUIT) COBBLER

Steps:

• 1. Mix flour and salt. Using pastry cutter, cut shortening into flour. Once it becomes a meal texture, add the milk and stir together.
• 2. Mix fruit, 1 1/2 cups sugar, and 1 1/2 cups water in saucepan and bring to boil. Turn down to simmer while you roll some dough into dumplings.
• 3. Begin with about 1/4 of the dough. On floured surface, roll dough to about 1/4 inch thickness (or less). Cut into 1-inch pieces and drop into berry mixture. Allow to cook a minute before stirring down and adding more dumplings. You may need just a bit more of the original dough for dumplings. Once it has a good mixture of dumplings and juice, remove from heat. You want this to still be a little juicy. Please remember that your bottom crust will absorb some of the juice.
• 4. Split the remaining dough into near halves. If one side has slightly more, save it for last. Roll out first half. Spray Pam into bottom of glass 13 X 9 pan. Place rolled out crust into bottom of pan. (Don't cover sides.) If crust tears, it's okay, you can piece it together for the bottom of the dish.
• 5. Pour berry mixture on top of bottom crust.
• 6. I usually roll out all of my dough on wax paper, but for this step, I always do. Roll out the remaining dough into a rectangular shape larger than the 13 X 9 dish on floured wax paper. When it's large enough, use the wax paper to turn the top crust onto the cobbler. If an area tears, you can tear off some of the extra to cover the tear. If some areas go beyond the dish, work them into the dish. The top crust is yummy, flaky goodness, and extra is always a good thing.
• 7. Cut up the butter and spread out pieces all over the top crust. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon or nutmeg.
• 8. Bake at 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until nicely browned. This is delicious served with real whipped cream or vanilla ice cream or just by itself.