Buckle (Northeast)

Election season is in full swing!  The yard signs are out.  The conventions are almost all done.  And the racism and sexism are at an all time high!  Only eight weeks more to go!  Due to the election season, each state and each region of our great nation has the potential to come into the spotlight like never before.  Imagine that of the four people running for national office this year, three have close ties to such sparsely populated places as Alaska, Hawaii and Delaware!  Fortunately, you don't need a lot of people in a state, or a region for that matter, to create a wonderful food culture. 

This post is dedicated to the hard scrabbling roots of V.P. nominee Joe Biden.  I have to admit I didn't love my most recent trip to Delaware in which the Mister and I explored a nearly abandoned outlet mall in Wilmington's 'hot entertainment district.'  Alas Senator Biden's roots stretch beyond the Blue Hen State to the great state of Pennsylvania.  My best friend from college was from Western Pennsylvania and she taught me that hers was a grizzled state where people worked hard and talked hard.  Grizzled people even love grizzled foods. And nothing gets more grizzled than blueberry buckle.  Buckle's origins come from the not-so-grizzly Pennsylvania Dutch, who have brought wonderful culinary treats to the Northeast.  The ingredients are hearty and definitely tougher than donuts, cruellers and other morning treats that lack edge. 

Blueberry buckle comprises three layered components, which uses the principles of gravity to create a yummy treat.  In preparing buckle, you start with a layer of buttery pound cake batter.  Then, you top it with fresh blueberries.  The buckle is then topped with a streusel mix of butter, sugar, flour and oats.  Gravity becomes a friend to buckle as the weight of the streusel and blueberries mixes in the batter.  This process helps maintain the integrity of the blueberry and creates beautiful bursts of color throughout the cake. 

So, while you are driving to your union meeting in Scranton or headed to shoot something because you love your right to do that or attending a Obama-Biden rally, bring some buckle along.  It just may put a smile on your face. Or not.

Happy Eating!