Berry Crisp

This is one of my favorite desserts. A warm baked concoction of blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries under an oatmeal cookie like crumble. Paired with vanilla soy "ice cream," and shared with family and friends is a perfect ending to a summer evening. I actually forgot to take a picture of this dish before we devoured every last bite. Boy was it good!

Seeing the summer solstice light still in the sky at 8:30 in the evening gives me a special feeling, like a holiday to celebrate. In fact Santa Barbara has celebrated the Summer Solstice since 1974 with a parade and festival of music and dance. Check out www.solsticeparade.com. Since my first encounter with this event, I have remained enthralled with it. After many years admiring those daring souls all dressed up in crazy ways, pulling fantastic, amazing hand made art. I became involved in it with my dance group in 2001. Hula Anyone?(www.hulaanyone?.com) tows live drummers as we dance in the Tahitian style up State Street. I absolutely get a kick out of performing, the best part being our grass skirt, shells and feather costumes! This year, I am participating in the workshops, paper mache-ing over chicken wired huge forms of turtles, zebras, and snakes around a giant human heart. Creating floats or costumes to delight or perplex the 100,000 spectators is so satisfying. This Saturday it will all come together, due to hard sweat and labor, but also from creative vision and love. I can't wait!

Mixed Berry Crisp

3 cups fresh berries: black, blue, raspberries

1 tablespoon flour

3 tablespoons sugar

3/4 cup oats

1/2 cup flour

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup soft vegan margarine

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ginger

1. 
   
   Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease baking dish with margarine or oil.


2. 
   
   Rinse and drain berries. Gently mix 1 T flour and 3 T sugar in with the fruit.


3. 
   
   Mix remaining ingredients separately and sprinkle over berries.


4. 
   
   Bake 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Serve warm with vanilla soy ice cream.

In lieu of the dessert, here is a cute summer baby!