It’s August in Maine, and that means one thing. Well, actually, it means many things: frenetically busy 90 plus hour work schedule (tourist based economy), insane sleep deprivation, and BLUEBERRIES!!!!!! I love this time of year because this state is just lousy with blueberries. Conveniently enough, at the kennel I work at there are at least 8 high bush blueberry bushes just begging to be raided for my annual tradition of blueberry lime pound cake.
Another summer tradition, especially when you live as close to the coast of Maine as I do, is summer visitors. I’d like to think they’re drawn to visit me because of my sparkling personality and charm, but I firmly believe it has a lot more to do with me being 20 minutes from the ocean, and the fact that they can stay here for free (although compensation in the form of liquor or wine is always appreciated – hint, hint). I don’t mind being used for my proximity to the beach at all. Mainly because I’m so busy I honestly don’t have time to go visit ANYONE until after Labor Day, when the tourists have gone home. And when the visitors are your brother, sister-in-law, three nieces, and nephew, it’s not really an imposition at all. I haven’t seen them in 7 months and those children grow so fast I most likely won’t recognize them.
This year I’m going to combine both of the above traditions and make my favorite cake EVER for some of my favorite people ever. I am not a dessert person. Well … let me clarify. I am a dessert person if I make it. I think most desserts are WAY too sweet (I believe too sweet is like using too much salt – it masks either poor baking skills or a bland recipe) and cakes especially so. But this cake is one that I absolutely can NOT keep in my house after making it because I will quite literally eat the whole thing myself, and it’s the only cake I’ve ever had that was like that for me. And I only make it once a year because I firmly believe there is no substitute for fresh hand picked blueberries.
Since I have no desire to consume an entire cake by myself, and I have no willpower to stop myself from doing so, I will unashamedly use my brother and his family to consume whatever portions of this cake I don’t eat first.
Happy eating!
Sarah Drake