Fresh Blueberry Bread

Ah, blueberries! As Samuel was grousing about picking these splendid little morsels, I pointed out how God must love us to hang these sweet little beauties from bushes for us to come along and pluck for our delight. I had intended to take some photos at the blueberry farm but forgot my camera in the car. But this is just some of what we brought home.

16 1/2 pounds in all. The lady let's people pick and will take 1/2 of what you pick as payment or you can pay $2 per pound (U-pick).
Leah picked through them after I washed them then bagged and froze most of them.

We shall have blueberry treats all winter! But here is one for you now, this bread is rich and tender, bursting with the fresh berries and a crunch topping. Use frozen berries when not in season.

1/4 cup butter, softened
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup milk
1 cup blueberries
1 tablespoon flour (for dusting berries)
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons oats
2 tablespoons chopped pecans
1 tablespoon flour (for topping)
1 tablespoon softened butter
Butter a loaf pan well and dust with flour.

Preheat oven to 350F.
In a medium bowl, toss the blueberries with the 1 tablespoon flour. This keeps them from sinking to the bottom of the loaf.

In a medium bowl, combine the 2 cups of flour, baking powder, soda and salt.

Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and cream cheese.

Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.

Add eggs and beat well.

Add milk and flour mixture alternately in thirds. Just combine it - don't beat it or the bread will be tough.

Gently, fold blueberries into the batter.

Fold this into the prepared loaf pan.
In a medium bowl, I used the same one I tossed the blueberries in (I don't like to do dishes), combine the brown sugar, oats, pecans 1 tablespoon flour and the 1 tablespoon butter.

 Mix with fork or fingers to make coarse crumbs.

Sprinkle on top of batter.
Bake for 1 hour or until pick comes out clean.

I left a little over a quart of berries in the fridge, I think blueberry pancakes are in our future!