To me, it sounds like, “You’re totally a heifer, but this camera angle miraculously makes you look somewhat slender.” Or, “Gee, your ugly mug actually looks decent in this photo!”
Of course, I don’t have to worry about my friends saying things like this to me because they’re too busy talking about emerging infectious diseases, contemplating the merits of caffeination for overnight shifts, and fretting over residency/internship applications.
But if do manage to dole out a compliment between wrestling drama llamas, lancing abscesses, and scrubbing for surgery, I would make sure to say, “Wow, you ARE so pretty with that pus in your hair!”
In the kitchen:
Skillet Blackberry Cobbler
When we lived in Idaho, Jason and I used to hop in my 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet and jaunt down to the river to pick blackberries. We'd come back, dehydrated, fingers bloodied, and make this recipe. It's quick and easy. You can't screw it up unless your oven door is defective and bounces at the bottom of its hinge, rebounding to burn your arm as you remove the skillet, causing you to drop said cobbler face down in the oven. This may or may not be the reason the cobbler in this photo is unbaked.
2 T cornstarch
1/4 c. cold water
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 T lemon juice
4 c. blackberries, rinsed and patted dry
1 c. flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
6 T butter, cold, cut into small pieces
1/4 c. boiling water
1) In a large bowl, stir corn starch into cold water until completely dissolved. Add 1 c. sugar, lemon juice, and blackberries. Combine gently. Transfer to 8-12 inch cast iron skillet.
2) In a medium bowl, combine flour, remaining sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend in butter with fork or fingers until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add boiling water and stir just until batter comes together.
3) Bring blackberry mixture to a boil on the stove. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto boiling mixture.
4) Bake cobbler in skillet placed on a foil lined baking sheet (to catch spillover) at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes until topping is golden. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
