Very Berry Cherry Cobbler - The Joy Of Just Being
There are days when I crave the kind of dessert that feels like a hug from the inside out. This Very Berry Cherry Cobbler is exactly that - simple, cozy, no fuss, and pure comfort. Whether it’s for dessert or brunch, it’s one of those recipes that fills the kitchen with warmth and the smell of home.
Top it with a scoop of ice cream or, my newest obsession - clotted cream. I know, it sounds questionable, but OH EM GEE… game changer. Chef Ashley introduced it to me this past year and I haven’t looked back. It’s officially my new favourite food group.
The best part? This cobbler can be made with almost any of our preserves. Imagine a Peach Prosecco Preserve version with frozen peaches, or our Seasonal Apple Cranberry with diced apples and a hint of cinnamon. It’s a flexible, crowd-pleasing recipe that goes from start to finish in under an hour - and it’s even better baked in my Meyer skillet.
I love when our products surprise me; they may start as a jar or a mix, but they always find new ways to shine.
(Photo: Very Berry Cherry Cobbler)
Finding My “Just Be” Flow
Lately, I’ve been leaning into recipes that spark something new, inspired by moments spent watching women who make cooking feel effortless and full of heart. Shows like Mary Berg’s The Good Stuff, Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Table, and The Pioneer Woman always nudge me toward trying something different. There’s something about watching other women create with ease that reminds me to slow down and enjoy the process myself; to play a little, to let things be imperfect, to just… be.
And that phrase, “just be” has been with me for almost a decade. I didn’t understand it at first. But one evening, my friend Karen Wright invited my daughter Breagh and me over to make cold-pressed soap (from scratch!). We spent hours chatting and mixing ingredients while the scents of citrus and peppermint filled her kitchen...It was simple, creative, and so much fun. And that night, the meaning clicked. “Just being” felt unhurried, connected, joyful… a feeling I desire not just in the kitchen, but in how I live, choose, and show up every day.
Ever since that night, I’ve been trying to hold onto more of that unhurried creativity - not as an occasional moment, but as something I return to again and again.
(Photo: Mary Berg came to visit us - such an incredible day!)
Creating for the Joy of It
Sometimes it shows up in the kitchen, whisk in hand. Other times, it’s at my desk with a paintbrush or an embroidery needle (a little Brownies-era throwback!). There’s something deeply satisfying about saying, I made this, and it always brings me back to myself.
When I turned 40, I was in the middle of my MBA, three kids, a full-time job, and a calendar scheduled down to the minute… and somehow thought six-week meal plans were the answer to balance. These days, I’ve softened that structure. I cook what feels right at the time, maybe something new from a cooking show, maybe one of Mom’s comforting favourites, something I just make up!
And that, to me, is the heart of it: less rigidness, more presence. More joy. More just being.
Creativity as a Form of Self-Care
One of the things I’m learning lately is that creativity really is a form of self-care. Not the big, showy kind, but the quiet, nourishing kind that fills the small pockets of the day with something meaningful. Whether it’s baking, painting, stitching, writing, or even rearranging a room, it’s less about the outcome and more about how it makes me feel. Present. Calm. Connected. Creativity pulls me out of the “doing” and back into the “being.” And somehow, every time I lean into that energy, I feel a little more like myself again.
And maybe that’s the beauty of it all, finding little ways to stay present, grounded, and gently connected to ourselves.
Lots of love,
Marsha
