As soon as Katie Miller’s resident rooster started his morning song she opened her eyes anxious to get her morning started. Her best friend Emma Byler was coming over to help her make a new dress for her first Sunday nightsingeon. They both had been waiting to be old enough to attend the youth gathering for weeks, and with both of them just turning sixteen, they shared in each other’s excitement.
Not taking the time to put on herkappshe quickly rolled her hair in a bun at the nape of her neck and tied a blue scarf around her head and ran down the stairs taking them two at a time.
“You’re up awful early this morning. Where are you running off to in such a hurry?” Hermammasked.
“I want to get out to the blueberry bushes and pick a few to make some shortbread bars before Emma gets here. We’re going to work on our dresses this morning, and I want to have everything ready before she gets here. I’m hoping I can pick a quick cup in a few minutes.”
Grabbing a small basket, off the counter, she headed out the door letting the screen slam as she passed through. Standing on the first step of her parent’s porch she lifted her face to the sun and breathed in the fresh summer air. The smell of jasmine tickled her nose as a light breeze welcomed her outside.
Making her way to the row of berry bushes that lined her mother’s garden she quickly filled her basket with fresh blueberries and headed back into the house to bake a special treat to share with Emma.
“That was quick. I only had time to pull out the recipe card for you. I wanted to get all the ingredients gathered for you before you made it back in the house.” Hermammsaid.
“The bushes are full again, and I even took some time to lay the netting over the top of the bushes to keep the birds away until we have time to go pick them clean. After Emma and I get done with our new dresses today, we’ll pick them for you.”
“That would be wonderful, youdatthas been asking for a blueberry pie, and I have not had time to get out there and pick them. How about I whipped up these blueberry bars, and you go get things ready in the sewing room for you and Emma to get to work.”
Katie smiled as she walked over to kiss hermammon the cheek and tell her
Running her hands over the blue fabric, she had chosen for her new dress she couldn’t help but think it was the exact color of the blueberries she had just picked. Emma had commented that the blue fabric matched her blue eyes and dark hair perfectly.
This was the beginning of a new stage in their lives and attending their very firstsingeonwas the first step in finding a suitable husband and taking their kneeling vow. In the back of her mind, she knew that the only boy she had eyes for was Daniel Miller, and he wasn’t Amish. Closing her eyes and bringing the material up to her face so she could feel the softness of the new fabric she prayed thatGottwould help her find a way to forget about Daniel Miller. She knew she was not willing to leave her Amish community, not even for love.
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes
Katie's Amish Blueberry Shortbread Bars Recipe
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Total Time40 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Keyword: bars, blueberry
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp ice water
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon. Using a pastry blender, cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Mix in egg yolk and ice water and continue blending until well combined.
Press 3/4 of the mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9-inch square baking dish. Scatter blueberries over the crust. Crumble the remaining dough over the blueberries and bake until golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting into bars.
