Blue-tiful Blueberries and Three Delicious Blueberry Recipes
by Carly Loving
I believe in eating healthy. I believe in eating real, all natural foods, without all that “processed junk.” As a mother of three boys, I feel that it is very important to teach my sons to provide their bodies with the most nutrients as possible. That is why we strive to follow one simple rule that I like to call the two R’s. Raw and Real. Think of it like this: eating raw foods that go “bad” are good for you, and processed foods that stay “good” are bad for you.
I constantly preach to my children that it is not about what you look like, but how you feel, and feeling good comes from the inside out. You know the old saying, “you are what you eat.” Well, it’s absolutely true! Eat for your bodies and exercise for your mind, and the rest will fall into place. You will not only have more energy, but a clearer mind, sound body, and glowing skin.
That is why blueberries are my pick of the day. With just 80 calories per cup and virtually no fat, blueberries offer a wide variety of important nutrients that our bodies need. Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, fiber, manganese, but most importantly, they are high in antioxidants. Why are antioxidants so important? They are vitamins and minerals that help protect our cells from damage that weaken the immune system and that can lead to diseases.
Blueberries have been linked to helping prevent type 2 diabetes, stimulating bone growth, reversing memory loss, reducing cholesterol, and even helping to prevent cancer. With all these health benefits, how could you not eat them?
If you are like me, though, a mom of three, it is not always easy to get your children to eat what you want. My middle child will absolutely not touch blueberries. However, he is my only child that will eat salmon, escargot, and anything green. As a mom and a chef, I realize that there is a little give and take.
The best way I promote eating blueberries is by the handful, but there are many other ways to get them into your diet. I like to make blueberry and banana smoothies every morning for breakfast. I then use any leftovers and make popsicles for great afternoon snacks. If you eat a cup of cereal in the morning, take one-half of the cup out and replace it with one-half cup of fresh blueberries.
Of course, my boys love pancakes, and we all have heard of the famous blueberry ones. As a pastry chef, one of my favorite pairings with blueberries is chocolate and lavender. Who says you can’t have a blueberry and chocolate pancake with a scoop of lavender ice cream for breakfast every now and then? They are delicious!
I also like to make a blueberry compote and glaze it on my salmon or pork. You can even use that same compote and serve on top of vanilla bean ice cream, with cobbler topping, fresh blueberries, and caramel sauce. You just made your very own version of a blueberry cobbler sundae!
Having a dinner party? Surprise your guests with a fresh summer salad of spinach or lettuce, goat cheese, red onions, candied pecans, and fresh blueberries tossed with a blush vinaigrette. The flavors go really well together.
Last but not least, you can even make your own blueberry pizza. Buy your own pizza crust, top it with cream cheese frosting and add fresh blueberries and strawberries. It is a great summer snack for the kids. They won’t realize they are actually eating something healthy, because it not only tastes good, but it looks like pizza.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to blueberries. If you can’t already tell, I get a little excited when I talk about them! It is always best to try to eat the freshest fruits and vegetables as possible. It is good for your body as well as the environment. Remember, when it comes to food, simple doesn’t always mean boring. It means delicious!
Blueberry Banana Smoothie
I love this smoothie for a fresh, easy, and healthy breakfast. Pour the leftovers in popsicle molds, and freeze overnight. It makes a great after school snack!
- 1 cup Fresh Blueberries
- 1/2 Large Banana
- 1/2 cup Vanilla Almond Milk
- 1 scoop of Whey Protein Powder (my boys
- seem to like the Jillian Michaels brand the best)
- 1 tsp. honey
- 1-2 cups ice (depending on consistency)
Place all ingredients in blender and mix until smooth.
Blueberry Compote
I really like to use this simple recipe as a finishing sauce for salmon, pork, or duck. It is also a wonderful warm sauce to add to vanilla, lavender, or caramel ice cream!
- 2 cups Frozen Blueberries
- 3 T Water
- 1/4 cup Sugar
- 2 tsp Lemon Juice
Place all ingredients in blender and mix until smooth.
Blueberry and Raspberry Pizza
As a chef, it’s very hard for me to admit this, but as a mom, I have no problem… sometimes I just can’t make everything from scratch! When I am at home and I have three boys needing to be three different places at once, sometimes I am doing good by just having a snack ready! That’s why I chose a store bought pizza crust for this recipe-it is less stress and gives you more time to actually sit with your children. I recommend the Pillsbury Dough pizza crust. Just roll it out and bake!
- 1 Pillsbury Dough Pizza Crust (you can usually find it with the cinnamon rolls)
- Cream Cheese Icing (recipe below)
- Fresh Blueberries and Raspberries
Bake pizza crust as recommended. Let cool for about 10 minutes. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese icing over the top and garnish with as many blueberries and raspberries as desired.
Cream Cheese Icing
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese
- 8 ounces Butter
- 6 ounces Powdered Sugar
Sift powdered sugar and set aside. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter and powdered sugar together. Slowly add small pieces of cream cheese (while mixer is going) until it is fully incorporated.
