Prize-Winning BLUEBERRIES
#43293 - 02/05/04 10:51 AM
|
|
|
|
Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
|
|
|
I've always loved blueberries, ever since I used to row out to Blueberry Island in the middle of the lake in Maine and pick them wild, bring them back to the cottage and bake up a blueberrie pie. Oooooooh!
I came across an old "Family Cirlce" article on "Super Foods That Fight Fat," which I thought I would share with you guys:
"Delicious and sweet, blueberries are antioxidant powerhouses. In fact, in one Canadian study, blueberries' antioxidant power was three times that of strawberries and raspberries. Antioxidants help fight disease by zapping damaging free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are highly reactive substances that are harmful to cells and make you prone to cancer, heart disease and stroke. Blueberries also have something in them that helps prevent memory loss and other diminishing of brain function, according to preliminary research conducted at the Human Nutrition Resarch Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. And blueberries contain substances called tannins, also found in cranberries. These may help prevent urinary tract infections. Eat blueberries as often as you like -- in the off-season frozen blueberries are a great altnerative to fresh. Add them to pancake batters and quick breads. A one-half cup serving of berries counts as one of your recommended two or more daily servings of fruit, and has only 40 calories."
I am SOOOOO adding these to tomorrow morning's smoothie! 
--------------------
<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Yeah, my hubby's a big blueberry fan too. He makes FABULOUS blueberry pancakes. He used to freeze a bunch of them when they were in season and make pancakes with them all winter. And they're one of the few fruits I'm not allergic to or intolerant of, so I love them too.
--------------------
Laura
Keep it simple!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Freezing Them
#43396 - 02/05/04 05:57 PM
|
|
|
|
|
Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
|
|
|
When hubby freezes the fresh blueberries, does he add sugar first? What keeps them from getting all mushy after being frozen for a couple months? Do they freeze like strawberries? Ew.
Also -- have you ever tried WILD Maine blueberries? OMG!
--------------------
<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hi Bev,
I wash my berries first and dry them completely. Then I lay them out in a single layer on a foil-lined cookie sheet and carefully put the whole thing in the freezer for a few hours until the berries are frozen solid. At that point, I can just put them into a Zip-lock bag or other vessel for easy freezer storage. They don't clump together that way, and they don't get mushy like strawberries either.
When's summer, anyway?! 
sperry_twiggins
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Thanks, Sperry!
#43447 - 02/06/04 06:04 AM
|
|
|
|
|
Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
|
|
|
Excellent. Makes sense. Next growing season I'm gonna stock up! Thanks.
--------------------
<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I buy mine already frozen. I did know they are a
natural immune booster but I didn't think we could
eat them unless we ground them up, so I've just been
putting them in my smoothies. Can we eat them whole?
--------------------
A Safe Place
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Eating Them Whole
#43453 - 02/06/04 06:32 AM
|
|
|
|
|
Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
|
|
|
I don't eat them whole, Val -- I wouldn't DARE. Like you, I put them in my smoothies, pancakes or muffins. Hubby claims I put too many in the batter -- but he's just wrong. There's no such thing as too many blueberries.
--------------------
<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Sperry, that's exactly how my husband does it. He read it in a cookbook or something.
Bev, have you ever had wild MICHIGAN blueberries? We used to pick them in a field across the road from my grandma's house. YUM is right!
--------------------
Laura
Keep it simple!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Quote:
I don't eat them whole, Val -- I wouldn't DARE. Like you, I put them in my smoothies, pancakes or muffins. Hubby claims I put too many in the batter -- but he's just wrong. There's no such thing as too many blueberries.
Got it! They are okay cooked or blended but not whole
with sugar or in oatmeal. Thanks Bev!
--------------------
A Safe Place
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Actually, in outmeal they'd probably be okay, as long as you don't add too many. Isn't that right? I don't want to lead you astray, but it seems like the oatmeal would be a good enough soluble fiber base. Any thoughts?
--------------------
"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Posts
