Obsession of the Week: Blueberries

I'm not really sure why, but until a recent breakfast at my blueberry-obsessed friend Aimee's house I was completely opposed to blueberries. I've always loved strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, just about any berry, but I never gave blueberries a shot.

Since that fateful breakfast, I've been consuming blueberries at an alarming rate. When I poke around to look into any health benefits they may have, it only adds fuel to the fire-- rich in antioxidants and may help reduce belly fat?! Count me in.

This weekend, a couple of my friends and I went blueberry picking at Secor Farms in Wappingers Falls, New York. It was insanely hot outside, but we had a great time. My little 4-year old muffin decided she wants to add "expert blueberry picker" to the rapidly growing list of things she wants to be when she grows up (also on her list: baby doctor, president, juice pop licker).

We brought home lots of blueberries and a few new recipes. My favorite breakfast of late is blueberry waffles with blueberry sauce (the sauce recipe is courtesy of the farm. Not quite sure where I found the waffle recipe, but I've adapted it a bit anyway):

Blueberry Waffles

• 1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 2 tablespoons of sugar (or sugar substitute-- I use Splenda)
• 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
  
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cups of milk (I've been using unsweetened almond milk and adding a bit more Splenda to make up for the missing sweetness)
• 1/3 cup of vegetable oil

Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl first, then stir in the wet ingredients. Heat up your waffle iron while you clean your blueberries. Take out your measuring cup and put a few blueberries in the bottom. Next, add some batter. Alternate until you have 1/2 cup. Pour into waffle iron and cook! I like mine crispy, so I usually turn my iron all the way up and leave them in a little longer.

Microwave Blueberry Sauce (courtesy of Secor Strawberries Inc.)

• 2 pints of blueberries
• 1/4 cup of sugar (I used Splenda again)
• 1 tablespoon of water

In a microwave bowl add blueberries, sugar and water. Mix together, cook on high for 2 minutes. Stir, adding more sugar to thicken if needed. Continue cooking on high for 3 to 5 minutes, checking after 2 minutes each time. When sauce is thick enough, add 1/8 teaspoon of orange extract (I didn't have any, so I added a little vanilla extract instead).
This sauce would be sooooo good on some vanilla ice cream.

clockwise from top left:
Blueberry Handmade Shea Butter Soap - Vegan by battysbath
Blueberry Quartz and Hammered Sterling Silver Earrings by Nyblaque
Sky Blue Sky - Earrings . Sterling Silver . Gemstone by ThePeachTree
Blueberry Newborn Cocoon by illbeyarned

top of page credits:
Good Morning Sunshine 8x10 Fine Art Photograph Print by ara133photography
Kira Mitts - Blueberry by sushipie