Today at Momscape.com: Are you an Earth Mother or a Creative Rainbow Mother? Find out.
Coupons | Product Reviews | Contests | Articles | Forums | Search | Subscribe
Family Fun | Parenting Tips | Romance | Health & Fitness | Organic Living | Weight Loss | WAHMs
Welcome Momscapers!
Momscape.com is an award winning online magazine delivering
uplifting personal essays
from real parents - plus
practical guidance on parenting,
family fun,
romance,
travel,
health & fitness,
weight loss,
and more.
We invite you to share your
MamaWisdom and to help us
spotlight
products that make your life as a mom easier or better while you
enjoy our money-saving
online coupons and
family travel
discounts.
We want to help you enjoy the
simple (and fine) things life has to offer.
Subscribe to Momscape >
or
Get Our Daily Coupon Updates by Email
Bookmark and share Momscape with your friends:
Today:
Online Coupons
Today's
Favorite Coupons
All Online
Coupons by Store
All Online Coupons by
Category
Printable
Grocery Coupons
Product Reviews
Momscape's
Favorite Things (Blog)
Top-Rated
Mom Product Reviews
Family Fun
Activities & Crafts
Family Travel
Deals
Free Scrapbooking Ideas
Parenting Articles
Baby Tips
Toddler Tips
All Parenting Articles
Inspiration/Essays
Relationships
Marriage
Romance
Friendships
Health
and Fitness
Fitness Tips
Natural Living
Nurturing Your Spirit
Weight Loss
Professional
Family Manager Tips
Home-Based Business
Community
MamaWisdom Forums
About Momscape
Subscribe
Site Map
Links
Link to Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
About us
Contact Us
Blueberries for the Family
by Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers,
www.FreshBaby.com
Blueberries are available in many forms: fresh, frozen, juice, puree,
concentrate and dried. Fresh blueberries should be firm, dry, plump and
smooth-skinned. Ripe berries are deep purple blue to blue-black. Stay away from
containers of berries with juice stains, or that contain moldy, soft, watery or
wrinkled fruit.
Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator for five to seven
days. Don’t wash blueberries until you are ready to use them.
Preparation: Wash fresh or frozen berries before using them.
Freezing fresh blueberries: While blueberries are available
year round, they are least expensive when they are in season in your area. Take
advantage of your local crop year round by freezing blueberries. That’s right,
blueberries freeze very well. To freeze blueberries: Do not wash them. Lay a
single layer of blueberries on a cookie sheet (or flat pan) and freeze them.
Once frozen, packed the berries into containers or freezer storage bags. This
method makes it is easy to grab a handful of berries from the freezer for
pancakes, smoothies, etc. Wash them before using.
Blueberry pancakes: A weekend family favorite. To prevent your
batter from turning purple and for easier flipping, add the blueberries as soon
as the batter has been poured on the griddle.
Dried blueberries: Available in many stores, dried blueberries are great in
scones, banana bread, cookies, trail mix or sprinkled in popcorn or Chex mix.
Blueberry Relish: This delicious and simple relish is great
with grilled chicken breast. It is also wonderful on grilled cheese sandwiches.
Ingredients:
• 1 cup onions, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup sherry
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup fresh (or frozen) blueberries
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes or canned diced tomatoes (drained)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
1. Add olive oil to saucepan over medium heat. Add onions, and cook until onions
are golden, about 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Add sherry, vinegar, blueberries, tomatoes, salt and pepper.
3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and gently simmer 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and transfer relish to a serving bowl. Stays fresh in the
refrigerator for five days. Can be frozen for up to two months.
Blueberry-Mango Soup: Looking for something different to serve
for dessert? Try this soup. It is very impressive and quite easy.
Ingredients:
• 6 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)
• 2 cups diced mango
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 teaspoon cardamom OR cinnamon
• 1 cup apple juice
Directions:
1. In a saucepan, combine blueberries, sugar, lime juice and cardamom. Over
medium-high heat, bring mixture to a boil; cook and stir until sugar dissolves,
about 7 minutes.
2. Transfer to a blender and purée until completely smooth. Stir in apple juice
and chill in refrigerator until serving. Serve in martini or margarita glasses.
Blueberries
Unlike most fruits, the blueberry was not introduced to the United States by
Europeans or other immigrants. Blueberries are native to North America, and it
was the Native Americans who introduced European settlers to this wonderful,
healthful fruit.
Blueberries were important to the Native Americans. They were eaten fresh, added
to soups and stews, dried for the winter and used for medicinal purposes, making
strong teas from the roots.
American settlers learned quickly about blueberries, and early medical books
show blueberry tea was used by wives of settlers during labor. Blueberry juice
was used for "old coughs" and tea made from Wild Blueberry leaves was believed
to be a good tonic to help purify the blood.
New research provides proof that the Native Americans and settlers were correct
in believing that blueberries held great healing power. Ranking No. 1 in
antioxidant levels, blueberries are most likely the best food to eat for cancer
prevention. The total antioxidant capacity of blueberries is twice that of
spinach and three times that of oranges. This extraordinary fruit is also rich
in pectin, a soluble fiber that has been shown in several research studies to be
effective in lowering cholesterol. Blueberries are also rich in vitamin A and C.
Blueberries can be effective in combating the "runs,” because they contain
anthocyanin. This substance has mild antibiotic properties, especially against
intestinal bacteria that cause diarrhea.
Even though, blueberries have a short season, they are almost always available
in your grocery store. They are grown throughout the US (35 of the 50 states),
with local seasons ranging from early summer to the fall. And thanks to today’s
modern transportation methods, blueberries from South America are available
throughout the winter.
About the authors: Cheryl Tallman and Joan
Ahlers are sisters, the mothers of five children and founders of Fresh Baby.
Creators of products that include the So Easy Baby Food Kit and Good Clean Fun
Placemats; Fresh Baby offers parents convenient and practical support in raising
healthy children. Visit them online at
www.FreshBaby.com and
subscribe to their Fresh Ideas newsletter to get monthly ideas, tips and
activities for developing your family's healthy eating habits! Fresh Baby
products are available at many fine specialty stores and national chains
including Target, Wild Oats, and Whole Foods Markets.
Other articles by Chery Tallman and Joan Ahlers
Budget
Organics
A
Healthier First Birthday Cake
Healthier Halloween
Baby Food on
the Go
School
Lunches: Ideas and Recipes for Healthier School Lunches
Coupons for Momscape Readers:
Offers valid for a limited time.
Office Depot Coupons: $30 off $150
Target.com Coupons:
Free shipping on select baby gear
Overstock Coupons: $5 off $100
Weight Watchers Coupon: 25% off
Join Momscape today! It's easy and free.
More Top Coupons:
Click this link and the discount shown will be automatically activated.
Moms are Raving About
> Tae Bo Kicks Billy Blanks Workout for Kids
> Collectopia Wacktivity and A Friendship Scraptacular
> Micro Spy Kit X2 Toy
> Bugaboo Chameleon Stroller
> Burt's Bees Baby Bee Skin reme
> Perego Primo Viaggio Infant Car Seat
> Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskins
> Rocket Spanish
> NordicTrack 740 Stepper
> More Product Reviews