Blueberry dishes for the height of summer

June 25, 2009

Past study results revealed that blueberries are a great source of antioxidants and people can benefit from adding them to their diet. Since July is National Blueberry Month, it’s a great time to experiment with the indigo treats.

Blueberry pie is pretty much an all-American summer staple, seen at barbecues and 4th of July events across the country. Try making a pie from scratch instead of purchasing a store-bought dessert and involve the family in the ingredient-shopping and baking process.

In Maine, some people serve mini blueberry muffins as a side dish to a lobster bake. Next time you cook up lobsters and corn on the cob, add this to your table and you'll be surprised at how well it complements the sweet, buttery crustacean.

Consider screening Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory for your little ones and pay special attention to when the naughty girl blows up into a blueberry shape. Serve fresh berries in place of popcorn for a healthy snack.

Switch up your post-workout shakes and try making blueberry smoothies with soy or regular milk for extra protein.

Finally, some worry about heavy, fatty burgers on a hot summer's day and to combat this, try mashing blueberries into the burger mixture - you'll be surprised at the light, non-fruity taste.