recipes: blueberries

Easy Blueberry Pie (Southern Living)

ingredients
3/4 - 1 c. sugar
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 t. ground nutmeg
1/8 t. salt
4 c. fresh blueberries
1 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts
1 T. lemon juice
2 T. butter or margarine
1 lg. egg, lightly beaten
sugar

directions

1. Combine first four ingredients in a large bowl, stirring well. Add blueberries and toss gently. Set aside.
2. Unfold pie crusts. Fit 1 piecrust into a greased 9-in pieplate according to package directions.
3. Blind bake the crust, if required. (Cover crust with greaseproof paper and dried beans or rice and bake at a low temp for about 10-15 minutes.)
4. Spoon berry mixture into crust; sprinkle with lemon juice, and dot with butter.
5. Roll remaining pie crust to press out fold lines; transfer to top of pie. Fold edges under aand crimp. Cut slits in top o fpastry to allow steam to escape. Brush pastry with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar.
6. Bake at 425F (220C) for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375F ( 190C) and bake for 30 more minutes, shielding pie with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning, as necessary.

yield: 1 (9-in) delicious pie

Chocolate Chip Blueberry Muffins

ingredients
1 1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 t. salt
2 t. baking powder
1/3 c. vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 c. milk
2 T. buttermilk, if desired
1/2 t. vanilla
1 1/2 - 2 c. blueberries
milk and/or white chocolate chips, if desired
streusel topping
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/6 c. flour
1/8 c. butter, cubed
1 1/2 t. cinnamon

directions

1. Preheat oven to 400F (200C). Grease muffin pan well or line with muffin cups.
2. Combine first four ingredients in a large bowl.
3. In a seperate bowl, combine oil, egg, milk, and vanilla. Add more milk if necessary.
4. Add liquid ingredients to flour mixture.
5. Fold in blueberries and chocolate chips.
6. Use your hands or a fork to mix the topping ingredients.
7. Fill cups 2/3 full and sprinkle with topping.
8. Bake 18-25 minutes.

yield: 8 large or 12 medium muffins, freeze well.

picking blueberries

Never picked blueberries in my life until now. And I've done it twice in a matter of weeks.

What four words would best describe this organic blueberry farm?

cool, delicious, random, & wow

It's about 45 minutes outside Wellington in a very out-of-the-way picturesque setting. Cool. Owned by an American family with a Mexican mother who comes out for the summer each year to cook authentic Mexican food in a little makeshift cafe. Delicious.

For a country with a tiny Mexican population where Mexican food is very hard to come by, this is so random. Both times I went, the place was primarily populated by Americans jonesing for Mexican food. Go figure.

Oh and they have a swimming hole and the most delicious blueberry ice cream. Jeremy and I shared a giant American-style brownie with ice cream and blueberry sauce. Wow.

So Sunday I baked blueberry chocolate chip muffins for the freezer and my first ever blueberry pie.

"More Hausfrau" as Jeremy once said. I guess I'm nesting! Again, it's all about the food.

Only about an hour or so until I can have a piece of pie...

food is love

This year for Valentine's Day, Jeremy got his favorite Maple Walnut ice cream,

and I got extra vegetables, including lots of spinach (good for the iron levels) and zucchini (from our garden), together with chicken in a lovely laksa.

Food is love, especially for a pregnant woman!

The pups got some extra pets,

we enjoyed a poorly decorated chocolate cake for dessert (I think I'll stick to scrapbooking!),

and I couldn't resist picking up one of my favorite kiddie books for the bub.

Last year, the focus was much less on food. Instead Jeremy gave me laughter...

It's safe to say we're not really about the flowers, chocolate, and jewelry! Although those things never hurt!

To all my valentine's near and far,

I'm sending you a big hug...