Blueberries: Tips and Tricks

Let's continue talking about fruit!  I simply can't get enough of blueberries this year!  Our local grocery store has had blueberries on sale for the past few weeks.  Every time I go, I have to pick up 2 or 3 containers.  Lucky for me, Mike doesn't like blueberries, so I get to enjoy them all myself!

As with strawberries, I grew up going blueberry picking with my mom every summer.  We found a place not too far from our house where the blueberry bushes weren't tended to but the prices were half of the other berry farms!  I've gone blueberry picking on my own for the past couple years.  I like to pick an abundance of berries so I can enjoy some fresh and also freeze some.  I use the same method to freeze my blueberries as I do for my strawberries (sometimes I rinse the blueberries before freezing, other times I give them a quick rinse to help them thaw.)

Here's how I store my fresh blueberries:

You can use store-bought blueberries, fresh picked blueberries, or berries from the farmer's market!  Oh, I can't wait until our farmer's market has big plump berries!

Pour the blueberries into an airtight container.  Again, if you have a chance to buy the green produce container, I'd definitely recommend it!

When you're ready to use the berries, rinse them with water, either by the handful or in a colander.  I choose to wash my berries just before using them because I've found that allowing blueberries to soak in water makes them water logged.

Have you ever gone blueberry picking?

Other Fruit Tips and Tricks:
Watermelon
Strawberries
Mangoes
Pineapple
Avocados

Berry Trifle

I made this dessert to bring to my parent's house for Sunday dinner.  I spent Saturday afternoon making the angel food cake and cream, and washing and cutting the berries.  After church on Sunday we pulled into my parent's driveway and...no-one was home!  Apparently we miscommunicated and they were still in Canada (we thought they were coming home Saturday)!  So Mike and I went home and enjoyed this delicious treat together.  It was so good he requested it again the next day!  This is a great summer dessert and we'll be making it again and again.

You will need:
1 angel food cake
1 8oz container Cool Whip
1 5.1oz box instant Vanilla pudding
1 Tablespoon milk
Strawberries
Blueberries

1.  Beat together Cool Whip, vanilla pudding, and milk until well combined.

2.  Cut Angel Food cake into 1-inch pieces.

3.  In a large trifle bowl, or smaller individual bowls, layer cake, pudding mixture, and blueberries.  Then top with cake, pudding mixture, and strawberries.  Continuing layers as needed.

Serve immediately or refrigerate until you're ready to serve.  This would be great with other berries as well!

Berry Cream Filled Chocolate Cups

Berry Cream Filled Chocolate Cups (12/10/10)
Tonight is our first Christmas party of the season. Mike's extended family (great-aunts & uncles etc.) all gather for a rousing game of BINGO (with a huge pile of presents) followed by appetizers and desserts. This is the first year we have been able to attend, so we are excited about that. I told his Aunt I would bring a cheese ball, but the other day we were in a gourmet outlet and I saw these chocolate cups. I knew I had to make something with them instead! I couldn't find a recipe for what I wanted to make, so I figured I'd just try the idea in my head. It turned out really well! Now, I just need to come up with a better name for this recipe, any ideas?

You will need:
1 package frozen mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)
1 8 oz package cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 8 oz tub Cool Whip
36 chocolate dessert cups
Fresh berries (blueberry, raspberry, or blackberry)

1. In your food processer, chop up the berries until they form a paste.
2. Mix in cream cheese and powdered sugar until fully blended.
3. Carefully stir in Cool Whip. You want it to maintain its whipped texture.
4. Spoon filling into a pastry bag and fill chocolate cups.
5. Top with a berry of your choice.
6. Refrigerate until ready to serve.