Words by Yuka Greer
In May, we honor military personnel on Memorial Day. In July, we commemorate the Declaration of Independence of the United States. So, what do we celebrate in June in South Carolina? Blueberry harvest! Blueberries in season have a perfect balance of sweetness, tartness and acidity. The plump purple-blue fruit is the icon of summer, so why not celebrate?
Any good Southern celebration involves a cultural ritual and, most importantly, a festive meal. The celebration of the blueberry harvest is no exception.
HOW TO CELEBRATE:
Go blueberry picking.
This is the annual event for my family. Just last year, walking through the fields of blueberry bushes to the designated rows, we started a family quest in search for a bush with the tastiest berries. While I, on one side of a row and my husband on the other side, debated on whose bush is sweeter, our daughter was short enough to walk under and through the bushes. She reached up to a cluster of ripe blueberries – from adults prospective it’s underneath a bush – and delivered the verdict. “This one is the sweetest!” After that, we focused on that bush to fill each basket before moving to another. Going through this process throughout the years is how both of my daughters learned the art of being gentle while picking. The rougher they were, the less blueberries they got to eat at home. Once your baskets are full, don’t forget to add a few dollars at the checkout. Let’s be honest; a lot of berries end up in our stomachs instead of the baskets. You can find the tips for blueberry picking in our digital version.
Master one blueberry recipe.
Nothing tastes better than food made from fresh ingredients. Pick one recipe you like and make it as many times as it takes to master it. You could stick with a traditional blueberry pie or you could try something different like the recipe below from our anti-aging food advisor, Mayumi. It will become your family’s summer blueberry dish and your family will not be able to get through the month of June without it. Just make sure to keep aside the amount you are going to use for the recipe IMMEDIATELY after you come back from the blueberry picking. Otherwise, some family members (like mine) will devour them up.
Blueberry & Lavender Confiture Over Crepe
If you want a modern twist to traditional crepes, try this one from our anti-aging advisor, Mayumi. Confiture is one way of preserving fruit by cooking it in sugar like jam and preserves, derived from a French word “confire”, meaning to “preserve”. Leftover confiture – or double the amount so that you have leftovers – is perfect on yogurt, waffles, or pancakes.
MAKE CONFITURE
Ingredients
· 1 6-ounce pack Blueberries
· Three 3” Lavender Stems (stem part only, use the flower for garnishing)
· 3 Tablespoons Red Wine
· 75 g (6 Tablespoons) Sugar
· 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
Instructions
- Put blueberries in a saucepan. Add sugar. Let it stand for 30 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients. Cook at a medium low heat for 10 minutes.
- Serve with the crepes. Store leftover in a sterilized container.
MAKE CREPES
Ingredients (9-10 crepes)
· 2 Eggs
· 4 Tablespoons Sugar
· 1 Cup Flour, Sifted
· 1 Cup Milk
· 3 Tablespoons Butter, Melted
· Lavender flowers, optional
Instructions
- In a bowl, add the eggs and sugar. Whisk the ingredients well.
- Gradually add milk and then the melted butter.
- Add the sifted flour and with a whisk mix all the ingredients.
- Cool the batter in a refrigerator for 30 minutes to two hours.
- Heat a lightly oiled frying pan over a medium heat. Pour a ladleful batter into the pan, while tilting and swirling the pan to coat the bottom with the batter. Cook at a low heat for 1.5 minute on one side and one minute on the other side until lightly brown.
Mayumi is an anti-aging food advisor from Anti-Aging Food Association based in Tokyo. She resides in South Carolina with her husband and her daughter. She spreads the philosophy of healthy eating through her cooking classes.
Freeze them…, well if you have leftovers.
If you want to freeze them, you might go ahead and put aside some amount that you would want to enjoy later for the same reason explained earlier. I found these steps helpful to keep individual berries separate when frozen. (1) Gently wash and drain blueberries. (2) Pat dry with a paper towel. (3) On a rimmed baking sheet, carefully place blueberries in one layer, keeping the berries separate from one to another. Put the baking sheet in the freezer. (4) Once frozen, transfer to a food storage container and keep it in the freezer. Voila! You could use them for smoothies or grab a small amount as use as a topping on your favorite salad.