The countless joys of blueberries
Wild or cultivated, fresh or frozen, cooked
or raw: low-calorie blueberries are not only
delicious but they also have amazing healing
powers. Blueberries have the highest antioxidant properties among all the different
types of berries; that means they help prevent many different ailments, including
cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s
and Parkinson’s. Rich in vitamin C (which
promotes bone health, protects against infections and accelerates healing) and potassium (which helps digestion), the blueberry
is also a natural anti-inflammatory. Not bad
for such a tiny fruit, is it?
ANY WAY YOU WANT
Tempting desserts starring blueberries abound
— think pies, cakes, custards,
sauces and puddings. But don’t
forget that this little berry,
both sweet and tangy at the
same time, is also great at
breakfast time. Used as the
main ingredient in smoothies,
enjoyed in the form of jam on
toast, added by the handful to
a bowl of cereal or to pancake
batter, blueberries are absolutely
delicious. They blend perfectly
with sweet or savoury flavours
and are amazing in their natural state or drizzled with
cream. They are also perfect
in coulis, chutneys or sauces.
And guess what? They’re also
great with all types of game
meat. In a fruit salad? Of
course! And don’t forget to
add them to your favourite summer salad.
So, is your mouth watering yet?
Then it’s time for a quick trip to
the store or to your local pickyour-own farm to fill up a few
baskets, for blueberry season is
upon us.
Strawberry and
blueberry delight
INGREDIENTS (FOR 10 OR 12 SERVINGS)
• 2 ½ cups Graham cracker crumbs
• ½ cup melted butter
• 4 cups (600 g) frozen strawberries
and blueberries, thawed
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled
and rinsed
• 1 cup fresh blueberries, rinsed
• 2 cups 35% (whipping) cream
• 1 cup plus 2 tbsp white sugar
• 1 tbsp maple syrup (optional)
• 1 box strawberry gelatin dessert
(such as Jell-O)
PREPARATION
1. Preheat oven to 120°C (250°F). Mix
melted butter with cookie crumbs and
spread mixture in 25 cm x 25 cm square
This delicious treat is so easy to
prepare! Feel free to use different kinds
of fruit, depending on what’s available.
baking dish. Pack lightly. Bake 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, mix half a cup of sugar with
defrosted berries in medium saucepan;
simmer for 10 minutes. Add Jell-O and
remaining half-cup of sugar. Mix well
and allow to simmer five minutes.
3. Cool mixture in fridge for 30 minutes or
in freezer for 20 minutes.
4. Add one cup of 35% cream to cooled
mixture and mix well.
5. Pour mixture over cooked crumb base
and refrigerate for at least two hours.
6. In a bowl, mix fresh fruit, 2 tbsp of sugar
and maple syrup. Set aside.
7. Whip remaining cup of 35% cream and
spread over fruit mixture. Decorate with
the sweetened fresh berries.
How do you like your strawberries?
Ah, strawberries! With their high vitamin
C content, their potassium, magnesium,
fibre and folic acid content, and with their
antioxidant properties and low calorie
count, there’s no doubt that strawberries
are good for you. But the main reason you
love them so much is because these little
red berries are mouth-wateringly delicious
to eat. Plus, they’re great fun to pick by
the basketful.
Strawberries are a classic addition to so
many desserts: pies, shortcakes, meringues, sorbets and crumbles. And they’re
also great in sweet and savoury blends
that are sometimes surprising but
always delicious. Here are a
few ways to enjoy strawberries
that may inspire you:
And the possibilities don’t stop there. Try
your strawberries with yogurt, whipped
cream, chocolate, ice cream, maple syrup or
dried fruit — there are a thousand flavours
to discover (or rediscover). Why not let a
delicious strawberry put a smile on your
face today?
• Even though they’re delicious eaten all by themselves, strawberries also
blend perfectly with
lots of other fruits.
Try them with apples,
raspberries, cherries,
bananas, kiwis, grapefruits, apricots, rhubarb
(a perfect combination in a
pie) or figs.
• Fresh strawberries and
cream, cottage cheese or
mascarpone cheese is a
delicious combination.
• Mint, basil, tarragon, pepper, vanilla, anise, cloves or
balsamic vinegar are ideal for
enhancing the flavour of strawberries. And even though champagne
is a must for special occasions,
strawberries can also be served
with liqueurs such as Curacao and
Grand Marnier.
The American-English versions of the texts on this page are available in the page folder.
• Strawberries are a perfect addition to
main dishes. Try them with white fish,
in salads or in salad dressings. Use them
to make a homemade salsa or to liven up
grilled meats.
Find the material for this
page by typing BERRIES in
the editorial library search
option of our website.
NEWSPAPER TOOLBOX / MAY-JUNE 2016 / 43