Ma Whats For Dinner?» blueberries

Blueberry scones with blueberry butter

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:00:38 +0000

I love fresh scones.

But I’m not a baker…

So I rarely make them.

But this is a relatively easy recipe to get yummy scones on the table on a weekend morning.

WHAT YOU NEED:

2 cups all purpose flour

1 T baking powder

1 t salt

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup unsalted butter, very cold, cut into chunks

3/4 cup cream

1 egg

1 pint blueberries (locally grown)

2 T sugar in the raw

WHAT TO DO:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

In your food processor bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Pulse quickly to combine. Add cold butter and pulse quickly to cut butter in until it looks like coarse sand.

In a separate large bowl combine cream and egg. Mix well. Pour off just a bit into a small bowl then pour the flour mixture in. Stir a bit just to combine. Fold in your blueberries very gently being careful not to burst them.

Now comes the creative part…

You can turn out your dough and form into a large square or circle and cut them into traditional triangles or you can do what I do and just drop them into circles on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of the scones with the reserved cream/egg mixture and sprinkle with raw sugar.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Serve with Blueberry Butter.

Tasty Tidbits – Blueberry Picking Tips

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:00:58 +0000

Here in Connecticut we are in the peak week of blueberry picking season.

So get on out there and pick your blueberries!

Want to know a place near you to go and get ‘em?

Just click our Local Harvest link there on the right side of our home page!

Now here are some handy little tips for you while you’re picking your super fruits…

Pick the berries towards the bottom of the bush…most people pick at eye level and miss all the great fruit closer to the ground.

Pick full, plump, round, and dark berries…they will not continue to ripen once they are off the bush.

Now some more blueberry facts…

1 cup of blueberries is 84 calories!

Blueberries are low in fat but high in vitamin A, niacin, and dietary fiber.

1 pint of blueberries = 3/4 pound

1 pound of blueberries = 2 and 2/3 cups

It takes about 4 cups of blueberries to make a blueberry pie.

Get to picking!

Grilled pork chops with grilled pineapple and blueberry sauce

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:00:11 +0000

Blueberry week rolls on!

We grilled up some yummy pork chops…

Then topped them with a delicious grilled pineapple and blueberry sauce.

Amazing!

WHAT YOU NEED:

Grilled pork chops (we marinated ours in teriyaki sauce and grilled them for 10 minutes)

1/2 pineapple, cubed and grilled with pork chops

1 T butter

2 cups blueberries (organic and locally grown if possible)

1/4 cup white wine

1/4 cup maple syrup

3 T brown mustard

S&P

WHAT TO DO:

In a medium sauce pan heat the butter over medium high heat. Toss in blueberries and grilled pineapple. Let the blueberries heat up and start to burst.

Once the blueberries have cooked for about 4-5 minutes add in white wine and allow alcohol to burn off. Pour in syrup and let cook for another 5 minutes.

Stir in mustard and season with S&P.

Allow sauce to simmer until pork chops are cooked and have rested for at least 10 minutes.

Pour sauce over pork chops and enjoy!

Tasty Tidbits – Blueberries

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:00:15 +0000

Yes, it’s still July.

That means it’s still National Blueberry Month.

So I’m still singing their praises

Because I have dubbed this…

Blueberry Week!

We love blueberries.

We eat them by the bucketfull.

Luckily we have a farm nearby where we can go pick them ourselves.

So here are some fun little blueberry tips for ya…

1. Blueberries are the oldest known living plant? - YUP! They date back 13,000 years.

2. They are one of three native plants to North America – The others being the Concord Grape and the Cranberry.

3. Blueberries must be allowed to ripen on the bush! They will not continue to ripen after they are brought home.

4. Blueberries can last up to 10 days in your fridge.

5. They’re a miracle fruit. A super food. And all around rock star!

Enjoy the rest of blueberry week!

Boozy Bluesy Blueberry Cobbler

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:00:04 +0000

Happy Blueberry Month!

We love us some blueberry desserts!

And cobbler is one of our faves.

Have you tried this new Jack Daniels honey liquor?

It’s amazing!

Spice up your cobbler with it and you’ll be tickled!

Boozy Bluesy Blueberry Cobbler

WHAT YOU NEED:

6 cups fresh local blueberries

2 sticks unsalted butter, divided

1 c sugar, divided

2 T corn starch

1 T lemon juice

1 t ground cinnamon

1/2 cup Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey (honey liquor)

¾ t salt, divided

1 ½ c all purpose flour

2 T baking powder

¾ c heavy cream

1 whole egg

1 T water

2 T sugar in the raw

WHAT TO DO:

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

In a large pot melt 4 T butter. Cut remaining butter into cubes and place in freezer.

Add blueberries and ½ cup sugar to the melted butter. Stir in corn starch, lemon juice, cinnamon, ¼ t salt, and Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey. Mix well. Cook for a few minutes to allow the alcohol to burn off then turn off heat.

In your food processor sift in flour, remaining sugar, baking powder, and remaining salt. Pulse quickly to combine.

Add in butter from the freezer and pulse until the flour mixture looks like sand.

Pour in cream and pulse again quickly just until the dough comes together and is slightly sticky.

Beat your egg in a small bowl and add water. Set aside.

Pour your fruit mixture into a 9×13 baking dish. (You can also make this in a cast iron skillet or in individual gratin dishes for individual cobblers.)

Drop the dough by spoonfuls onto the fruit mixture, spread it out as it will all cook together in the oven. Brush the top of the batter with egg wash then sprinkle on sugar.

Place the pan on a baking sheet to catch “bubble over” and bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with ice cream or whip cream.

Happy National Blueberry Month

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Happy Blueberry Month!

I loooooooove blueberries!

Blueberries are a super food.

They are not just a super food…

They’re a superstar super food.

They’re like the Justin Timberlake of super foods.

The J-Lo of super foods.

The Brangelina of super foods!

They not only are they rich in antioxidants that benefit overall good health.

They fight cancer…

They improve eye sight…

They help overall cardiovascular health…

And they make you smarter!

Oh yeah…

WICKED SMAHT!

Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting smaht!

So in honor of National Blueberry Month I will be featuring blueberries all next week.

Oh yeah…

All blueberries…

ALL.THE.TIME!

Buckle your seat belts.

And prepare to get smart…

Wicked Smaht!

Trust me…I need all the blueberries I can get!

Fruit Week – Breakfast Berry Parfait

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:00:57 +0000

Today is officially the first day of summer!

Can I get a wooooo hooooo!!!!

Now if you’ve been neglecting the gym…

Eating yourself into oblivion over this foolishly long winter…

And lackluster spring…

Or just plain forgot to look at the calendar til today…

Yes, I’m totally talking about myself if you’re wondering…

You are in luck!

Because we’re celebrating FRUIT WEEK here at Ma What’s For Dinner.

So come and get your yummy on…

Today is a breakfast that the boys and I love…

BREAKFAST BERRY PARFAITS.

A take off on the dish my dad used to make me when I was a kid with nectarines, sour cream and sugar.

This is our version with our favorite berries.

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 pint blackberries (organic & local if possible)

1 pint blueberries (organic & local if possible)

1 pint strawberries, sliced (organic & local if possible)

1 cup plain greek yogurt (we like FAGE)

1 bunch fresh mint

4 t sugar in the raw

WHAT TO DO:

On the bottom of four glasses, layer in your washed blueberries.

Spoon on some yogurt to cover the berries.

Next layer in your washed strawberries and cover with another layer of yogurt.

Top off with washed blueberries and a dollop more of yogurt.

Sprinkle with sugar in the raw and top with a mint leaf.

Breakfast of champions!

Want to get fancy? Sprinkle with a bit of granola or honey.

Want to make this dessert?

Top with chocolate shavings or caramel sauce!

Don’t have fancy glasses??? Never fear…make it on a plate.

Tasty Tidbit – Berries

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:00:06 +0000

Tis the season…

For fruit!

Next week we’ll be whipping up some fantastic fruit recipes for your almost summer pleasure.

But for now here’s a little tasty tidbit about some of our favorite berries.

This is the time of year that berries are at a bargain basement prices!

Perfect time to hit the farmers market and stock up!

But what if you can’t get through all those beauties?

Ok, well that’s about as common as leftover wine around here…

But hypothetically speaking, lets say you have some leftover.

How about freezing them for use later?

But, Alex…you say.

Whenever I freeze my berries they get all mushed and stuck together…

Well fear not…

Here’s a new way to freeze your leftover berry goodness!

Pour your berries evenly out on a baking sheet.

Cover with plastic wrap.

Put in the freezer for 30 minutes.

Pour into a freezer safe plastic bag.

Voila perfectly frozen berries…

Perfect for summer berry flavor in

Smoothies…

Oatmeal…

Margaritas, Daquiris, and Sangria all year long!

Don’t forget to hit your local farms and farm stands for the best prices on summer berries.

Always remember to Buy Local when you can!

Support your local farmers and your economic community.

My Kid Likes Fruit? Cobbler

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:00:23 +0000

We’re on our way to go berry picking today. After moving to such a rural area we’re embracing our farmer neighbors and going out to get our berry on. Ok, for the record, it’s hardly rural…but when you’ve lived in nothing but big cities, LA, NYC, and Boston, then move to a place where there’s only 4 or 5 streets in town you’re allowed to drive over 25 mph it’s a huge adjustment. And my house is on an entire acre! An ACRE!!! You have any idea what this would cost in LA County???? I don’t even want to think about it. Anyway, we’re off to pick strawberries today. I think a strawberry rhubarb pie might be in order shortly but in the meantime you’ll have to check out my blueberry/peach cobbler. It’s insane. Yeah, I said it, INSANE!!! I dare you to make it and not eat the whole thing in one sitting…

4 c blueberries

4 peaches, peeled and sliced

2 sticks unsalted butter, divided

1 c sugar, divided

2 T corn starch

1 T lemon juice

1 t ground cinnamon

¾ t salt, divided

1 ½ c all purpose flour

2 T baking powder

¾ c heavy cream

1 whole egg

1 T water

2 T sugar in the raw

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. In a large pot melt 4 T butter. Cut remaining butter into cubes and place in freezer. Add blueberries, peaches, and ½ cup sugar to the melted butter. Stir in corn starch, lemon juice, cinnamon, and ¼ t salt. Mix well, and turn off heat.

In your food processor sift in flour, remaining sugar, baking powder, and remaining salt. Pulse quickly to combine. Add in butter from the freezer and pulse until the flour mixture looks like sand. Pour in cream and pulse again quickly just until the dough comes together and is slightly sticky.

Beat your egg in a small bowl and add water. Set aside.

Pour your fruit mixture into a 9×13 baking dish. Drop the dough by spoonfuls onto the fruit mixture, spread it out as it will all cook together in the oven. Brush the top of the batter with egg wash then sprinkle on sugar.

Place the pan on a baking sheet to catch “bubble over” and bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with ice cream or whip cream. You kids are sure to love this fruit!

Meaty Morsel: Switch up your fillings with this cobbler. Try raspberry/nectarine or peach/apple, or mixed berry! It’s always delicious and a big crowd pleaser.

I’m linking up today to meet some new Thursday friends. If you’re new here, welcome. Pull up a chair. Can I get you a cup of coffee with your cobbler?