How to Clean and Serve Fresh Blueberries

The blueberry is one of the most nutritious fruits you can eat. Not only is it good for you because of the antioxidants, such as vitamin A, C, and E, it can be used fresh or frozen and still be enjoyed in almost every recipe you can find. Blueberries are great on cereal, in smoothies, in yogurt, in muffins, onpancakes, as a cake, as a jam or jelly, and great just to eat in a bowl. Blueberries are easy to clean and easy to prepare.

Things You'll Need

• Colander
• Paper towels
• Recipes

Instructions

1. Clean the blueberries. Store the blueberries in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them. You can pick them over and pull off the stems, but do not wash them until you are ready to serve them. Put the berries in a colander and dip the colander into cool water. Gently move the colander back and forth to wash the water over the berries. Take the colander out of the water and let the berries drain. Once they are drained, spread them out on a fla;t surface and pat dry with paper towels.

2. Make a parfait. Take a tall glass and layer the fresh blueberries with low fat yogurt and granola. This is a great breakfast idea, but also a great dessert idea when you have guests over. Look for decorative glasses or parfait dishes to add a flair to the dessert. The deep blue color of the berries against the cream of the yogurt creates a delicious appeal.

3. Create a number of breakfast ideas with blueberries. Sprinkle blueberries over cereal for a healthy and delicious breakfast. Make a smoothie with yogurt, pineapple juice, and a touch of honey. Make the traditional blueberry pancakes or be creative with blueberry muffins. Put fresh blueberries in a bowl with milk and sugar for a wholesome breakfast treat.

4. Spruce up a dinner salad with blueberries. Fruit salads with peaches, pineapple, mango, and blueberries are wonderful compliments to each other. Blueberries, strawberries and bananas work especially well together. Sprinkle blueberries on a Waldorf salad or chicken salad. Add fresh blueberries to a lettuce or spinach salad.

5. Don't forget the desserts. Try fresh blueberries on ice cream, or make a blueberry syrup. Blueberry cake is always a treat. Try blueberry pie or blueberry crisp. Add blueberries to your favorite pound cake. For a sweet appetizer, simmer blueberries with cranberry sauce and serve with cheese or serve blueberries with cheese as you would grapes.

6. Serve blueberries as a snack or as a part of any meal. They are delightful and full of vitamins. The rich blue color of the blueberry makes it an eye appealing food.

Tips & Warnings

• Coat blueberries with flour before putting them in batter. This will help them from dropping to the bottom.

• Store blueberries in the refrigerator and do not wash them until you are ready to use them.

Resources

• Blueberry recipes