Blueberry Festival yields ideas for recipes, ways to store the fruit

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Ya-hoo! It’s blueberry picking time. This coming weekend, all roads lead to Jennings’ Park in downtown Brewton for the 37th annual Alabama Blueberry Festival.

We are inviting you to join us for this big festival Sat., June 17, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be a day full of good wholesome food, fun and entertainment for the entire family. If you are not familiar with this area, there will be signs posted everywhere leading you to the park and festivities. A good landmark to look for in downtown Brewton is the old Ritz Movie Theatre Marquee where Highway 31 and 41 intersect. Jennings’ Park is right behind it.

It’s going to be so exciting to have live entertainment all day, arts and crafts, 5k run/walk, antique/classic car show, festival cookbooks, food vendors, blueberry ice cream, fresh blueberries and blueberry bushes for sale.

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

There will also be a special children’s fun section that includes: fun inflatables, water slide, train ride, petting zoo and face painting, etc. So, be sure to load up the family and head to Brewton for a day of great family fun.

For more information, call the Greater Brewton Area Chamber of Commerce at 251-867-3224 or email them at www.brewtonchamber.com/blueberry-festival.

The Escambia County Extension Office has two great free pamphlets called “Alabama Blueberries” HE-0579 and “Blueberries: Fresh Grown in Alabama” available. Each pamphlet has great information on how to freeze, store and prepare blueberries in tasty recipes. Stop by our office (Escambia County Extension Office) at 175 Ag Science Dr. in Brewton (behind Southern Pine Electric Cooperative, Highway 31 south) and pick up your copies today. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System developed these free pamphlets.

Handling blueberries

Blueberries are not as perishable as most other berries. While other berries keep their quality only a day or two after you buy them, blueberries will keep about a week if they are handled properly.

Use care in working with blueberries — they do bruise easily. Put blueberries in a plastic container and refrigerate them as soon as possible. Do not wash blueberries until you are ready to use them. The added moisture will hasten the growth of mold on the berries.

Freezing blueberries

Only ripe, full-flavored berries should be used for freezing. Blueberries should not be washed before freezing. Washing before freezing results in a tougher-skinned product. However, the berries should be harvested when they are dry, and they should be washed after thawing.

If you choose to wash blueberries before freezing, you should sort the berries then wash them quickly in colander using cool water. After washing the berries, spread them on a metal tray in a single layer and pat the berries dry with paper towels (they stick together if they are frozen wet). Then freeze them until they are solid.

Finally, pack the berries in freezer bags or containers, and label (write date) on the containers. Blueberries may be frozen in containers or covered with a cold 40 percent syrup (3 cups of sugar to 4 cups of water).

Nutritional value of blueberries

For health-conscious people, blueberries are one of the most highly sought fruits in the United States. It is classified as a convenience food because there is no pitting, peeling or waste. A pint serves four people generously, and a half-cup serving of blueberries contains only 44 calories. Fresh blueberries are known as “brain food,” high in antioxidants, a good source of vitamins A and C, soluble fiber, potassium, phytochemicals and phosphorous. Shiny, plump blueberries are a healthy snack for the entire family.

Blueberries are versatile fruits and can be eaten fresh, frozen, dried or added to cereals, salads, yogurt, ice cream and more.

Try some of these simple ways to eat blueberries:

• Blend a couple of small pieces of frozen blueberries, 3/ 4 cup of juice and a half cup of           vanilla or other flavored yogurt for a quick smoothie.

• Sprinkle fresh blueberries on cereal, ice cream, melons or meringue shells.

• Use blueberry sauce on vanilla pudding, ice cream or pound cake.

• Make blueberry crepes. Place sweetened blueberries sprinkled with lemon juice in the center on freshly cooked crepes and roll the crepes. Top with whipped cream and more berries or a blueberry sauce.

• Stir blueberries into pancake, waffle or cake batter.

• Nestle a few blueberries inside biscuits along with a little butter and sugar, bake, and serve hot or a surprise opening.

Here are two of my family’s favorite recipes from the Blueberry Hall of Fame.  The recipes were grand prize winners back in the 1980s. I believe there are two times a year we can “fudge” on eating a little extra sweets. That is at Christmas and during the Blueberry Festival.

*1983 Winner -Blueberry Ice Cream

2-4 cups blueberries

2 large packages instant vanilla pudding

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 quart of whole milk

Put blueberries in boiling water for one minute.  Put in blender while hot for 30 seconds.  Let cool.  Mix instant pudding with 1 quart with 1 quart of milk and 1 can sweetened condensed milk until thoroughly dissolved.  Add pureed blueberries to mixture.  Pour into a gallon freezer.  Add more milk if necessary to fill freezer within 3 or 4 inches from the top.  Freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions.

By Louise Pettis
*1989 Winner – Fantasy Blueberry Topping

1 Angel Food Cake, set aside

2 cups fresh blueberries

1 tablespoons lemon juice

2 packages of sugar substitute (1 teaspoon)

1 8-ounce low-fat lemon yogurt

2 8-ounce lite sour cream

Mix all ingredients; drizzle over cake. Garnish with fresh blueberries.

By The Late Serena Jackson

For more recipes and information on Alabama Blueberries, visit the Alabama Cooperative Extension System website.