Celebrate National Blueberry Month with Simple Recipes!

Did you know July is National Blueberry Month? I've been enjoying this sweet fruit by the handfuls, but in honor of the occasion, I'm sharing some other ways to treat yourself to this healthy and delicious berry.

Speaking of healthy, here's the lowdown on how blueberries can be beneficial for your body as well as your tastebuds:

• Blueberries have more antioxidants than any other fruit
• They are packed with fiber and vitamin C
• Also a source for vitamin K & B6

Looking for some creative ways to enjoy blueberries for the rest of the harvest season? Here are three that you might want to try! 

Blueberry Salsa

 

Salsa is one of my favorite summertime foods and when I found a recipe for blueberry salsa, I knew I had to try it. It's so easy and incorporates lots of healthy ingredients to offset all the chips I will definitely be eating with it.

You can add or omit ingredients too, depending on your preference.

Here's what you need:

2 c. fresh blueberries
1 c. fresh corn (frozen or canned is okay if it's all you can get)
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
1 jalapeño, finely chopped
1/4 c. freshly chopped cilantro
1/4 c. lime juice
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Corn chips, for serving

I chopped up some of the blueberries too, to help the flavors mingle a bit more. Mix it all together and serve. So tasty!

Blueberry Chia Pudding

I don't know about you, but chia pudding is one of those things I sort of forget I like until I see it on Pinterest and think, oh yeah, I should make that. It's so easy to make and can be healthy for you. Apparently, 1/4 cup of chia seeds have about as much protein as an egg. 

Of course, it is important to keep in mind added sugars, etc. 

For this recipe, I simply stirred 1/4 cup chia seeds into a cup of almond milk. I mashed up about a cup of blueberries (or you could use the blender or food processor), and stirred that in as well. Stick it in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. This will give the chia time to expand and take on its more gelatinous consistency. Top with some chopped nuts or a bit of granola, and yum! 

Blueberry Orange Detox Water 

Infused water was a trend for a bit, but I have always loved this option as a way to add a bit of oomph to your already needed summer thirst quencher. 

Because of their antioxidants, blueberries are a great option to add to your water. And their flavor pairs nicely with slices of orange. Add in some mint leaves for a truly refreshing treat. 

If you can't spend your summer at a spa, bring flavors of the spa to you with this awesome infused drink! 

Fun & Easy July 4th Party Ideas!

Planning a last minute July 4th party for your friends and family? Here are some fun and easy ideas to inspire a truly memorable celebration of our nation's birthday!

Make a Red, White & Blue Decorative Garland

I was inspired by the Hallmark Think.Make.Share blog for the idea to make a garland, and what an adorable way to add some red, white, and blue cheer to your July 4th party!

One option is to use recycled paper tubes to create little rockets. Or for an even simpler idea, just tie bits of ribbon on a twine. 

If you have ribbon or fabric scraps, even better! I picked up a few different bolts of ribbon at my local craft store, for about $3 each. Visit the Hallmark blog for complete instructions to make their ribbon garland! 

Patriotic Pound Cake with Fresh Berries 

I'm not a baker, so I feel like I've hit the jackpot when I can find a great store-bought option that tastes like homemade. Whole Foods has an amazing pound cake that I've served on more than one occasion. And The Fresh Market has really delicious cupcakes that taste just like my great grandmother's yellow cake. What is it about cake and fresh berries that just embodies summer in the south? 

This July 4th, I'm serving a simple pound cake with some of nature's best bounty. There are so many ways to do this, but each is delicious and easy.

You could slice the cake into layers and create a whipped cream and berry filling. Or you could just slice and grill each piece, and serve with berries on the side. 

Cheers to our Independence - A Red, White & Blue Mocktail

When entertaining, serving delicious treats is only part of it. A big part of your success in creating memorable experiences for your guests is with your presentation. 

And a great way to up your presentation game is with layered drinks. The secret to getting the different colored layers of your cocktails or mocktails to stay separated is by paying attention to the sugar content. 

Heaviest goes at the bottom, so make sure to put the beverage with the greatest amount of sugar in first. It also helps if you pack in some ice at this point. Then pour in other layers in decreasing order, with the lowest sugar content last. 

I used a blood orange juice from Whole Foods for my red layer and some blue sports drink for the blue. Top it with some whipped cream and you've got a lovely drink for July 4th!