Ok, I don't even like blueberries, but a friend brought some back from the states...we were supposed to get the bag of dried cranberries, but that's another story. So now what do I do with these things I don't even like???

Pancakes are definitely out, and muffins don't sound much better....help!

Barb,

Dried blueberries??? Oh man, this will be a challenge.

Let's tackle this from a cranberry point of view. Or a dried currant point of view. What would we want to do with those?

How about trying to make a sweet blueberry jam for cheese? It sounds wierd, but it might work if you boil them and use some sugar and ginger, and maybe a touch of brandy, and some lemon peel. Maybe with a soft goat cheese or a young pecorino and pears?

I am strictly talking off the top of my head here. But it might be interesting?

Di

Try plumping them in a bit of white wine, a bit of sugar and a little water and a dash of lemon juice, put it all in a pot and bring it to a simmer; they will soften up and then you can store them in the refrigerator, drained.

I like to use them in scones and muffins, and I have thrown them on cereal. They are nice in banana bread too!

Ooh, now I'm thinking I should break out my dehydrator and goto town on some extra blueberries in my fridge.

The other night we were at a restaurant and they put fresh blueberries in my salad (mixed greens, roquefort cheese and candied pecans). I loved that.

I add a handful of dried blueberries to my oatmeal in lieu of raisins. The resulting color is interesting, and I figure the purported anti-oxidants are a help.

Yeah, Art's all gung ho because of the health benefits, but IMO, if you don't like the taste of something, you might as well just pop a vitamin pill! I'd like to discover some way that I could actually enjoy these blueberries, but in/on oatmeal won't be one of them....

I agree with the salad. I use dried cranberries or raisins in my broccoli/gouda slaw. I don't see why they wouldn't work in there. Add some crumbled bacon, and you won't even taste them!

Palma

I toss them in a jar with lg bag of M & M's, a jar of peanuts, some golden raisens, dried banana chips, some dry cranberries then when we go out for a hike we take a zip lock bag full of what I think the kids call *gourp*. It would hide the dried blue berrys! Besides you could make the kids eat it.

I think muffens would be ok aswell.

Sue

quote:

Originally posted by SwissMiss:
....Besides you could make the kids eat it....

Sue

No kids around here, just the 2 of us! Guess I'll do a google search for something that seems palatable to me....if I'm going to be the one to do the work, I want to be able to enjoy the fruits of my labor!

I'd make pancakes or muffins if I were you.
Anyway, my generous friend, I have a sack of dried cranberries here that just got your name put on them.

Barb- when I cook game meat, I usually serve it with a sweet sauce like a black cherry and peppercorns. I bet blueberries can be used instead.

After your meat is done, add a little red wine and get off all the goodies left in the pan. Then add a puree of celery, bell peppers, carrots and garlic- sometimes I add mushrooms as well. I use this puree as a thickener instead of flour or cornstarch. Then add coarsely ground black pepper and the dried blueberries, cook for a while until reduced a bit. As it is reducing I add beef or chicken stock and cook until it reaches the constistency that I want. Add salt to taste Hope this helps.

Another way of using dried blueberries is to make a paste from it. If they are soft like raisins, make a paste and layer it on a tart under a lemon sauce to make a fairly great lemon and blueberry tart. If they are not soft, soften them in some white grape juice or other white type of fruit juice. Also if you have some paste left over it works well to make a steak sauce, in place of raisins, or on crackers under a blue or pungent typs of cheese. The paste could also be a good start to a fruit smoothie, fruit ice, the possibilities are limitless.

Dawn

Here is my recipe for scones using dried blueberries. I make them often, especially when I have guests for breakfast. Really, really good and over the top when served with lemon curd. You may substitute dried cranberries, strawberries or currants for the blueberries and replace the lemon zest with orange zest.

SCONES

1/2 cup dried blueberries
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, cubed
zest of 1 lemon
1 cup heavy cream

Steam berries over simmering water until soft, 5-6 minutes. Drain and cool. Mix together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Add butter and blend until coarse and crumbly. Add lemon zest and berries. Add cream and mix until dough forms. Knead on floured surface 4-5 times. Roll out and cut into rounds or customary triangles. Bake on ungreased baking sheet in 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

I returned home from Seattle with dried blueberries so plump that I did not have to steam to reconstitute. And for an even richer scone, you may brush the top of the unbaked scones with a little cream and sprinkle with sugar.

quote:

Originally posted by decobabe:
....I have a sack of dried cranberries here that just got your name put on them.

WOOHOO! Thanks Judith! Need I mention that a trip this way should be in your (near) future?

And.....I found this recipe, which might be the PERFECT use for those (unwanted) dried blueberries....I can give them away as Christmas gifts!!!

Blueberry Muffin Mix in a Jar

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 to 1 cup dried blueberries

Pour sugar into a 1-quart wide-mouth canning jar.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, soda and salt; pour half into the jar. Put the dried blueberries into a small lightweight plastic bag; tie or seal and cut off excess bag end, if necessary.* Add remaining flour mixture.

Screw lid on and add a tag with instructions, or tuck instructions into the jar.

*(You can add the dried blueberries right into the mixture without the bag, but they tend to sink into the dry ingredients. The bag will give the mix more of a "layered" look)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Wild Dried Blueberry Muffins

• 2 eggs
• 4 ounces melted butter
• 1 cup milk or buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 jar blueberry muffin mix with dried blueberries

Whisk together the eggs, butter, milk or buttermilk, and vanilla. With a wooden spoon, stir in blueberry muffin mix just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Spoon batter into greased muffin pans, filling each muffin cup about 3/4 full. If desired, sprinkle tops with sugar or cinnamon sugar. Bake at 375° for about 25 minutes.

Makes 18 to 24 muffins, depending on size of muffin cups

Whaddya think???

wild boar sauce!!!

I also think your cowboy friends would like that!