Blueberries Notes from Cheri: The North American Blueberry Council was kind enough to share information about this delicious, nutritious and versatile ingredient, along with some wonderful recipes. The blueberry, as you may or may not know, is a native American species. Long before the pilgrims arrived, American Indians were already enjoying these juicy berries year round, thanks to clever preservation techniques. Botanists estimate that they've been around more than 1,300 years, although blueberries actually weren't cultivated until the first quarter of this century! Not only are blueberries delicious, they are also nutritious, being low in fat and high in fiber and vitamin C. With a one-cup serving weighing in at only 80 calories, it's no wonder that blueberries are celebrated at festivals all over the USA. Recent studies show that blueberries rank highest in disease-fighting antioxidant activity when compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables. Just one serving of blueberries delivers as much antioxidant activity as five servings of other fresh fruits and vegetables like carrots, squash, broccoli or apples. In addition, blueberries are a rich source of fiber and contain only 80 fat-free calories per cup. When buying fresh blueberries look for firm, dry fruit that is smooth and relatively free of stems and leaves. While size is not an indicator of maturity, color is. Berries should be deep purple-blue to blue-black in color. Reddish berries aren't ripe, although they may be used in cooking. Avoid containers of berries with juice stains, which may be a sign that the berries are crushed and possibly moldy. Soft, watery fruit means that berries are overripe, while wrinkled fruit means they have been stored too long. Fresh berries should be stored covered, in the refrigerator. Wash just before using and use within 6 days of purchase. If you store in a produce drawer with a Mrs. Green's Extra Life disc, they'll last even longer. You can easily freeze blueberries for future use. The secret is to use berries that are completely dry before freezing.   For even more information about blueberries, visit the website of the North American Blueberry Council. Blueberry Recipes Blueberry Crumb Cake Blueberry Stuffed French Toast Blueberry Orange Sauce Iced Blueberry Soup Wild Strawberry Salad with Blueberry Dressing Blueberry Muffins Blueberry Coulis (with Cheese Blintzes) Lemon Blueberry Tea Muffins Lemon, Blueberry & Chicken Salad Blueberry-Onion Sauced Pork Tenderloin Grilled Venison with Ancho Chile-Blueberry Sauce Blueberry & Custard Filled Star Puffs Red, White & Blueberry Cheesecake Pie Red, White & Blueberry Parfaits Florentine Manor's Blueberry Pudding Gunflint Lodge's Blueberry Orange Sorbet Blueberry Pineapple Delight Cake Easy Blueberry Cobbler Easy Low Fat Blueberry Creme Brulée Wild Rice Blueberry Dessert Blueberry Buckle Blueberry Peach Crostada Blueberry Smoothie Recipes Blueberry Orange Smoothie Blueberry Strawberry Smoothie Fabulous Foods Recommends Very Blueberry by Jennifer Trainer Thompson. Blueberries are one of the healthiest foods we can eat - loaded with antioxidants and reported to help prevent everything from cancer to diabetes, Alzheimer's disease to heart disease. Not only are they healthy, they taste great too. Likewise, this little book is a handy addition to your kitchen library as it contains over 40 recipes that utilize this super food in lots of scrumptious ways. You'll find traditional blueberry recipes like muffins, pies, and coffee cakes, plus lots of creative new and unexpected recipes utilizing blueberries, like salads, sauces, appetizers and even savory entrees. For any blueberry lover, this is a small but mighty tome, filled with delicious recipes to make again and again. Click for more information or to order from Amazon.com.