Can You Have Too Many Blueberries?

No, of course you can't have too many blueberries.

Some might call it a personality flaw, but I've always considered it one of my strengths that I just don't give a toss what strangers think of me. If I look a little strange, or drive a car just barely held together by a combination of mud and rust it is because I want to. Sometimes though, I'm conscious of behavior that looks strange, even if there's a perfectly good reason for it. Such was the situation when I bought what turned out to be eight quarts of blueberries. That will get you strange looks.

There's a perfectly good reason for doing so-canning and dehydrating. But to the casual observer, the strange woman in the hat and gloves buying massive quantities of berries must have looked odd. Now I'm faced with working my way through them this week, but I do think it was good to stock up while they were on sale, and somewhat local (within the country anyway).

Here's the plan:

2 pies, one unbaked for the freezer.
1 batch blueberry/peach preserves
1 batch blueberry/lime jam
2 dozen blueberry muffins individually wrapped for the freezer (quick breakfasts)
Dried blueberries
Blueberry/basil vinegar
Frozen berries in 1 cup measures for pancakes through the year
1 batch blueberry syrup

Possible extras:

Blueberry/mint jelly
Blueberry sorbet
Blueberry fruit leather
Bottled blueberry juice
Blueberry cordial

Here's where I pass a bit of blueberry wisdom along from my many years of baking/preserving:
You cannot have too many blueberries. You'll think you over-bought, but once you get to work, you'll find yourself wishing you'd bought more when they were on sale. Dried blueberries in a coconut cake can make the worst of February bearable. Being able to bring a jar of unusual preserves as a hostess gift can save time, and will be appreciated. Being able to produce a pie, ready for baking from the freezer six months from now will make you glad you bothered in June. You grandmother was right-a bit of planning pays off.

I may look quite out of my mind with all those berries on the conveyer belt, but you already know what I think of that. Besides, the teenager at the till won't be eating blueberry pie in December, so who cares what she thinks?

Just wear old clothes when you make the jam-that shit splatters and stains.

Here's some of my favourite blueberry recipes from over the years:



Blueberry Gingerbread http://eattheblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/blueberry-gingerbread-with-bluberry.html

Blueberry Pancakes http://eattheblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/mamas-diner-blueberry-pancakes.html

Blueberry Cheese Coffeecake http://eattheblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/blueberry-cheese-coffee-cake.html

Blueberry Rhubarb Pie http://eattheblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/blueberry-rhubarb-pie.html

Blueberry Cottage Cheese Cake http://eattheblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/blueberry-cottage-cheese-cake.html

Blueberry Freezer Jam http://eattheblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/josephine-jam.html

Blueberry/Orange Ice Milk with Rosewater Cookies http://eattheblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/rosewater-cookies-with-orangeblueberry.html

Blueberry Cobbler http://eattheblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/blueberry-cobbler.html

Blueberry Clafouti  http://eattheblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/blueberry-clafouti.html

Blueberry/Pear Chutney  http://eattheblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/blueberrypear-chutney.html

Blueberry Muffins  http://eattheblog.blogspot.com/2007/04/blueberry-muffins.html

Blueberry/Lemon Bagels http://eattheblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/blueberrylemon-bagles-and-cinnamon.html

Blueberry Buckle Ice Cream http://eattheblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/blueberry-buckle-ice-cream.html

Blueberry Kugel (Noodle and cheese pudding) http://eattheblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/blueberrycherry-kugel-noodle-pudding.html

(Almost) Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins http://eattheblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/wicked-good-muffins.html