It's September 1st! I suppose that means the end of summer... but I'm not quite ready to give up on warm sunny days and maybe even some swimming in the lake just yet. Not having to head "Back 2 School" as they say, I'm still thinking about things like foraging for wild berries. :) The last few weeks, I've made almost daily trips to a couple spots not far from our house to pick wild blackberries. Somehow, it's just thrilling to be able to go outside and come back with a container full of free (organically and locally grown!) food.
There's always a lot of talk in the health world about what they call "Superfoods": goji berries, acai, cacao... The question is: why are these superfoods always from other countries? It's great that the blueberries are gettings some credit, but what about blackberries?
Some of the Health Benefits of Blackberries include:
- A high level of anti-oxidants which protect against cancer and chronic disease
- Reduction of inflammation
- Anti-Bacterial activity
- A good source of Vitamin K, which aids in blood clotting and in the absorption of Calcium
If you don't have access to wild blackberries near you, they are often available at Farmer's Markets and of course in the supermarket.
Some of the ways I recommend using them are:
- Smooshing them into a sort of "jam." Spread some sourdough toast with nut butter, top with blackberries, and finish with a drizzle of honey over the top (a good way to avoid sugar)
- As a topping for plain yogurt with a drizzle of honey
- In a fruit salad with other berries (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, even cherries)
- As a topping for homemade frozen yogurt or ice cream
- In a smoothie with coconut milk or yogurt, sweetened with maple syrup
- As a sauce for pancakes (either blended raw with a squeeze of lemon juice or cooked on the stove)
- Blended into a sauce for a fruit salad of peaches, cherries, and plums.
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