It's
pickin' season for
BLUEBERRIES!
(update
8/1/09)
~ ~ ~
Crazy weather this year has slowed blueberries
to ripen later than what we've been used to. Here it is August 1st
and we are just now in what may be the peak of picking and it certainly
isn't a bumper crop this year in these parts.
This years crop in Montmorency County is not so bountiful
for most locations. Picking is still rewarding, just a little tougher work
to get 'em. Spring blossoms were plentiful but the last frost
zapped the blossoms of nearly all the fruit bearing plants and trees that
were in bloom at the time. What blossoms did fair through then were secumbed
to a spell of cool dry weather through to mid July. Rains have fallen
frequently since but the daytime high temperatures have remained in the
mid 70's for the most part. So what berries did fair through are mostly
small but the plumpies are still to be found.
There are still quite a few green or partially ripened
berries still come around and I'm guessing that these next couple of weeks
they will be at their prime. Berries that haven't been picked or eaten
yet might not get so plump, but should reward the tastebuds with their
heavenly sweetness regardless of their size. Small but mighty indeed.
Berry bushes under the protection of shade faired
best. In many areas the bushes out in the open bore little or no fruit.
Tip for this years conditions would be to do alot of leave flippin' to
find the berries that made it through. There aren't many berries displayed
atop the bushes. Most are yielding small pea sized berries but the plumpies
are still found. Just not alot of them in clusters like we'd really like
to see. Though we don't have the berries in numbers, there still is fair
picking to be had currently and if we can get that thermometer to rise
a bit more we should be rewarded for our patience and persistence.
Because of a lighter crop of berries this year, be aware
that the critters of the woods will be foraging more widely to get that
yum in their tummie. Keep a keen eye and ear open for that 'just in case'
situation where you might happen upon a bear or two competing for the beloved
fruits but don't let that spoil the moment. There still is a tasty reward
awaiting you out in our great north woods!
Come on out into the real world
and tickle your tastebuds with Natures Candy!
.
WHERE TO FIND THEM - WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE:

This
region generally hosts a huge selection of BlueBerrie pickng grounds on
Various State Land locations. Generally you'll want to stay away
from the hardwood forest lands because the soil just doesn't have the content
of acid which they seem to thrive in.
Matured
Jack Pines, Red Pines and Austrian Pines are the indicator species where
underneath and around them you'll find the low bush blueberries covering
the ground in a blanket of green. It's here where you will find some of
natures tastiest candy!
HuckleBerries
and BlueBerries grow together distinguished by their color and taste as
well.
HUCKLEBERRIES
are much darker in color,, almost black in appearance
BLUEBERRIES
are a light 'sky blue' in appearance and the leaves of the bush are a tad
lighter color of green than their cousin the huckleberrie.
CLEANING & STORAGE:
Clean up your berries berries by dumping them in a large
pot of cold water. Most the stems, leaves and even the green berries will
float, making it easy to scoop out the nasties. Then pour into a large
collander and allow to drain thoroughly.
Another method for cleaning the berries is an old indian
method submitted by a resident local "Runing Moon". Simply lay out
a wool blanket and pour the berries on it. Carefully lift one end and lightly
shake it to roll the happy berries down into the collection pan. This will
separate the twigs, leaves and sand as they stick to the wool of the blanket.
If you don't wish to can them or eat 'em right away, they
do hold much of their flavor if frozen properly. Place cleaned berries
into plastic butter containers. Just be sure to 'push' the excess air out
by pressing in the center of the lid while closing it up tight. I don't
advise washing them prior to freezer storage as this may result in "clumping"
if they aren't thoroughly dry.The berries will not stick to one another,
thus making it easy to scoop out the frozen berries at your desire all
through the winter. Nothing like enjoying the sweet tastes of summer during
Christmas breakfast in the middle of our cold winter months! Yummmmmmm!!!
Storing the berries in zip lock baggies can be quite risky,
as they seem to be vulnerable to freezer burn during long-term storage.
This method should be okay for short term freezing but I do not advise
for any long term storage. (depends on your freezer)
While out picking, respect
the source of your tastebud delights
as not to damage the bushes
or the remaining green
unripened fruits as
so they can continue to grace us with the tasty delights in abundance for
years to come.
Be
it blueberrie muffins, pankcakes, over cereal or ice-cream or just by themselves!
They're just plain Mmmm MMmmm Good!!!
Sssshhhhh,,,,
they're
good FOR you too!
Check out
some recipe's and 'food for thought' below.
Blueberries
and your Health
|
Recipe
Links
|


Recent happenings had me searching through the data base of this internet
when low and behold, I discovered that these tasty little treats are much
more better than just in the tastebuds.
Blueberries are called what is an 'antitoxidant', a sort of oxygen
delivery vehicle.Note: Cancer loves sugar, and hates oxygen!.
Fruits and vegetables are the good stuff we need to heal up, clean
and wipe up the crud we seem to accumilate in our modern diets of chemicals,
dyes and who knows what else they stick in our food & snacks.
These findings aren't new by any means of the word except to that of my
own personal data base in my noggin'. Its been this way for all of
the plants and herbs that grow here and around the world. It
is just up to us to learn to use them as they were intended by our Maker.
Enjoy the Links I've got here for you.
From yummie recipe's to scientific information on the importance of
these sort of fruits in our diet to combat and prevail over cancer, prevent
and or inhibit symptoms passed off to aging such as motor-skill loss and
memory.
We need as much help as we can get since these and so many other 'animals'
out there such as depression, anxiety and stress that are constantly gnawing
at our lives.
Eat smart, live good, and savour every smile that comes from that
delightful feeling when you relish the tastes of Natures
Candy.

BLUEBERRIES HELP YOU KICK
BUTT ON CANCER AND OTHER AILMENTS
Antioxidant
Capacity and
Health
Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables
Blueberries,
the Leader of the Pack
by
Ronald L. Prior, Ph.D.
USDA Human Nutrition Research
Center on Aging at Tufts
Fight the enemy with KNOWLEDGE!
Cancer
Related Links
Alternative & Conventional Reference and support for victims and
their loved ones
Alternatives to
Pharmeceuticals
(always check with your professional)
Antioxidant
Capacity, Vitamin C, Phenolics, and Anthocyanins after Fresh Storage of
Small Fruits.
Wilhelmina Kalt, Charles
F. Forney, Antonio Martin, and Ronald L.
Prior. The Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 1999, 47,
4638-4644.
|
....
|
NorthernWudzman's
Banana-Blueberry Pancakes!
-
start with the batter, either from scratch or quick-fix (mix it a little
drier than normal. The blueberries & banana will add moisture to it)
-
add (1) over-ripe banana (smoosh it up first to a paste-like mush)
-
add 1-2 drops pure vanilla extract (optional)
-
mix it up real good
-
then, add a bunch of blueberries (either frozen or fresh) - - STIR up until
blueberries area dispursed evennly within the batter.
Pour onto griddle or fryin' pan into various shapes and sizes.
NorthernWudzman's
Blueberrie/Peach Dump Cake
(Mock Blue Banana)
-
Use a rectangular cake pan - ungreased
-
Dump a can of sliced peaches including da' juice
-
Dump about 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of sugar in, and mix it allll up. / spread
out evenly
-
Dump about a pint or two of huckleberries 'n blueberries on top and spread
out evenly
-
Sprinkle a box of white or yellow cake-mix evenly over da' berries.
-
Cube up a stick of butter an toss 'em over the cakemix somewhat evenly
-
Dump a bunch of crushed walnuts atop the cakemix 'n butter,, spread evenly
-
Bake at 350F for about an hour and 15 minutes 'then remove and allow to
cooool
-
Great as a hot topping over vanilla ice cream!!!
-
Grab up a bunch of friends and become gluttons for the evening. You'll
have fun trying to convince them there isn't a bit of banana in the ingredients.
NorthernWudzman's
Cool Blueberry Treat
Graham Crackers, Blueberries and Milk
Just dump in a bowl with a tad of sugar
and a couple dashes of cinnamon.
Holy Smokes! Is this goooood!!!
Sarah's
PineApple-Cherry Dump Cake
same as the description above except replace the peaches with pineapple,
and the blueberries with cherry pie filling.
Rich in natural blue antioxidants, Wild Blueberries
deliver as much antioxidant power as five servings of other fruits and
vegetables. Just 1/2 cup a day has more of what your body may need
to help fight cancer, heart disease and memory loss from aging. And remember,
Frozen Wild Blueberries are healthy, delicious and easy to use right out
of the freezer.
Quoted from
5
easy ways to serve blueberries
---
Mildred
Trueman's
Blueberry
Bang Belly
Page
(Recipe's from New Brunswick Blueberrie territory!
Yummmmmm!)
wildblueberries.com
More Recipe's >>>>
|
|
|
If you don't have a cabin, or friends to shack up with the following
motels and lodges can accomodate you here in Atlanta
-
Atlanta Motel 989-785-4509
-
WinSans Motel 989-785-2337
-
Timber Lodge 989-785-3339
-
Elk View Cabins 989-785-4896
|