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Wild Blueberry Winter Wellness Smoothie

Wild Blueberries are a perfect ingredient for wellness in our Wild Blueberry Winter Wellness Smoothie! They’re packed with antioxidants, naturally low fat, high in fiber, and an excellent source of manganese, which is important for bone health. They also taste utterly delicious!

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On the eve of cold and flu season and the busy holidays, I’ve been thinking about these two amazing Wild Blueberry wellness facts and how they make me want to incorporate more Wild Blueberries into my diet.

Antioxidants. Wild Blueberries contain two times the antioxidants of regular (cultivated) blueberries, and this means they can boost your immune system and play a role in preventing the common cold. Wild Blueberries have more skin, more pulp and less water than cultivated blueberries, which means more antioxidant-rich pigment.
Low or No Pesticides. Because Wild Blueberries thrive in their natural environment, they do not need nearly the amount of pesticides that cultivated berries need. So you can feel confident buying non-organic or organic Wild Blueberries!

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Here’s a short list of my favorite ways to enjoy Wild Blueberries, during the winter:

In oatmeal or rice porridge
Baked into fluffy Wild Blueberry muffins or breads or donut holes!
Blended into wellness smoothies
Blended into fresh salad dressings and savory sauces
As a topping over banana ice cream
In pancakes and waffles

There are so many delicious and healthy uses for Wild Blueberries in winter! Today’s smoothie is perfect for wellness, not only because it’s loaded with Wild Blueberries, but because it includes five more immune-system boosting ingredients:

Walnuts – Rich in healthy fats, omega fatty acids and vitamin E
Hemp Seeds – Naturally rich in plant-based protein, omega fatty acids, magnesium, iron and zinc
Banana – Rich in potassium and fiber
Citrus Zest – Yes the zest is good for you too! It’s packed with vitamin C and bioflavonoids.
Cinnamon – Blood sugar balancing and warming.

Too cold for a smoothie? Never. You can make this smoothie “less cold” by omitting the ice and using a non-frozen banana. You can even allow the Wild Blueberries to thaw a bit so they’re not ice cold from the freezer.

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Easy, Delicious Thanksgiving Side Dish: Wild Blueberry Sweet Potato Stacks

I’m hosting a Friendsgiving dinner this year for my supper club girls. There’s six of us and we meet each month for a theme-inspired dinner. My month to host tends to fall in November and this year it’s on a day the week before Thanksgiving. As the host, I’m responsible for the main dish and one side. As you know from reading last year’s post, I don’t get overly excited about Thanksgiving. Turkey isn’t really my jam and I often end up eating a plate full of relatively boring side dishes. But this year is different. Even though it’s not the official Thanksgiving dinner, I’ve got to step up my game as the hostess.

I won’t lie, I did think for about half a minute that I could simply cook up a few turkey breasts and call it a day, but my husband quickly shamed me out of taking the lazy path. He even volunteered to prepare the bird for me, which I thought was sweet, even though I’m pretty sure it had more to do with him getting to eat a boatload of leftover turkey. (He’s no dummy. He knows a few turkey thighs and legs are in his future!)

So with the main dish taken care of, I’m fully able to focus on preparing an amazing side dish that will wow the girls. I think I achieved exactly what I set out to do with these Wild Blueberry Sweet Potato Stacks. I mean, just look at them:

I’m no stranger to the Wild Blueberry-sweet potato combination. Remember this deliciousness from last October? Wild Blueberries complement the sweet potato perfectly! But there’s a few other benefits to this delicious marriage of flavor.

For one, I’m able to offer my friends a truly healthy dish. With my Wild Blueberry Sweet Potato Stacks, I’ve taken all the taste, flavor and antioxidant goodness of a whole sweet potato and condensed it into these amazing pop-it-into-your-mouth bites. So this recipe provides built-in portion control, something my girlfriends will definitely appreciate. Keeping in mind of course I literally could not stop myself from eating the entire tray. When it was all said and done I barely saved enough for my taste-tester who scarfed them down cold. My husband is pretty mainstream; I know if he loves something, it’s a hit.

The other great thing about this recipe is that it is so simple. It’s just simple flavors that highlight the Wild Blueberry perfectly. What I love about cooking with frozen Wild Blueberries is that they work so well with savory dishes. And let me tell you, I’ve made a few! From Wild Blueberry Stuffing to Wild Blueberry Quesadillas to Jalapeño poppers stuffed with Wild Blueberries, I can speak with some sense of authority to their versatility. Wild Blueberries blend well into any dish and provide a unique flavor boost that makes your meal just a little more special.

I can’t wait to serve my friends this unique twist on a classic Thanksgiving side dish. Sweet potatoes have never tasted so good! Simple, healthy and delicious. Now that is something to be grateful for.

Vegan Wild Blueberry Cashew Spread on Crostini with Fresh Basil

The holidays are just around the corner and this vegan Wild Blueberry appetizer is the perfect party snack to serve your guests. Not only is each pretty blue crostini super flavorful, but you also get incredible Wild Blueberry antioxidants in each bite!

I have to say Wild Blueberries add a bit of luxury to my holiday party spread. Paired with Prosecco, a fine wine or sparkling mineral water with lemon and these Wild Bites have been a big hit at my holiday parties. This appetizer has savory-sweet flavors featuring cashew cheese spread, frozen Wild Blueberries, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil and a hint of fleur de sel all on a crispy toasted crostini slice.

For the garnish, I used fresh basil, fleur de sel and a drizzle of buttery extra virgin olive oil. But you could also play around with:

* fresh mint
* orange or lemon zest
* aged balsamic vinegar
* pepper or chili flakes
* chopped chives, rosemary or parsley
* harissa

While they bite into this appetizer, I love telling my guests that Wild Blueberries are two times more antioxidant dense than cultivated blueberries and that they are completely native to the land they grow on and have been around for 10,000 years!

People get really excited when they learn that these indigenous berries are derived from the thin glacial soils and harsh northern climate of Maine, Eastern Canada and Quebec. After tasting this appetizer and hearing this story, I definitely feel like my guests know exactly how much I care about them because of the ingredients I use.

And, better yet this crostini appetizer can be enjoyed by everyone because it is vegan, soy-free, dairy-free and if you use a gluten-free bread, it is gluten-free as well. If you prefer to use crackers or veggie sticks to pair with the spread, you can do that too! This rich “cream cheese” spread is also dreamy on toasted bagels.

Gluten Free Wild Blueberry Cornbread Loaves with Wild Blueberry “Butter”

Growing up, making mini bread loaves was a holiday tradition in our home. My mom churned out dozens of little loaves of pumpkin bread and packaged them up as gifts for neighbors, coworkers, and friends. I still make a dairy-free version of that pumpkin bread, but I also love to experiment with mini- loaf recipes packed with delicious new flavors.

My latest venture is a Sweet Cornbread spiked with a generous smattering of flavorful Wild Blueberries.

Wild Blueberries are a neat surprise to have around the holidays, since people typically think that blueberries are merely a summer fruit. One of the great things about Wild Blueberries is that you can enjoy them all year round because they are flash frozen, within 24 hours of harvest locking in their nutrition and flavor. You can pick them up in the freezer section of most supermarkets – even Trader Joe’s has them!

Wild Blueberries are also smaller in size when compared to regular blueberries, which means you’ll get more berry in each bite compared to regular blueberries. Because they have twice the antioxidants of cultivated blueberries, Wild Blueberries also provide more intense blueberry flavor to my sweet cornbread recipe. Yes, higher nutrition equates to more flavor! Cool, huh? Wild Blueberries are tasty little super-fruits that Mother Nature has perfected over 10,000 years. I’ve only been perfecting my mini loaf recipes for a decade or so, but I think this one is definitely worthy of those sweet-tart gems.

Spooky Wild Blueberry Boo-Berry Snack Balls

If you’re a parent, you know that the scariest thing about Halloween is usually the mountain of candy your kids bring home after trick-or-treating. So why not ease up on sweets in the days leading up to the big event? One way to do that: Opt for healthier treats that you can bring to kids’ Halloween parties.

These Spooky Wild Blueberry Boo-Berry Snack Balls would make fun finger food for partygoers. They’re made with wholesome, filling ingredients like fruit, oats, and nuts (so always be aware of any nut allergies among your guests before serving them). They get most of their sweetness from fruit, both dates and frozen Wild Blueberries, with just a bit of honey added.

And of course they get their deep blue-purple hue from Wild Blueberries, which are more intensely colored than regular high-bush blueberries. That dark blue pigment is also why Wild Blueberries pack double the antioxidants.

A food processor makes quick work of these snack balls, and once you’ve rolled them in coconut, add a pair of candy eyeballs for a silly touch that will make kids giggle. (You can find candy eyeballs at a craft supply store.)

I hope your little hobgoblins enjoy these sweet and spooky snack balls!

Kid-Friendly Fall Smoothie Recipe: Low-Sugar Wild Blueberry Banana Pumpkin Smoothie

I do most of my grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s and I know it’s the start of pumpkin season when they bring all their pumpkin products to the front of the store. I’ve never seen such a vast array of pumpkin-related items. They’ve got pumpkin everything: pumpkin cereal, pumpkin oatmeal, pumpkin crackers, pumpkin-infused oil, pumpkin dip, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pancake mix, pumpkin soup, pumpkin croutons, pumpkin coffee – I kid you not, this is just a partial list. They really know how to do pumpkin.

Personally, I’m more of an essence of pumpkin kind of gal. I don’t particularly like to lead with pumpkin that much in my recipes. But I do think it’s fun to use pumpkin unexpectedly in a recipe, like adding it to chili and creamy soups, for example, or stirring some pumpkin puree into yogurt.

My Wild Blueberry Banana Pumpkin Smoothie is a great example as well. I find straight pumpkin smoothies to be a little too sweet and, well, too pumpkin-y. By sharing the spotlight with the delicious flavor of Wild Blueberries, you get a tasty combination of berry-pumpkin flavor with the perfect amount of sweet. This low-sugar smoothie gets its sweetness naturally from one frozen banana and ½ cup of frozen Wild Blueberries.

In addition to keeping the sugar content low, I also like to sneak super foods into my smoothies whenever possible. Buried inside this smoothie you not only get the antioxidant power of Wild Blueberries, but you also get a hit of inflammation-busting turmeric and blood sugar-lowering cinnamon. But wait, it doesn’t stop there. You also get a dose of healthy fats and soluble fiber from ground flax seed.

You might be thinking right now, this smoothie sounds too healthy…does it taste good? No worries, I’ve got that covered. I use a very scientific method to determine taste-ability. It’s called the “Will a 4^th Grader Drink This?” test.

Needless to say, this smoothie passed with flying colors.

So there you have it! A low-sugar, kid-friendly pumpkin-inspired smoothie that’s bursting with powerful antioxidants and Wild Blueberry flavor.

It sounds like the fall season is off to a good start!

Vegan Wild Blueberry Donut Holes with Wild Blueberry Glaze

Ever since my trip to Maine trip, I’ve literally only bought frozen “Wild” Blueberries instead of fresh cultivated blueberries – and that says a lot. In fact, my visit to the Wild Blueberry barrens inspired me to start creating some amazing Wild Blueberry recipes. This one for Vegan Wild Blueberry Donut Holes with Wild Blueberry Glaze is becoming one of my fall favorites. These donut holes have a hint of vanilla, ginger, and cinnamon. They bake up fluffy and snackable!

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So, let’s crank up the oven and make some warm and fluffy donut holes. These Glazed Wild Blueberry Muffin Donut Holes are so tasty! They are perfect paired with a pumpkin latte or mint matcha latte or even a warming mug of herbal tea. They bake up super fluffy and rich, with loads of healthy ingredients like banana, nuts, flax, oat flour and of course Wild Blueberries. The glaze is optional but it does add more color, flavor and fun.

Wild Blueberry Nutrition. I spoke a lot about the health benefits of Wild Blueberries in my blogger travel post, but here are some of my favorite fun facts about their nutrition properties and heritage.

* Antioxidants. Wild Blueberries contain two times the antioxidants of regular (cultivated) blueberries. And all the healthy stuff is in the skin. Wild blueberries have more skin and less water than cultivated blueberries, which means more antioxidant-rich pigment.

* Natural. Wild blueberries have never been modified by man to enhance or alter their naturally occurring characteristics.

* Grown in One Special Place on Earth! Wild blueberries are commercially harvested in only one part of the world: Maine, eastern Canada and Quebec. In fact, these special plants thrive under extreme conditions (rocky soil and ice cold winters), and they actually build up healthy phytonutrients by surviving these harsh growing conditions.

* Very Low or No Pesticides. Wild blueberries have on average, 80% less pesticide use than cultivated blueberries. So basically, if you are not buying organic, you should definitely consider trying frozen Wild Blueberries. I always choose organic when I can, but seriously, I don’t stress too much about it with Wild Blueberries.

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Some of my favorite places to buy Wild Blueberries. Whole Foods 365 brand of Organic Wild Blueberries and at Costco you can buy giant bags of Wyman’s Wild Blueberries! You can also find Wyman’s frozen fresh Wild Blueberries in a bunch of smaller stores both natural and niche and more mainstream.

The next time you’re shopping, I hope you’ll check out the frozen aisle and see if you can find Wild Blueberries. They are amazing little gems and they are really different from the regular blueberries you find in the produce section of the store. I used to think that the only difference between the Wild Blueberry and regular blueberries was the size and color. It’s true that Wild Blueberries are smaller and have a deeper blue color but they also have a bolder flavor, which I adore, and 2x the antioxidant capacity of regular blueberries, providing more of what it takes to combat disease and promote healthy aging.

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Every time I eat Wild Blueberries I am now reminded of those crystal clear waters and beautiful coastal shores, fresh air and tall trees of Bar Harbor Maine. Knowing where your food comes from is so important. And these berries come from some gorgeous natural land.

Vegan Wild Blueberry & Pumpkin Mug Cake: A Heavenly Match Made in Minutes

When I first heard the idea of blueberries and pumpkin together, I hesitated. But within seconds my mind switched to “sure, why not?” As it turns out, these ingredients are simply amazing together, as long as you use Wild Blueberries. The intense sweet-tart flavor of Wild Blueberries compliments the pumpkin and autumn spices in a delightful way. None of the ingredients compete, but rather heighten one another for a warm satisfying holiday treat.

As many know, the holidays are a time when people on special diets can often feel left out. So I decided it might be fun to combine pumpkin and Wild Blueberries to create a single-serve mug cake that could be enjoyed anytime a little indulgence was needed; and it can be made in minutes.

The base recipe is dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, soy-free and vegan, but I also tested it gluten-free for the Mr. Right in my life. Cake is perhaps his favorite dessert, and one he rarely gets to enjoy since he cut gluten from his diet many years ago. And he did indeed love this pumpkin mug cake!

Truth be told, I’m not a big cake person myself, but the tender, moist crumb and sweet, rich taste of this Wild Blueberry pumpkin mug cake won me over too. Here are some tips and options for when you make the recipe yourself:

Use frozen Wild Blueberries, not conventional. They have less water, so they perform better in baking. They’re also smaller and more flavorful so you get more “pops of deliciousness” in each bite.
Finally, since they really do grow wild in their native lands and are frozen within 24 hours of harvest, Wild Blueberries are substantially higher in antioxidants and fiber than the conventional ones. You can find Wild Blueberries in the freezer section of most major grocers.
You can further “healthify” this pumpkin mug cake, but be aware that it will affect the results. Using whole grain flours will result in a denser, but still delicious, dessert. Swapping in a different sweetener, like coconut sugar, will change the flavor and consistency a bit.
If you’re in the mood for a treat that’s a little less sweet, you can cut the sugar down to 2 or 2½ tablespoons.
But if you want a truly tender crumb, don’t skimp on the fat. I trialed versions with less oil, and they ended up more dense and too moist.+

Naturally-Colored Wild Blueberry Buttercream Frosting

I grew up on homemade birthday cakes that my mom made. She liked to pipe roses with trailing leaves and create renderings of our favorite cartoon characters—all with pastry bags of brightly-colored frosting.

Now that I’m a mom, I’ve continued the tradition of home-baked cakes with one important tweak: I’ve swapped out the standard bottles of food dyes with natural colors. After all, there’s growing concern that fake food dyes may not be good for health, especially for children. And there are so many brilliant hues you can find right in nature.

The intense, natural color of Wild Blueberries lends itself perfectly to tinting frosting. That color is thanks to the anthyocyanins in the berries, pigments that make Wild Blueberries so deeply blue and also give them their powerful antioxidant protection. Did you know that Wild Blueberries have twice the antioxidants as their tame, cultivated cousins?

This frosting recipe is a classic buttercream. The only way to get frosting that stands up to piping and holds its shape is with butter and a smidge of organic shortening, so it’s a sweet splurge for sure! But the recipe also uses a full cup of frozen fresh Wild Blueberries. I decided to cook up a thick, syrupy berry mash and use the whole fruit instead of just straining out the juice. I love the tiny purple flecks and bits of berries swirled through the frosting. And Wild Blueberries’ sweet-tart taste gives this frosting a great flavor too.

Because you’re using frozen Wild Blueberries, available in the freezer section along with the other frozen fruit, you can make this frosting recipe year round to top your favorite cake, cupcake and cookie recipes for birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions. And feel free to add even more frozen Wild Blueberries to the top of your treats to give them an added pop of color and flavor.

5 Top Wild Your Smoothie Recipes

As we say goodbye to summer, one of the big takeaways was that it was unusually hot and steamy. Much of the country experienced heat waves, and staying hydrated, nourished and energized was critically important. Smoothies are a great way to start your day by getting your nutrition in one easy grab-n-go package.

Over nine weeks this summer, we shared more than 25 new Wild Blueberry smoothie recipes developed by some of our favorite nutrition and healthy lifestyle bloggers. We also selected a number of additional recipes to share from our existing 120 smoothie recipes – a rich resource for any smoothie lover. So, which were your favorites? Below are the top five most shared, liked, and talked about smoothie recipes from our Wild Your Smoothie Summer:

Matcha Wild Blueberry Breakfast Smoothie

Created by Danielle Omar, a leading registered dietitian, clean-eating coach, teacher, cookbook author, and blogger behind Food Confidence, this breakfast smoothie combines Matcha green tea powder, a trending ingredient known for its antioxidant, detoxing and weight loss benefits, with frozen fresh Wild Blueberries also known for being an antioxidant-rich superfruit. Wild Blueberries get their powerful antioxidant protection from anthocyanins, the flavonoids found in their gorgeous blue pigment. These flavonoids have the ability to neutralize free radicals and help prevent cell damage. Antioxidants also protect against inflammation, thought to be a leading factor in brain aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and other degenerative diseases.

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Wild Blueberry Banana Hemp Smoothie

This colorful, layered, allergy-friendly, kid-friendly smoothie was created by Kelly Roenicke, one of our “Wild Your Smoothie” Recipe contest winners and author of The Pretty Bee: Allergy Friendly Eats blog. Kelly calls it “a treat for the eyes and the taste buds.” This smoothie features a pink bottom layer using blended frozen bananas and raspberries. Next comes the antioxidant-and fiber-rich Wild Blueberry layer. She tops it all off with hemp hearts to add more healthy fats and proteins. Not only is this smoothie delicious and fun, but it’s also naturally free of the top 8 allergens because of the ingredients she selected – frozen fruit, coconut milk and hemp seeds.

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Wild Blueberry Coconut Lavender Smoothie

When Gina Matsoukas of Running to the Kitchen proposed a Wild Blueberry smoothie that included lavender as an ingredient, we were intrigued. She told us that lavender, also rich in antioxidants, could help promote gut health and reduce bloating. Combined with the frozen Wild Blueberries, this smoothie is an antioxidant powerhouse and a great way to start your day.

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Savory Wild Blueberry Green Smoothie

Another beautiful layered smoothie, this one is packed with both Wild Blueberries and green veggies (spinach). According to its creator, registered dietitian Kara Lydon and the voice behind The Foodie Dietitian, this savory Wild Blueberry Green Smoothie is good for you because there’s no sugar added and it’s a good source of fiber, protein and healthy fat – the ultimate nutrient trifecta for lasting energy and satiety. So if you have a fear of green smoothies because you think they’ll taste bad, this is a good one to try because using Wild Blueberries will mask the bitterness without having to add sweeteners.

Wild Blueberry & Beet Freeze Breakfast Smoothie

Beets were another “hot” ingredient this summer. We think it’s because – like Wild Blueberries — beets are a beautiful deep purple food with excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. To showcase this fun ingredient Danielle Omar of Food Confidence combined it with frozen Wild Blueberries to create a refreshing and stunning smoothie. Danielle says it’s perfect for breakfast because of the cleansing qualities of beetroot combined with the fiber-richness and sweet-and-tart taste of Wild Blueberries.

So if you love healthy smoothies, keep a supply of frozen Wild Blueberries in your freezer all year long. And if you’re looking to change up your smoothie routine and “wild” your smoothie try to one of these amazing smoothie recipes. For more recipes visit our Wild Your Smoothie Recipes.