breakfast Archives - Wild Blueberries

6 Wild Blueberry Comfort Food Breakfast Recipes

As the air turns cool and the sun begins its annual winter retreat, adding warm comfort foods like soup, stews, and casseroles to our daily dinner routine just comes naturally.

Comfort food isn’t reserved for dinnertime alone. Breakfast is another perfect meal to serve up a little comfort food. A warm breakfast made from the heart will fuel your family throughout the morning, help them start their day off right, and create some fun family memories, too. Here are six Wild Blueberry comfort food breakfast recipes to add to your repertoire:

1. Wild Blueberry and Chocolate Skillet Pancakes. Prepared in a cast-iron skillet, these pancakes are not your average hotcakes; they are more like cake. Plus, they have a double whammy of mood-boosting goodness with Wild Blueberries and dark chocolate. Wild Blueberries are rich in anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid that gives these tiny, mighty berries their deep blue pigment. Science shows that anthocyanins are heart healthy and cancer preventative, and new research now adds mood-boosting to the list of benefits. Dark chocolate includes flavanols that boost mood by raising circling levels of serotonin – the “feel good” neurotransmitter. Send your family off with a smile after serving these delicious pancakes.

2. Belgian Waffle with Wild Blueberry Cream. If you’re craving waffles, take your waffle-making to the next level with this recipe that’s loaded with amazing deliciousness. Featuring made-from-scratch Belgian waffles topped with a creamy mascarpone Wild Blueberry spread that’s a lot like whipped cream. The wild berries add a beautiful color, intense flavor and the perfect amount of sweetness to the center filling. Sprinkle with homemade no-bake almond granola to add tasty texture, too.

3. Orange Pancakes with Wild Blueberry-Orange Sauce. Who doesn’t love pancakes? This delicious recipe will add refreshing flavor to plain pancakes. Made with fresh orange juice, orange zest and topped with a warm Wild Blueberry Orange sauce, the first bite will remind you of warm summer days. This recipe happens to be gluten-free, but you can easily substitute the gluten-free flour with a regular all-purpose one.

4. Wild Blueberry & Ricotta Stuffed French Toast Bake. Get ready to savor the day with this delicious, make-ahead Wild Blueberry Stuffed French Toast. It has the perfect amount of crunch on the outside and smooth texture on the inside. The Wild Blueberries take center stage when it comes to flavor, melting beautifully with the ricotta cheese to create a filling that has the perfect balance of sweetness, richness, and creaminess. The natural sweetness of the ricotta and Wild Blueberries reduces the need for added sugar. That said, don’t forget to add a drizzle of Wild Blueberry-infused maple syrup to make it extra special.

5. Wild Blueberry Cranberry and Almond Oatmeal. Oatmeal may be the quintessential breakfast comfort food. Enjoying that warm bowl of goodness is sure to transport you to winter days curled up by the fire. To make that bowl even more special try this recipe, which features quick cooking steel cut oats topped with warm Wild Blueberries, dried cranberries, slivered almonds, plus a drizzle of maple syrup. Just yum!

6. Wild Blueberry Baked Doughnuts. Doughnuts bring back special memories of childhood. They were a special treat on weekends when everyone fought over their favorite flavor. Instead of running to the store to buy doughnuts, try making them at home. These are baked so you’ll need a pair of standard doughnut baking pans, plus some frozen Wild Blueberries. Once you’re done whipping them up, glaze them, toss them in powdered sugar, or try brushing with warm butter and dipping them in cinnamon-sugar. Your guests will be asking for more.

Why do we love comfort foods? They provide emotional connection to memories of childhood and time spent together in the kitchen with family. So, be sure to take a few minutes to plan occasions when you can enjoy making special, warm, hearty breakfasts at home. Your family will thank you.

Breakfast Recipe: Toasted Oat Parfait with Caramelized Wild Blueberries

I usually put my breakfasts on autopilot. I’m one of those people who can eat the same thing every day with no complaints. But I like to get more creative and add new breakfast ideas to the mix when my daughter Norah heads back to school. She isn’t as excited as me to eat the same thing every day, so I try to mix things up and make breakfast a little special. One go-to strategy for making the morning a little more fun is to break out the Wild Blueberries!

September is when most kids are heading back to school, and it also happens to be National Breakfast Month, so there’s no better time to try out a new breakfast recipe. Being fueled in the morning is so important for focus and concentration, especially for children and teens that start the day super early and have to wait a long time before lunch.

Wild Blueberries make a great addition to any breakfast, not only because they’re delicious, full of fiber and are nutrient rich, but also because they’re food for the brain! Recent research shows that eating Wild Blueberries can help with cognitive function and memory, making them the perfect ingredient for back-to-school breakfasts.

We love my Wild Blueberry Banana Bread, Wild Blueberry Crumb Cake, and Belgian Waffles with Wild Blueberry Mascarpone Cream for weekends and special occasions, but my new favorite breakfast for any day of the week is this Toasted Oat Parfait with Caramelized Wild Blueberries.

The toasted oats are an easy alternative to granola, and take much less time to prepare (but still provide the same crunch and texture). You can make a big batch of these to keep in the fridge for topping on ice cream, hot cereal, or a bowl of fresh fruit. The protein-packed Greek yogurt will keep the kiddos full, and the caramelized Wild Blueberries will make anyone smile.

This Toasted Oat Parfait with Caramelized Wild Blueberries is a delicious way to make breakfast feel special and help your family stay fueled all morning long.

Make Breakfast Special with this Belgian Waffle with Wild Blueberry Cream Recipe

I rarely eat out these days. I honestly can’t remember the last time I ate out that wasn’t either a girl’s brunch or special occasion. Of course this doesn’t include when I’m traveling or on vacation. Even when I’m traveling for work, I tend to stick to my usual fare. It’s when I’m on vacation that I live it up. And by that I mean, I indulge just a bit more than usual.

It’s a blessing and a curse having a palate for healthy food, but breakfast might be that one exception. Okay, there may be a few others (like French fries), but that’s for another post. When we go on family vacation, breakfast is a big deal. All three of us all look forward to it. We get up early and we’re one of the first family’s to arrive, well before 8:00 am. The hotels where we stay almost always offer a breakfast buffet, something I would normally make huge efforts to avoid!

My husband goes straight for the eggs, he’s a big omelet guy. Norah loves to get an enormous bowl of fruit with yogurt. Me? I head for the made-to-order waffles.

I love a freshly made waffle for breakfast; always topped with fresh whipped cream and berries, no syrup. I can’t describe the disappointment I feel when there’s no fresh whipped cream for my waffle. It’s literally a deal breaker.

Waffles are something I rarely make at home, especially from scratch. My daughter is a pancake gal and waffles hardly seem worth the effort (even though they’re way better). Since making waffles at home is such a treat, of course they deserve some special attention.

This Belgian Waffle with Wild Blueberry Cream is loaded with deliciousness. It’s a perfectly cooked Belgian waffle that is topped with a creamy mascarpone Wild Blueberry spread and homemade no-bake granola.

You might be thinking where’s the whipped cream? Well, for this recipe I’m actually trying something close, but a little different. My Wild Blueberry mascarpone cheese is a lot like whipped cream (just a little thicker and more amazing) and I thought it would be fun to add some texture with the almond oat granola.

My almond oat granola is a secret weapon in many dishes. I love it on top of Chia seed pudding. It has a wonderful crunch and it’s relatively healthy compared to the average baked granola. It’s also a no-bake recipe and there’s really nothing much better than that!

Even with the beautiful Belgian waffle and my no-bake granola, the Wild Blueberries are the star of this dish. I love their intense color and flavor and the perfect amount of sweetness they add to the mascarpone cheese. I only needed to add a little bit of maple syrup to sweeten it just right.

The next time you’re having a waffle craving, why not take it to the next level? Skip the syrup and try my mascarpone Wild Blueberry cream. You won’t be disappointed.

Here’s to made-to-order waffles anytime!

Quick & Easy Wild Blueberry Stuffed French Toast

If you’re expecting a house full of company for the holidays and you need a delicious easy-to-make breakfast then try this amazing Wild Blueberry Stuffed French Toast from our friends at Stonewall Kitchen. It’s truly tasty and requires only a few basic ingredients. Plus, it takes just a few minutes to make and can be prepared the day before so you can spend more time visiting than cooking. It’s a great choice for Christmas or New Year’s Eve.

There are two heroes in this recipe – frozen fresh Wild Blueberries and Stonewall Kitchen’s Wild Maine Blueberry Jam. Here in Maine, we love to eat our Wild Blueberries all year long. Wild Blueberries are nutritious, delicious, and an essential freezer staple that you can grab any day of the week.

To see Stonewall Kitchen Recipe Developer Kim Gallagher whip up this quick and easy Wild Blueberry Stuffed French Toast, watch our video. Here’s the complete recipe, too!

Got The Back-to-School Breakfast Blues?

If you’ve got kids (or are in school yourself), chances are the beginning of the school year brings feelings of excitement, but also a little wistfulness. Long lazy summer days have turned into hectic school days. How to get back into a routine? A healthy (and tasty) breakfast is a good start. Unfortunately, a leisurely nosh at 9 a.m. is probably not going to work —you need a bit more of a plan. Here are some ideas to help you kick the back-to-school breakfast blues so you successfully begin your day with a tasty and nutritious meal.

Get Inspired

Of course, not every morning spread you create is going to be worthy of an Instagram photo—and that’s perfectly ok! A bowl of quick oats, cooked in the microwave and sprinkled with cinnamon and a handful of berries (may I suggest Wild Blueberries?) is a wholesome, hearty breakfast that’s simple and easy to make. When you do have more time, however, try perusing Pinterest for new ideas. I like searching for “healthy school morning breakfast recipes” or “easy healthy breakfast ideas.” For some great breakfast recipes featuring Wild Blueberries, we’ve got you covered here.

Get Trendy

By now you must have seen all the wonderful recipes for overnight oats made in the cute little jars that are oh so portable when topped with a lid. The Mason jar trend is one that’s been around a couple years, but shows no signs of slowing down yet. Kids like the novelty of eating out of the jar, and in a pinch, they could even eat their breakfast-in-a-jar right in the car. Plus, this trend is endlessly customizable—use what you like most, what you happen to have on hand, or put together seasonal combos. Best of all you can create this delicious breakfast the night before to cut down the morning chaos. Involve the kids because they’ll be more likely to eat it if they help create it.
Another trend is what I’ll call the “non-bread breakfast sandwich.” This is where you use something instead of bread, such as two waffles or two pancakes instead of bread, then stuff the sandwich with breakfast faves like peanut butter and banana, cream cheese and berries, or a fried egg and slice of ham. Don’t forget that things like whole grain crackers and even rice cakes can make a sandwich. Again, portable, filling and kid-pleasing are the keys here.
Smoothies are here to stay, and both children and adults seem to have smoothie fever these days. It certainly helps to keep smoothie ingredients on hand (think yogurt, frozen Wild Blueberries and other frozen fruit, lowfat milk, nut butters, bananas) so you can easily whip up a smoothie with very little fuss. Some folks have even gone so far as to create resealable bags of smoothie ingredients all pre-measured so that kids (or whomever) can just grab a bag from the freezer, add a little milk or yogurt and in a jiffy they’ve got a nutritious smoothie. If you’re looking for some inspiration, we’ve got a great little smoothie recipe book to share with you—also check out our smoothie recipe section on the website for other ideas.

Get Ahead

Prepping breakfast ahead of time isn’t a new concept, but it sure is a handy one. Here are some ideas that might help you save time on busy mornings:

On the weekends I like making Wild Blueberry muffins or a quick bread recipe (then baking it in a muffin tin for portion control), and freezing the cooled muffins. A few seconds in the microwave yields a perfectly delicious, fresh-tasting muffin that will help pull any sleepyhead out of bed! Also, if I have extra pancakes, waffles or French toast from the weekend I freeze them in reasonable portions (say, three small pancakes or 2 small waffles per quart-sized freezer bag). I hate to waste good food!

Using the slow cooker is another way to prepare breakfast ahead of time—let the machine cook your breakfast while you sleep! Steel-cut oats are great in the slow cooker, but you could also make a savory breakfast casserole, or a sweet French toast casserole. Do be sure to check the cook time on all slow cooker breakfast ideas—some don’t take all night. In general, cereal-based slow cooker recipes can be cooked overnight, but not so with eggs, etc.
Kids welcome the opportunity to customize their food—in fact, that’s a trend most age groups enjoy these days. If your kids love yogurt or cereal in the morning, organize foods in advance to make customized toppings for everyone in your household to use. For example, keep a few see-through containers of toppings in the pantry and in the fridge/freezer that are easy to see and reach. Try chia seeds, ground flax or wheat germ and have a variety of chopped fresh fruit and frozen fruit like Wild Blueberries, strawberries and frozen cherries, coconut shreds, chopped nuts and granola to round out your selection. With add-ons and mix-ins like these, the easy container of yogurt or bowl of cereal will really make the grade taste-wise, and will likely earn bonus points in nutrition as well.

Are You Fiber Deficient? Here’s One Easy Way to Fill Your Bowl.

A simple breakfast of cereal and milk is a staple for many people—and for good reason. Not only is it quick, easy and tasty, this classic morning combo has a good nutritional profile as well, providing plenty of vitamins and minerals, some protein and some fiber.

About that fiber… According to the USDA, most of us typically fall far short of reaching daily fiber intake goals, making it a “nutrient of concern” in American diets. The recommendation for Adequate Intake of dietary fiber is 14 grams/1,000 calories, or 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men. There are two forms of fiber (soluble and insoluble), and both types are found in plants, so eating plenty of produce goes a long way toward upping your daily fiber tally. Choosing Wild Blueberries is a smart move in the right direction—a cup of Wild Blues provides 25% of the Daily Value for fiber.

Why is fiber so fabulous?
Most of us have heard that what Grandma called “roughage” is good for keeping things moving along well in the GI tract and helping prevent constipation. And while that’s still true, there are several more reasons to favor fiber-filled foods. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, fiber can help prevent heart disease by helping to lower cholesterol levels, and can help deter diabetes by aiding in blood sugar control. What’s more, a high-fiber eating plan tends to be lower in calories than one without, and also contributes to a feeling of fullness—together that can help with weight loss or weight maintenance efforts.

Why “go wild” at breakfast?
Fruit in general is a good choice at breakfast, and berries atop a bowl of hot or cold cereal are a natural. “Going wild” at breakfast by sprinkling Wild Blueberries over oatmeal or a favorite whole grain cereal is a great way to get more fiber into your morning meal. Why? The petite size of Wild Blueberries means there are roughly twice the number of berries in a cup compared to their cultivated counterparts. And, given that much of the berry’s fiber is found in the skin, more berries means more berry skins and therefore, more fiber. In fact, Wild Blueberries contain double the fiber of their cultivated counterparts (6 grams per cup).

Start your day with frozen Wild Blueberries
It’s so easy to add Wild Blueberries to your morning cereal—you don’t even need to have fresh berries on hand. In fact, most of the Wild Blueberry crop is frozen at the peak of ripeness (and usually within 24 hours of harvest), which preserves their nutrients and intense blueberry taste. What’s more, Wild Blueberries don’t even need to be thawed before sprinkling them onto your bowl of bran flakes. How’s that for nutritious, delicious and convenient?

Kit Broihier is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian and co-author of several cookbooks. She contributes regularly to a variety of national and regional publications and blogs. Previously on the editorial staff at Good Housekeeping magazine, she now owns a food and nutrition consulting company and currently serves as a nutrition advisor to the Wild Blueberry Association of North America.