Fresh Wild Blueberry Season is Officially Here–Celebrate with Us in Maine

If you’ve grown up in Maine or spent a lot of time in Vacationland, then you know that summer means one thing: fresh, wild blueberry season! For a lot of us, wild blueberry season certainly brings back fond memories of raking wild blueberries, filling buckets and eating them before you get home, making tasty pies, or buying fresh wild blueberries at a local farm stand. During this time of year, we also like to recognize the farmers and all the hard work that goes into harvesting these naturally occurring, wild berries that Mother Nature put there more than 10,000 years ago.

As one of North America’s three native fruits, wild blueberries have never been planted, and are only commercially harvested in Maine and parts of Eastern Canada during late summer. Many of the 485 Maine farmers who carefully steward and harvest these wild blueberries have been doing so for generations and have created a unique heritage. To celebrate this wild, native-to-Maine berry, let’s dive into more information about where they come from, their health benefits, and more.

Why Wild Blues are Different Than Ordinary Blueberries

Maine currently has more than 38 thousand acres of wild blueberries, primarily in the Midcoast and Downeast regions of the state, and each field contains thousands of different varieties of wild blueberry plants. Looking at a field is a site to behold. You’ll see a tight-knit, ankle high carpet of color waves ranging from purple to blue, and it’s this variety that translates into a distinct taste ranging from sweet to somewhat tangy that when combined is often described as the “blueberriest” blueberry flavor. 

Did you know that wild blueberries provide you with a higher skin-to-pulp ratio than ordinary, larger blueberries? Since wild blueberries are much smaller, they contain less water (making them great for baking), and possess more antioxidant-rich pigments, more fiber, and a more intense tangy, sweet flavor than ordinary blueberries. These wonderous wild berries are also loaded with 33% more brain-healthy anthocyanins than normal blueberries.  Anthocyanins are the plant compounds found in the skin of the Wild Blueberry that give them their pretty purply-blue hue.

Each summer, farmers all over Maine collectively harvest millions of pounds of wild blueberries. While 99% of the harvested crop is frozen at peak ripeness to lock in nutrition and taste, a small amount is sold fresh at local markets, roadside farm stands, fairs and festivals, or used in value-added products like jam, syrup, wine, beer, and more. If you can’t make it to Maine during fresh season, you can purchase frozen wild blueberries in the freezer aisle of your local grocery store–just make sure it says “wild” on the packaging!

Celebrate Our Native Berry During Wild Blueberry Weekend, August 7-8, 2021

This year, we’re celebrating Maine’s native berry and the hardworking farmers that harvest this iconic crop during the first annual Wild Blueberry Weekend. On August 7th and 8th, people will have the opportunity to visit 15+ farms participating in the event to rake wild blueberries, learn about harvesting practices, and see where their food comes from. Mainers and visitors will also be able to try wild blueberry-themed menu items at 40+ participating restaurants, inns, bars, and wineries across Maine. The best part? You can plan your weekend to fit your family’s interests. Visit Downeast Maine to pick wild blueberries, or simply check out a local establishment that has wild blues on the menu. Learn more about Wild Blueberry Weekend and plan your Eat, Drink, Experience itinerary today!

Have A Wild Kickoff to Summer this Memorial Day Weekend

There’s nothing quite like Memorial Day Weekend (MDW) to signify that warmer summer days are officially on their way (especially here in Maine). As MDW approaches, you’re probably dusting off your sunglasses and digging out your long forgotten about sunscreen as you get ready to enjoy a few days in the backyard, a park, at the lake, or on the beach. But have you decided on which recipes are on your list to celebrate the weekend?

Well, we’re here to help give your MDW a dash of wild and a whole helping of deliciousness. For those of us living in New England wild blueberries definitely are the taste of summer–but for those that aren’t, you can have a little dose of Maine summer by picking up frozen wild blueberries at your local grocery store in the frozen foods aisle.

Check out a few of our favorite family-friendly (and grill-friendly) recipes that include frozen wild blueberries.

Mix up a cocktail/mocktail to sip while grilling – Wild Maine Collins

For a refreshing but healthy cocktail/mocktail, whip up a Wild Maine Collins. This refreshing drink screams “summer is coming” and will get you in the mood for a weekend of family fun. 

While you wait for the grill to heat up, start with some Wild Blueberry Jalapeno Poppers

Start off your backyard picnic with a little kick and a whole lotta flavor with Wild Blueberry Jalapeno Poppers. These tasty appetizers are great to offer alongside veggies and dip or some watermelon to make sure everyone doesn’t go hungry waiting for the main course. Dig in!

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Coat your wings, ribs, or kebabs in Wild Blueberry BBQ Sauce

Every grill master seems to have their own take on what makes the best BBQ sauce, but we’re throwing a new one into the ring. Give our Wild Blueberry BBQ Sauce a try and we promise your family will be begging for seconds. If you don’t eat meat, this sauce also makes for a great dipping option with meat alternatives. 

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Throw together a tried-and-true Caesar Salad, but give it an upgrade with wild blueberries

Caesar salads are always a crowd pleaser, but what if you gave your salad an upgrade? Try adding wild blueberries in for a yummy, summery take on this refreshing appetizer.

Top of your family’s meal with a frozen but healthy treat: Wild Blueberry Yogurt Pops

A holiday meal isn’t truly complete without a sweet treat at the end–but make it healthy with Wild Blueberry Yogurt Pops. These pops will become a fast family favorite and are a sneaky way to incorporate brain healthy wild blueberries into something sweet. Just be careful of brain freeze! 

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How are you spending your MDW? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to connect with us and share your *wild* weekend plans. We can’t wait to see what you cook up! Have a wonderful, sunny, and safe weekend.

Jump Start Your Family’s Resolutions with Nutritious Wild Blueberries

For most, January 1st beckons a fresh start, but sometimes achieving those “big” resolutions can be a little bit challenging. Whether it’s setting a healthy eating goal for yourself or finding ways to get the whole family invested in putting nourishing foods on the table, consider adding Wild Blueberries into your morning routine as an easy way to treat the body and your brain better. Here are three reasons why Wild Blueberries are a great addition to your daily diet, along with some recipe suggestions to help make this change a reality.

Nourish the Noggin with Wild Each Morning

There is a growing body of evidence that suggests people can reduce cognitive decline by adopting key lifestyle changes. One of those is eating a balanced diet that is low in fat and high in vegetable and fruit consumption. There is ample research that suggests Wild Blueberries may improve cognitive function for both young and old. So, prioritize your brain health in 2020 and feed it the tastiest brain food – Wild Blueberries. All you have to do is add a healthy scoop of frozen Wild Blueberries to whatever’s for breakfast to give the whole family a better start to the day. It’s never too early to eat for brain health and it’s recommended you do so for your entire lifespan. Nourish their noggins with this easy-to-make Wild Blueberry Oat Muffin recipe that can be made ahead so you have on hand a nutritious, delicious and convenient breakfast.

Make it a Fiber Filled Day

It’s reported that in 2018, only 5% of Americans got enough fiber in their diets. Well if you’re looking for a way to up your fiber intake, Wild Blueberries are a tasty way to do just that. The Wild Blueberry skin is an excellent source of fiber – because the berries are smaller you’re getting more skin (which equals more fiber) in every serving. Plus, according to the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans MyPlate, it’s important that half your plate consists of fruits and vegetables. Fill up on fiber and start your day off right with this Wild Blueberry Blast with Banana & Chia Seeds Smoothie.

Frozen for Your Convenience

Let’s face it, we’re all busy. And busy schedules mean that we’re constantly looking for options that make our lives easier. Enter: frozen Wild Blueberries. The great thing about frozen Wild Blueberries is that they are frozen with 24-hours of harvest, ensuring that taste and nutritional benefits locked in. The berry is picked locally in the U.S., frozen, and on its way to your table in less time that it takes ordinary berries to make the same journey from Chile, South America, and a variety of other places. When you pick wild it’s like eating a Wild Blueberry right out of the fields. Plus, frozen fruit is super convenient and accessible all year long, eliminating food waste. This weekend, treat yourself with these drool-worthy Wild Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes.

With 2020 right around the corner, help your family – and yourself – achieve realistic health goals. You can get a great start by adding Wild to your diet every day. Happy (almost) New Year!

A WILD Dinner to Celebrate Mother’s Day

If the Mom in your life is always on the go, keeping track of school, work and play schedules, cleaning up the “not me” messes, and other parenting tasks, make sure you take some time to say, “Thank you!” this Mother’s Day. What better way to do that than by preparing her a delicious and healthy dinner. Make it a fun family affair and get the kids involved. You’ll make some special memories along the way, too. To help you get started, we’ve pulled a few of our favorite recipes from some of our most creative health and nutrition food bloggers.

All of these recipes include frozen Wild Blueberries. These tiny, potent berries aren’t just for muffins and pies. They’re also delicious in appetizers, entrees, and cocktails. Plus, Wild Blueberries provide twice the antioxidant capacity of traditional blueberries and are considered one of the top anti-inflammatory fruits. These antioxidant-rich super berries are filled with bioactive phytonutrients that give them their deep blue color, which can protect against inflammation, thought to be a leading factor in brain aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and other diseases. What makes Wild Blueberries so powerful is that they combat stress in the wild and harsh northern climate of Maine by producing phytochemicals and anthocyanins to protect themselves. It’s these naturally occurring compounds that help protect us from inflammation and chronic disease when we eat them. And the best thing about Wild Blueberries is that you don’t have to wait until summer to enjoy them. You can find them in the frozen fruit aisle supermarket all year long.


Cocktail.
Start the evening off right and before you and the kids get busy in the kitchen, make Mom this cocktail – if she doesn’t drink alcohol, leave out the bourbon for the tastiest mocktail she’s ever had. The combination of Wild Blueberries, mint and lemon are delicious and refreshing in this Wild Blueberry Bourbon Smash. The splash of seltzer gives it just enough fizz to impress Mom with your mixology skills. And honestly, the bourbon is an excellent addition to this recipe but can be substituted for another spirit or left out, and it will STILL be delicious.


Appetizer.
After Mom has enjoyed a few sips of her Wild Blueberry Smash, continue to impress her taste buds with these Wild Blueberry Brie Pastry Bites. Once you serve this tasty appetizer, it will look like you’ve been working hard in the kitchen all day, but this recipe is incredibly easy to make. The kids can help fill each of the phyllo cups with brie and top ‘em off with the Wild Blueberry sauce. You’ll see her smile as soon as she takes a bite and enjoys the crunch of the phyllo shell, the creaminess of the warm brie and the pop of sweet and tart flavor from the Wild Blueberries.


Salad.
By now, Mom’s Mother’s Day dinner should be coming together nicely. To keep it simple, serve a salad alongside your main course! Have the kids create a simple green salad with mixed baby greens like spinach and arugula, include some cucumbers, tomatoes and any other items that Mom loves in her salad. Then WOW her with a homemade dressing. Don’t panic! Homemade dressing is incredibly easy, and this Wild Blueberry Balsamic Dressing only has six ingredients – most of which you’re likely to have in your pantry already. Just blend everything together and then drizzle over the top of Mom’s salad. You may catch her licking the salad plate but hey, don’t judge! She works hard, and you’ll probably want to do the same.

Entreé.
Show off your mad grillin’ skills and make this Shrimp and Veggie Kabobs with Wild Blueberry Barbecue Sauce recipe as your main course. Mom will love the shrimp and pepper combination glazed in the homemade barbeque sauce. It’s sure to be the most memorable meal and Mother’s Day of all time – no pressure. If Mom’s not into shrimp, cubed chicken, tofu or any other protein will work so long as it can be skewered – adjust cook time accordingly. The kids can help by cutting up the peppers and putting all the items on the skewers.


Dessert.
Now that dinner is over take some time to hang out and make some Mother’s Day memories with the entire family. (HINT: Make these Mini Wild Blueberry Cream Pies ahead of time. They freeze nicely in an airtight container.) No baking is required for this recipe! Dates, nuts, and oats make the tasty crust, and little fingers are perfect for pressing them into the bottom of each cupcake liner. As the kids spoon in the delicious Wild Blueberry filling keep an eye on them to make sure enough ends up in the cupcake pan and not all in their tummies. Freeze for 10 to 15 minutes, or longer in an airtight container. It’s the perfect ending to celebrate Mother’s Day.

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!

Wild Blueberry Baked Doughnuts


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.

Easy Fall Soup Recipe for Busy Moms: Butternut Squash Soup with Wild Blueberry Relish

Is it starting to feel like fall in your neck of the woods? Some people are sad to see the warm weather of summer dwindle down, but I’m super excited for it to get chilly again. I can’t wait for pumpkin spice everything, sweaters, and best of all: soup!

The fall also ushers in a busy season of after-school and weekend activities, sometimes making it a little harder to eat together as a family. My daughter has soccer practice three nights per week, so having a dinner plan on those days is really important.

Using my Instant Pot is one of my best strategies for having a meal ready and waiting for dinner on busy weeknights. I also love making blended soups. There’s nothing more comforting than cozying up with a big bowl of freshly made soup, and my butternut squash soup with Wild Blueberry relish is the perfect way to bring everyone around the dinner table for a healthy meal.

This butternut squash soup with Wild Blueberry relish literally tastes like fall in a bowl with the perfect sweet and savory flavor combination. I always like to add a little texture to blended soup, right before serving. You can top your bowl with pumpkin seeds, kale chips, chopped herbs, glazed onions — or you can try my tangy, fruity Wild Blueberry relish!

If you thought Wild Blueberries were only for the summer time, think again. Wild Blueberries are available in the freezer section of your grocery store. I cook with Wild Blueberries year-round and love knowing they’ve been harvested and frozen at the peak of freshness, when they’re perfectly ripe and chock full of antioxidants.

You’ll love the pop of color and freshness you get from this Wild Blueberry relish. It’s a great complement to the richness of the butternut squash and adds the perfect amount of texture to this blended soup. You could also use this relish as a topping for bruschetta or even roasted turkey.

Since frozen Wild Blueberries are available year-round, they’re the perfect complement to plenty of my other favorite fall dishes, too. Check out my wildly popular Twice Baked Sweet Potato with Warm Wild Blueberries or these Wild Blueberry Sweet Potato Stacks for more fall-inspired dishes.

Easy Valentine’s Day Wild Blueberry Crumb Cake

We get excited about Valentine’s Day at our house! It’s all about the gifts and the homemade cards and of course….the food. We love to start the day off with breakfast in bed and then cook something special for dinner as a family.

Nothing says I love you better than a tasty homemade crumb cake. Especially if it comes from me. As a self-professed non-baker, if I’m getting my cake on, it’s a special occasion!

What I love about crumb cake is that it’s an anytime-of-day delight: perfect with coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon, or a delicious dessert.

I created this recipe to please the two loves in my life on Valentine’s Day.  First, as a thank you to my husband who always goes above and beyond for his favorite girls on Valentine’s Day. Second for Norah, who wants nothing more than to have cake for breakfast. I even get to please myself because I can secretly tinker with the recipe to make it a little healthier.

Since we’re a house of Wild Blueberry lovers, adding a cup into the mix is one of my “health it up” secret weapons. Normally with coffee cake you would add a layer of cinnamon sugar to the center of the cake, but I used frozen Wild Blueberries instead. This way each delicious bite is bursting with incredible Wild Blueberry flavor!

Of course it’s also nice to know that I’m sneaking in a serving of antioxidants, as well. With double the antioxidants as tame blueberries, Wild Blueberries offer a wide range of natural antioxidants that help protect against disease. Wild Blueberries are especially rich in anthocyanin, a flavonoid with potent antioxidant capacity. Highly concentrated in the deep-blue pigments of Wild Blueberries, anthocyanin is responsible for both color and powerful health protection potential.

This delicious Wild Blueberry Crumb Cake is low in sugar and super simple to make using healthy, whole food ingredients.  I hope you’ll make it for someone you love!

Start Your New Year Off Right with this Energizing Dairy Free Wild Blueberry Creamsicle Smoothie

I’m a believer in New Year’s resolutions. Although most of us are unable to stick to them long term, they can help you kick-start better eating and other healthy habits. Over the years, like many of you, I’ve learned to keep my proclamations a little more realistic and specific. Rather than saying, “I’m going to eat healthier every day,” I’ve written down  “add 5 new healthy foods to my regular weekly diet” and “swap my daily afternoon treat for a smoothie.” These new dietary goals should help me with my late afternoon workouts and that lull in energy I often feel later in the day. So as you make your resolutions for the New Year try being more detailed. You’ll find them more doable and easier to track.

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In the spirit of meeting those goals, I’ve come up with an indulgent but energizing smoothie recipe that will help me stay the course. I recently tried a blend of Wild Blueberries with orange and the combination was magical. The zesty orange and deliciously sweet-tart Wild Blueberries made my beverage come alive without the need for a long list of ingredients. Because I like my smoothies a little rich and fulfilling, I went the creamsicle route with a touch of coconut cream and vanilla. Overall, it’s a nourishing and rewarding blend.

For the best-tasting and most nutritious results, be sure to use frozen Wild Blueberries and freshly squeezed (not from concentrate) orange juice. Frozen Wild Blueberries guarantee far more flavor than the blander conventional blueberries you find in the produce section and they have twice the antioxidants too! Wild Blueberries have so much going for them. They occur and spread naturally on a wild landscape called the Barrens; they are never planted and haven’t been modified by humans in any way. The Wild Blueberries we buy today are basically the same as the ones that existed 10,000 years ago! You can’t say that about many foods.

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Wild Blueberries are flash frozen at harvest to lock in all of their goodness and they are available year round. I usually buy them in the freezer section at Trader Joe’s or I pick up the Wyman’s brand at stores like Smart & Final or Whole Foods.

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Here’s my New Year’s dairy-free indulgent and energizing smoothie.

Make Dad Smile with this Delicious Protein-Packed Father’s Day Breakfast Smoothie

Father’s Day at our house is usually met with fun and fanfare. I think Norah looks forward to both Father’s Day and Mother’s Day more than her own birthday! She typically has her gift ready and card made weeks in advance, in full anticipation of the big day.

On the morning of each big day, she is the first to wake up and is always eager to whip up a delicious breakfast extravaganza, with a little help of course. This Father’s Day she’s excited to be able to make breakfast all by herself, because this year her Dad is getting his favorite breakfast smoothie.

Fathersdaysmoothie

My husband normally enjoys a more decadent Father’s Day breakfast. In fact, he adores nothing more than a decadent high-carb breakfast – croissant French toast or fluffy pancakes drizzled with way too much maple syrup are his holiday go-tos. But this year he’s been on a bit of a health kick. There hasn’t been much of anything decadent or sweet on his menu for a while, as he’s been in full training mode for the last two months. The occasional splurge here and there happens, but for the most part he’s been living lean.

His routine of late is to wake up, drink a protein smoothie, and then hit the gym. If you’ve ever lived with someone who’s in training mode of any kind, it can be stressful when you ask them to veer off-plan. Since we don’t want a stressed-out dad on Father’s Day, we are sticking to the plan.

Norah will be thrilled to deliver to him his favorite Wild Blueberry smoothie. This recipe is a blueberry triple threat. His smoothies always start with a heaping cup of frozen Wild Blueberries. He loves the intense Wild Blueberry taste and looks forward to his morning dose of antioxidants. To his frozen Wild Blueberries he adds vanilla flavored Greek yogurt for a creamy effect and blueberry flavored ground flax seed for a dose of fiber and healthy fats.

Of course he also adds a scoop or two of protein powder, but not before a few drops of vanilla extract, a dash of cinnamon for natural sweetness, and a frozen banana are mixed in.

This protein smoothie is the perfect pre-workout breakfast or post-workout recovery meal. It’s low in sugar, big on delicious Wild Blueberry flavor, and a healthy, nutrient-dense way to start the morning. Especially if it’s delivered to you in bed…with a big hug and a home-made card.

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Venison & Wild Blueberries: A Regional Pairing

Here in New England and Canada, hunting season has come to close, and venison has been making its debut on menus at home and in area restaurants. We recently shared a venison dish with TheUrbanMrs.com to demonstrate how an entrée that reflects our regional foods can create a flavorful pairing. 

Proteins come to life when complemented by the bright, tangy complex flavors of wild blueberries, and they create an ideal flavor profile for this richly flavored dish. Even avid sportsmen admit that the secret of these Venison Medallions with Sautéed Apple Slices and Wild Blueberry Sauce is in the sauce, which combines red wine, beef broth, garlic, onion and currant jelly. It’s high on health as well: venison is particularly low in saturated fat, and wild blueberries provide powerful nutrition and antioxidants. 

Get the full recipe at TheUrbanMrs.com. Then, discover other delicious entrées appetizers, snacks, drinks, and sides at WildBlueberries.com to round out your holiday entertaining.