QUICK TRICKS WITH BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries are sweet and delicious at any time of day, any time of year. And regardless of their form - fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juice - they give you a load of antioxidants that help keep you healthy. When you have a stash of blueberries, you can go to your fridge, freezer or cupboard, and - presto! - something delicious will suddenly appear.

Here are some easy-to-master tricks you can perform with blueberries:

- Chop peaches or pineapple into chunks and toss with fresh blueberries—stir in a bit of crystallized ginger for zing.

- Take a break with a low-cal treat. Simply stir fresh blueberries into partially set sugar-free lemon-flavored gelatin, chill ‘til firm and enjoy.

- Shower a scoop of peach ice cream with partially thawed frozen blueberries.

- Ladle pancake batter onto a hot griddle, then scatter frozen blueberries over the batter and finish cooking as usual.

- Blend drained canned blueberries with a banana, milk and crushed ice for a beautiful, deep purple smoothie.

- Drizzle canned blueberries and some of their syrup over ice cream, yogurt or rice pudding.

- Fill a snack-size bag with dried blueberries to take wherever you go—to the beach, office or mall.

- Scatter dried blueberries, toasted nuts and crumbled blue cheese over a fresh spinach salad.

- Stir blueberry juice into ice-cold sparkling mineral water or lemonade.

- Add a splash of blueberry juice to tea, hot or iced.

Source: U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council