Blueberries … a Real Sweet Treat!
Of all the plants I grow, I think that I enjoy our blueberry bushes the best. They have been growing fairly effortlessly along the outer edge of our yard for nearly twenty years now. Our original plants were sprouts from our dear life-long friends, The Hartmans. The Hartmans were our next door neighbors when I was growing up (over 40 years ago). They tended a lovely yard which included a beautiful row of blueberry bushes along the back side and they very generously shared their annual bounty with my family.
Several years after I came to live here on the farm, The Hartmans gave me some sprouts from their bushes so that I could start my own blueberry bushes to enjoy and to remember them by. As it turns out, growing blueberries in Eastern North Carolina is pretty easy. If you transplant them around Thanksgiving (right after a good hard freeze), they have all winter to establish their root system and get ready to make it through our hot, dry summers. Since they have a very shallow root system, it is critical that they have this time to set their roots before the hot weather stresses them.
Having originally had beginner’s luck with our blueberry transplants, and since having studied them a little more after becoming an Extension Master Gardener, this is the topic that I have chosen to share/teach to our new MG participants in our annual Extension MG classes. I usually include some photos of my bushes, the basic dos and don’ts, some nutritional facts about blueberries, a few favorite recipes and a several actual blueberry treats to taste. I love sharing my homemade blueberry cordial, blueberry preserves and a prized blueberry dessert or two. Over the last few years, in addition to sharing our surplus blueberries, I have given sprouts off our bushes to a host of fellow gardeners, friends and family members.
I love extending the legacy of my bushes, which started as “pass-along” plants from some friends, to other friends and family. After the new bushes are established, I enjoy comparing notes on our blueberry experiences as well as our latest blueberry recipe finds. One of my most prized blueberry recipes came from one of my fellow Master Gardeners (Becky, thanks for sharing this keeper!). I love the unique taste and smell that mace, a fragrant spice, gives this recipe. This is one of my favorite ways to use and share the berries that I freeze each year.
Since blueberry desserts are among my husband’s favorite treats, I decided to share this treasured recipe in honor of Valentine’s Day. I trust that you will enjoy this easy, fairly healthy (it has canola oil instead of butter/margarine) sweet treat as much as we do.
Blueberry Snack Cake
2 cups blueberries; 3 eggs; 2 cups sugar; 1 cup canola oil; 2 cups self-rising flour; ¼ t. mace (or apple pie spice); cooking spray for pan
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all the above ingredients except blueberries until incorporated. Then, fold in blueberries. Bake in a 9×13 pan (which has been sprayed) for 45 minutes. Cool and cut into squares as you would brownies and ENJOY! * This recipe can be cut in half and baked in an 8×8 pan.
Would love to hear about your favorite blueberry recipe if you have one you’d like to share~
Happy gardening and cooking,
Carolina Carol
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