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Wild Blueberry Cheese Cake

 

Wild Blueberry Cheese Cake

Let's switch things up this holiday season! This will be your go to for the foreseable future.
Cook Time 1 hour 28 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 8 minutes
Course Dessert

Equipment

  • Oven
  • mixing bowls
  • baking pan

Ingredients
  

Base

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup almonds
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla

Filling

  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions
 

Base

  • Preheat your oven to 350
  • Mix base ingreidents into a mixing bowl
  • Pour mixture into a baking pan
  • Put the baking pan with the mixutre into the oven for 8-10 mintues
  • After 8-10 mintues add 3 cups of frozen wild bluebrries place this over the cooked bottom

Filling

  • Mix filling togethr in a mixing bowl
  • Pour mixture over the frozen wild blueberries
  • Then pop back into the oven and bake for 1-1/2 hours
  • After the cook time take out and top with fresh wild blueberries.

Notes

 

Wild Blueberry Gift Guide

Wild Blueberry Gift Guide

The Holidays are coming up and we created a wild blueberry gift guide for you. More than ever shopping locally has become a need.

Nova Scotia Fisherman Blueberry Lip Balm 

Doesn’t every get extra dry lips in the winter? Because over here we do as well. This gift is the perfect stocking stuffer. The warm scent of blueberries will leave you craving them all day every day.

Not to mention that this is also a Nova Scotian-made product. What’s better than having moisturized lips? Buying that lip balm locally! Shop here

Dried Chewy Wild Blueberries 

Who doesn’t want a little snack in their stocking to munch on? Well, look no further. Dried Chewy Wild blueberries made by Van Dyk Blueberries are the perfect stuffer to fill that stocking.

SO, what kind of nutrients are you getting from the dried chewy wild blueberries? 1 Tablespoon of Chewy Dried Wild Blueberries = ½ cup of fresh Wild Blueberries. So what are you waiting for? Shop here

Wild Blue Gift Box

What better way to show you care than to give a gift of health, and it’s delicious too! This gift basket has all the major products from Van Dyks Blueberries. Trust us this is something you don’t want to pass up. Shop Here

  • 1 x 250ml Wild Blueberry Juice
  • 1 x 300g Wild Blueberry Blossom Honey
  • 1 x 150g Powder
  • 1 x 30g Crunchy
  • 1 x 30g Chewy

 

 

 

Wild Blueberry Sample Pack

Not looking for something as big as the gift back. Well, that’s why the sample back was created. Try all the classics at a fraction of the price. Included in this pack is:

  • 1 x 30g Dried Chewy Wild Blueberries
  • 1 x 30g Dried Crunchy Wild Blueberries
  • 1 x 30g Powdered Wild Blueberries
  • 1 x 250ml 100% Pure WildBlueberry Juice

Shop Here

Nova Scotia Spirit Co.

Attending a holiday party? Bring along a 6pack of Blue Lobster lemon wild blueberry vodka sodas. Trust us whoever the host is having the holiday party will love these drinks. The citrus taste with blueberries is so refreshing everyone will be asking where you found these. Shope Here

Galloping Cow Wild Blueberry Pepper Jelly

If you’ve read our recipe blogs, we created a yummy baked brie topped with this jelly. Which is the perfect appetizer to bring to any holiday party. Whether you’re making this dish yourself or just gifting the wild blueberry pepper jelly on itself; everyone will benefit from it. Shop Here

Do you have any wild blueberry gift ideas that you think we forgot? Comment and let us know! As always support local this year.

Blue Pigment

What is blue Pigment?

We all know blueberries are a beautiful blue colour, but did you know that blue pigment has a wide variety of benefits?

To begin with, the blue pigment found in wild blueberries is one of the richest sources of anthocyanin pigments ( antho-flowering plan; cyanin-blue), all you need is a daily serving for 40g for some amazing health benefits.

So what is anthocyanin?

The word anthocyanin comes from the words Anthos (flower) and kuanos (blue).

They are the plant compounds found in the skin of Wild Blueberries that give them their blue hue. Research suggests that anthocyanin work to reduce inflammation and is beneficial to humans.

Wild Blueberries have some of the highest levels of anthocyanin.

What are some benefits of anthocyanin?

–   Studies show that Wild Blueberries have natural anti-inflammatory effects.

–   Anti Diabetic- a study showed results that wild blueberries are able to induce insulin secretion.

–   Happy heart- those who consume more anthocyanin-rich foods can reduce their risk for developing hypertension, coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease.

–   Cognitive Function- research has shown positive effects of anthocyanin consumption on the working memory of older adults. Research also suggests that anthocyanins have the potential to decrease inflammation, therefore, improving blood flow and increasing communication between cells in the brain.

So, not only are their many benefits to consuming a diet high in anthocyanin but these foods will add beautiful colour to your plate. They might even turn your tongue to a pretty purple-blue colour.

Drinks that Contain Canadian Wild Blueberries: Nova Scotia Edition

Fall is the perfect season to crave wild blueberries. So, here is a list of some local Nova Scotia products that are both non-alcoholic and alcoholic for you to enjoy.

Wild Blueberry Soda

Chill Street Craft Beverages

 

This non-aclcoholic soda is made with 100% Nova Scotia wild blueberry juice from Millen Farms. Not only is this soda caffeine-free but it’s gluten-friendly and made with no artificial colours.

Do your kids ask for “sodas” on the weekends, well if so, this is the soda product you should be reaching for.

Wild Thing- Blueberry Sangria

Chill Street Craft Beverages

Looking for something that has alcohol from Chill Street? Well, this is the perfect fall sangria for you. Wild thing has the bold fruity taste of sangria in the convince of a can. And is also made with 100% Nova Scotia wild blueberries.

Suggested food pairings with the sangria is corn!

Press Wild Blueberries- Sparkling

Viveau

Looking for something more refreshing? Try the Viveau sparkling juice. The blueberries contained in this drink are from Oxford, Nova Scotia. And don’t forget that Oxford is the Wild Blueberry capital of Canada.

 

Blue Lobster Wild Blueberry Lemon Vodka Soda

Nova Scotia Spirit Co.

Blue Lobster Blueberry Lemon Vodka Soda

Looking for something light and contains alcohol? This vodka soda is made with 100% Nova Scotia wild blueberries. Not only do you get the delicious sweet taste of blueberries but this drink also has a hint of lemon. Giving you all the refreshing tastes you need.

Gluten free and made with all natural flavours, you can’t go wrong with this one.

 

Wild Blueberry Juice

Van Dyk’s

This juice has 100% wild blueberries in every drop. Every bottle is packed with polyphenols, antioxidants and anthocyanins. In other words, this is a juice you will want to drink every morning.

Not to mentions each bottle has over 2000 wild blueberries which means there’s no room to add in anything else.

Switch out your other juices in your fridge and make sure you have this on on hand.

 

And there is your fall guide to enjoying Nova Scotia blueberry drinks. There is something everyone can enjoy on this list, while highlighting the amazing Nova Scotian wild blueberry products.

Wild Blueberry Brie

 

Wild Blueberry Brie

Thanksgiving is coming up and we are all looking for ideas on what to make/bring. This recipe is going to highlight a super delicious, easy-to-make appetizer that you can stun your guests with.
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Course Appetizer

Ingredients
  

  • 4 tbsp Galloping Cow WIld Blueberry Pepper Spread
  • pinch Black Pepper
  • pinch Rosemary
  • Crackers

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 400°
  • Put your brie on a pan and spread Galloping Cows Wild Blueberry Pepper spread over, and add rosemary leaves
  • Bake brie for around 10 minutes
  • Take out let cool for 1-2 minutes, then add to your charcuterie board with crackers
Keyword appetizer, brie, healthy eats, wild blueberry

 

Canadian Wild Blueberries: What Happens to the Wild Blueberry?

If you’re like us, you’re probably curious about how harvest season looks for wild blueberry producers. When farmers are harvesting corn, wheat, oats or canola, they use combines with specific headers (and settings) for each type of crop. Apple pickers are often hired for harvest to hand pick apples, careful to not bruise them, and then they are sorted by shape, size and quality. Other berries are harvested by shaking the branches and using a hand held rake for the stragglers, allowing the fruit to drop to the ground which is covered with a tarp. 

How are Canadian Wild Blueberries Harvested?

 

While the wild blueberry used to be picked by hand or by using a small, hand-held rake, harvest has significantly changed for many producers over the last couple of decades. 90-95% of growers now use a mechanical harvester which is mounted to a tractor. These harvesters have rotating rakes that pull the berries from the branches, drop them onto a belt, and then drops them into large totes. 

             

 

Fact: Each tote can hold around 300 pounds of berries

 

Approximately only 1-2% of wild blueberry producers still use the more traditional method of hand-raking the wild blueberries off of the brush. There are also smaller mechanical harvesters, as well. These can be pushed, or have push rakes that are mounted onto smaller machines, and are often used on smaller farms. 

What Happens after They Are Picked?

 

Depending on the size of operation, there are different ways that producers go about handling their produce for Individual Quick Freezing (IQF). Most producers ensure that once the totes have been filled, they are loaded onto a flatbed trailer and brought to a receiving station. Here, they are weighed and loaded into a transport truck. These trucks will bring the berries to the processing plant, where they go through a series of events to prepare them for the individual quick freezing process. Note: some producers skip the flatbed trailer all together and load their berries directly into the transport truck for the delivery to the processing station. 

 

Once the berries arrive at the processing plant, they are cleaned in by going through a blower and several different water baths. To ensure quality control, they are sorted by using lasers, as well as other techniques. Once the berries have been sorted and cleaned, each and every wild blueberry is individually quick frozen. There are several different processes that the berries will then go through, depending on the processing plant, what the berries are being used for, and where they are going. In the end, the berries are then packaged and prepared to ship. For berries that are sold in the freezer section in your grocery store, most of the berries are packaged into 600 gram and 2 kilogram bags or containers. The vast majority of Canadian wild blueberries, however, are exported out of the country! 

Did you know that Japan uses wild blueberries primarily in yogurts and jams, while Germany will use Canadian wild blueberries most often in glass jars! 

What about Fresh Wild Blueberries?

 

Because fresh wild blueberries do not have a long shelf life, they are most often sold as frozen berries. But if you’re in an area during wild blueberry harvest, and you happen to get your hands on some of those small blue gems, we highly recommend doing so! The process of harvest-to-table of fresh wild blueberries is a little different. 

Once the berries are picked, they are then brought back to the shop on the local farm. They go through a similar process as their frozen counterparts, with a giant fan blowing out the debris. Then they go over a sizing belt which helps sort the berries by size and ripeness, a tilter belt that removes clusters, and then over a picking belt where workers can sort through the fruit to pull the bad ones out (note: some operations also have started using lasers to help with this sorting process). Boxes are then packed in several sizes, including pint, 5lb and 10lbs. You can find these blueberries fresh at farm markets, some local grocery stores, or roadside stands. The farms that have their own processors will often also freeze their berries, and sell them to consumers well after the harvest is over!  

We are so thankful for those who manage and harvest Canadian wild blueberries! We love those tangy little berries that are unique to our part of the world, and how versatile they are. It’s wonderful being able to use them in all types of food, throughout the year (thanks to IQF), and even other things like DIY paint and soap. 

 

What do you think? Did you know this is how the mighty wild blueberry was harvested and processed? Were there any surprises? Let us know in the comments!

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Canadian Wild Blueberries

It’s no surprise that wild blueberries have a big following. They are a versatile little super fruit, heavily packed with nutrients, vitamins and fibre. But there is more to the wild blueberry than meets the eye. Here are 5 fun facts that you may not have already known! 

1. Finding fresh wild blueberries is tricky and can only be done during a short growing season. 

Wild blueberries are not known for their fresh shelf life. In fact, the vast majority of wild blueberries are actually frozen using a special method called Individually Quick Frozen. The berries are collected and then frozen within 24 hours of being harvested. This method of freezing them individually ensures that they retain their superfruit qualities and provide the same intense nutrition that they would if they were fresh! 

 

2. Canadian wild blueberries are sold around the world. 

It’s true! Canadian wild blueberries can be found in products and in freezers around the world! In fact, Canada alone produces over 300 million pounds of wild blueberries a year, with a good majority of those berries being exported. 

 

3. Canadian wild blueberries come in all kinds of forms. 

While many people love to eat wild blueberries straight from the branches, people have transformed the wild blueberry into different forms for all kinds of uses. Among these include pure wild blueberry juices, syrups, powders, dried (both chewy and crunchy), freeze dried, and more! 

 

4. Wild blueberries and cultivated blueberries are different! 

The saying “an apple is an apple” is not true – either in the case of apples OR in the case of blueberries! While all blueberries are good for you, wild blueberries are known to have a more intense flavour profile, and are higher in anthocyanins and antioxidants than their highbush cousins. The other main difference between the two blueberry families is the way that they are grown. Cultivated blueberries are grown on bushes that can grow incredibly tall, and are planted by producers. Wild blueberries, or low bush blueberries, are grown on bushes that are no higher than your knee, and sprawl along the ground. These grow in the wild, and aren’t planted by producers. 

 

5. The wild blueberry has a dedicated following of consumers. 

We aren’t kidding when we say people love their wild blueberries. In Canada alone, there are at least 5 different festivals that are dedicated to the Canadian wild blueberry! We love that so many people love wild blueberries, because we do too! If you’re interested in participating in one of the wild blueberry festivals in Canada, take a peek at this post all about it! 

 

Tell us – what surprised you most? We love to hear your feedback, so drop it in the comments below! 

Wild Blueberry and Lemon White Chocolate Cake

Wild Blueberry and Lemon White Chocolate Cake

Kilted Chef Alain
Decadent and delicious. This tasty treat is perfect for featuring at your next get-together, or to enjoy the taste of summer all year long.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup butter room temperature
  • cup white sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tbsp lemon zest
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice
  • cup frozen wild blueberries
  • 1 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips

Lemon Cream Cheese Butter Frosting

  • 1 8 oz block of cream cheese
  • ½ cup butter room temperature
  • 2 tsp lemon extract or 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 3 cups icing sugar
  • 1-2 tbsp heavy cream

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F
  • Cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar using a hand or stand mixer.
  • Add eggs in one at a time, beating just until combined.
  • Add vanilla extract and almond extract and combine.
  • In a separate bowl, mix together buttermilk, lemon juice and lemon zest.
  • In another bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt. Add ⅓ of the flour mixture to the mixer, followed by ½ of the buttermilk mixture. Repeat, ending with the flour.
  • Place frozen wild blueberries in a bowl and toss with the 1 tbsp of flour. Add to the batter, along with the white chocolate chips. Fold to incorporate.
  • Line two 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper and grease. Divide the batter between the two pans evenly.
  • Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.

Lemon Cream Cheese Butter Frosting

  • Place the cream cheese and butter into the bowl of the stand mixer, and use the paddle attachment to cream the two together.
  • Add lemon extract and mix. Add icing sugar 1 cup at a time. Add heavy cream as neded to keep the icing fluid and smooth
  • Beat for 3 - 4 minutes until light and airy.
  • Place one of the cooled cakes on a dessert plate and spread ⅓ of the icing on top. Add the second cake layer and place the remaining icing on top. You can leave the sides naked, or if you prefer, spread the icing around the edge.
  • Garnish with some more lemon zest and a lemon twist.
Keyword baked treats, dessert

Sweet Potato Salmon with Wild Blueberry & Basil Compote

Sweet Potato Salmon with Wild Blueberry & Basil Compote

Chef Alain Bosse, The Kilted Chef
A sweet and aromatic dinner that uses salmon, wild blueberries and sweet potato. A quick dish that tastes like you've been working on it for hours!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Servings 2 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 salmon fillets 6-8 oz
  • ½ lemon juiced
  • 2 sweet potatoes cooked and mashed
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
  • drizzle of olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Wild Blueberry & Basil Compote

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cups wild blueberries
  • 1 shallot diced
  • 1 green onion diced
  • ¼ cup white wine
  • ½ tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp basil chopped

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C).
  • Place the salmon fillets on a parchment-lined baking sheet, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and squeeze the lemon.
  • Mash the sweet potatoes, add the maple syrup and butter, along with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Divide sweet potatoes between the two salmon fillets.
  • Divide pumpkin seeds between the two servings, and drizzle with olive oil.
  • Place in the oven for 15 minutes.
  • Top with the wild blueberry and basil compote to serve.

Wild Blueberry and Basil Compote

  • Heat olive oil over medium-high heat, and add the blueberries. Using the back of a spoon, crush some of the berries so they release their juice.
  • Add shallots and green onions, and cook for 3-4 minutes.
  • Add Dijon mustard and white wine, stir to combine.
  • Allow compote to reduce by a quarter, and then stir in the basil.
  • Finish with salt, pepper and butter.

 

Wild Blueberry Grunt

Wild Blueberry Grunt

Chef Alain Bosse, The Kilted Chef
A Nova Scotian classic, this tangy and sweet treat is a great dessert no matter what the season.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups wild blueberries
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • 2 limes juiced
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup frozen butter, grated
  • 1 cup buttermilk

Instructions
 

  • Place the blueberries along with the sugar, water, lime juice, and spices into a preheated cast iron or enamel pot with a lid. Cover and place over medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the juices have been released and a jam consistency has been reached.
  • Combine the biscuit ingredients and mix to form a soft dough. Drop the dough into the blueberry mixture using a 2 oz (57g) scoop.
    Cover and let set for 10 to 12 minutes or until the biscuits are no longer wet.
  • Serve with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream.
Keyword dessert