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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Blue and green blueberry avocado smoothie

Blue and green blueberry avocado smoothie_3

Mornings that start with smoothies are the best mornings. They’re such a nice, light and filling guilt-free breakfast option. Plus, I just love getting creative and trying different flavor combinations — but not as much as I love squeezing in a few servings for fruits and veggies before 9 a.m. Seriously, I make smarter eating decisions all day because I know I’ve had a great start. Why stop there? I think to myself. It’s true what they say. One healthy decision really does lead to another, and another, and another. Days that start with donuts definitely don’t inspire gym workouts. If you’re trying to get in better shape this year, start with your mornings and go from there. Try this healthy blue and green blueberry avocado smoothie — it’s one of my favorites — and see if you don’t feel like making other healthy choices, too. Blue and green blueberry…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Blueberry red grape popsicles with mint

Blueberry grape popsicles with mint

Popsicles aren’t rocket science. Of course you know they’re just frozen juice, but if you’re saving time and buying the store-bought version, that juice is loaded with extra sugars and artificial dyes. And that’s not even to mention the delicious flavor combinations you’re missing out on. This blueberry, red grape popsicle recipe makes a healthy summer treat. No unwanted ingredients — just blueberries, grapes, coconut milk, and mint. They’re so good for you, you could even eat one for breakfast! So grab a handful of fresh grapes and get started. You may never buy the boxed kind again! Blueberry Grape Mint popsicles Ingredients 1 1/2 cups fresh purple grapes 1 cup frozen blueberries 1/4 cup light coconut milk (from the carton) 6-7 fresh mint leaves (optional) Directions Add all of the ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until smooth. Pour mixture into popsicle molds (or paper cups if you…

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Seasonal

What’s in season in August?

Can you believe it’s already August? Summer is in full swing as evident by all of the delicious fruits and vegetables — Hello fresh berries! Yet, we can’t help but notice the fall crops starting to creep in (We’re looking at you apples!). Despite our growing anxiety that summer is slipping away all-too-soon, it’s hard not to fall in love with August produce. So many fruits make it easy to satisfy your sweet tooth the healthy way. Plus, all of those zucchinis and tomatoes make dinner a breeze. So what should you be being in August? Take this list to the grocery store and pick up some of these in-season fruits and veggies: Apples Some apples are already hitting the shelves, but in just a week or two markets and stores will have bushels of the brand new crop. Enjoy as a snack, in a dessert, in a salad —…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

The best blueberry pie recipe

Blueberry pie recipe

Fall has apple pie. The holidays have pumpkin pie. Spring screams for strawberry rhubarb, and summer? It’s all about the blueberries. Nothing says summer like a fresh and flaky homemade blueberry pie. Don’t let September set in before you get around to making this sweet summer staple. The blueberry filling is relatively easy to make. Blueberries are great because they don’t require any chopping and barely any prep work. Just take a few moments to weed out any bad blueberries, remove any stray stems, and give them a quick rinse and a good shake. You don’t even have to dry them! Toss them in sugar and flour, and you’re pretty much good-to-go. It’s true that the pie crust takes a certain level of practice, but follow these tips and you’ll master the craft in no time: 1. Keep your ingredients super cold.  Don’t remove anything from the fridge until you are…

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Seasonal

All the produce in season in July

produce in season in july

Welcome to July, the first official full month of summer! By now you’re probably swimming in summer produce. Ninety degree temperatures and lots of sunlight bring tons of vibrant, colorful food options this month, particularly more fruit. Eat what’s in season, and you’ll save money and enjoy tastier foods. It’s a win/win. Summer produce doesn’t change a whole lot each month, but here’s what’s new for July: Apples Apples are thought of as a fall fruit, but many are actually ripe and ready right now. Apples have a nice, long run, so enjoy your juices, apples, dumplings, and pies, now through November. Apricots Apricots are rich in fiber and bring a healthy dose of vitamin A. Kids love their sweet flavor and smaller size. Eat them fresh, blend them in smoothies, make apricot cookies, or add to salads like this Apricot Arugula Summertime salad. Basil Celebrate the return of fresh,…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Star-Spangled Sangria

Star Spangled Sangria

This popular Spanish drink gets a red, white, and blue makeover in this Star-Spangled Sangria recipe. Enjoy this festive drink on the 4th of July or any day this summer when you want something refreshing to sip. Star-Spangled Sangria Ingredients 2 bottles of Pinot Grigio 6 ounces blueberries, rinsed and stems removed 6 ounces raspberries, rinsed 8 ounces strawberries, rinsed and sliced 1 red apple, (1 half chopped, and 1 half cut into stars) 4 tbsp Grand Marnier 1 tbsp granulated sugar ice (optional) Directions Pour wine into a pitcher and add fruit. Let mixture sit in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. When ready to serve, remove from fridge and add in Grand Mariner and sugar. Stir well. Serve immediately over ice. Also see, why you should always store your wine bottles horizontally.    Follow us on Instagram.

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Triple berry kale walnut salad celebrates summer

Triple berry kale walnut salad celebrates summer

If I can give two pieces of advice for salads, I would first tell you to always include some fresh fruit. Blueberries, mandarin oranges, strawberries — honestly, just about any fruit works. It’s a juicy pop of unexpected flavor that goes really well with the texture of leafy greens. Fruits and veggies are good friends like that. My second piece of advice is to always toast your walnuts. Okay, maybe not every single salad requires it, but most gain something. You’ll never be disappointed. Toasting improves the texture, so the nuts stay crispier, longer in the middle of all that lettuce and dressing. And this little trick doesn’t cost anything. Just buy plain old walnuts and throw them in the toaster oven (or oven) for 10 minutes on 350ºF, and you have just seriously upgraded to restaurant quality. No oil needed for roasting. Pine nuts will be done around 5 minutes.…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Blueberry bars bring the first taste of summer

Blueberry bars bring a taste of summer

Blueberry season in North America runs from April through September, so now is the time to start enjoying those plump, juicy, blueberries in everything from salads and smoothies to muffins and more. These fresh blueberry bars are a quick and easy tasty treat. Every bite is bursting with blueberry flavor and crunchy walnut pieces. So give into those first cravings for fresh summer flavors and try this delicious blueberry bar recipe. Fresh blueberry bars Makes about 16 bars Ingredients 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 1 stick salted butter (1/2 cup), room temperature 2 eggs, room temperature 1/2 tsp quality vanilla extract 1 tsp baking powder 1 1/2 cups flour 2 1/2 cups fresh blueberries (about 12 ounces) 1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped 1/4 cup powdered sugar Lemon zest from 1 large lemon (optional) Directions Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9×13 inch pan or line pan with aluminum foil to make bars easy to remove. In…

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News Bites

Maine blueberry crop hit hard by disease, lack of pollination

Maine blueberry crop hit hardPixabay

Bad news for pie lovers. Maine’s wild blueberry crop is likely to be much smaller this year than in recent summers because the industry is contending with troubles such as disease and a lack of pollination. The New England state is the wild blueberry capital of the U.S. In recent years, crop sizes have soared and prices have plummeted. The crop grew a little less than one percent last year to almost 102 million pounds (46 million kilograms), while prices hit a 10-year low of 27 cents per pound to farmers. University of Maine horticulture professor David Yarborough says that is changing this year. He says “mummy berry” disease and other factors could cut the crop as much as 36 percent this summer. Because oversupply has been driving down prices in recent years, the farmers had already decreased their efforts with the fruit crop. Yarborough said a shortage of bees and other pollinators…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Mixed Berry Pretzel Salad: Recipe & Video

Mixed berry pretzel salad: recipe & video

Some party foods are just too good to only be served at friends’ summer social affairs. In the Northeast, a strawberry pretzel salad shows up nearly at every party once the weather gets warm. It’s total disappointment to attend a block party or picnic and not see the fruity, layered dish on the table. But why should we wait to have this delicious sweet and salty dessert? If you never had this summer staple, you’re in for a sweet textural surprise. The crunchy pretzels along with the creamy filling, cool Jell-O and crisp fruit are highly craveable, and making it at home means you can customize with fruit of your choice. Use local berries if you can, and pack it full of fruit — It may be called “salad,” but there’s nothing healthy about it unless you can squeeze in a few servings of fruit. Try any fruit, really. It can be made it with peaches and…

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