Summer Berry Pie opens in a new tab
When it comes to berries, I lose my boundaries. Recently, I had so many that I needed to use them or I would lose them. So I decided to make raw berry “jam”, berry ice cubes, and a berry pie.
To make the “jam”, I simply mashed berries with a little local honey to use on toast spread with almond butter. I made the ice cubes out of fresh, mashed berries mixed with a little pomegranate juice that I froze in ice cube trays. I’ll use them with iced tea, sparking water and sparkling wines and mimosas. The pie I made in a pinch. It’s this delicious Summer Berry Pie opens in a new tab. I wanted my friends to try it, but a few are eating gluten free, so I followed the recipe using Whole Foods Market Gluten-Free Bakehouse Frozen Pie Crusts. It turned out great and saved time! I simply thawed two crusts, using one to cover the top of the pie.
Although the health benefits of eating berries are widely recognized, I believe a good deal of their charm is simply their beauty. Intense colors of red, blue and purple make for splendid eye candy. While berries are wonderful in fruit salads, smoothies and muffins, I want to show you how awesome they are in salads, sauces, salsas, and summer desserts. Remember, one of the wonderful things about berries is that they are interchangeable in recipes, so use what you have on hand.
Green Salad with Rotisserie Chicken and Blackberry Dressing opens in a new tab
Berries add balance and beauty to leafy green salads:
Make a salad with baby spinach or arugula, crumbled feta or goat cheese, fresh raspberries or blackberries, and grilled vegetables such as red onion, yellow bell peppers and radicchio. Drizzle with white wine vinaigrette.
Berry Goat Cheese Salad opens in a new tab is flavored with a mixture of berries, red onions, walnuts and tomatoes.
Raspberry Walnut Salad with Mt. Tam Cheese opens in a new tab is dressed with red wine vinegar, raspberry fruit spread and walnut oil.
This Green Salad with Rotisserie Chicken and Blackberry Dressing opens in a new tab is simple and unique.
Grilled Red Snapper with Strawberry and Avocado Salsa opens in a new tab
Berries can be added to sauces and salsas:
Eat Strawberry Salsa opens in a new tab spooned over grilled chicken or fish.
Simple Blueberry Skillet Sauce opens in a new tab and Blueberry Dessert Sauce opens in a new tab can be drizzled over waffles, pancakes, pound cake, angel food cake, yogurt or custard.
Add Grilled Red Snapper with Strawberry and Avocado Salsa opens in a new tab and Baked Salmon with Spinach and Strawberry Salsa opens in a new tab to your summer menu plan.
Raspberry Nice Cream opens in a new tab
Berries for dessert are always welcomed. These ideas will keep you cool this summer:
Simplified Summer Berry Parfaits opens in a new tab are cool and beautiful, made with cream, lemon curd and pistachios.
Vanilla-scented Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Berries opens in a new tab is super easy to make.
Strawberries and Ice Cream with Balsamic Vinegar Reduction opens in a new tab is amazing with blackberries, too.
Serve Raspberry Nice Cream opens in a new tab with a variety of blackberries and blueberries.
Smother healthy Chocolate Pudding opens in a new tab or favorite pudding recipe with strawberries and raspberries.
Raw Berry Crisp opens in a new tab can be enjoyed for breakfast or a snack.
Do you have boundary issues with berries, too? What do you make when you’ve got too many? I’d love to hear.
