I love blueberries! They never make me feel blue! As a mom who enjoys cooking, blueberries are great because they are healthy and versatile ingredients. Frozen and canned blueberries are in stores year-round, so whenever I want to impress guests with a dessert without breaking a sweat, I just go to the nearest supermarket, grab a can or pack of blueberries from the U.S., some crushed graham, and a tub of cream cheese to make a glorious blueberry cheesecake!

But blueberries are not only about cheesecakes, muffins, and smoothies. You can make so many wonderful dishes with them! Whether you’re cooking, snacking, or pursuing healthy habits, blueberries bring back the pleasure and ease that help us eat well and enjoy our food. Frozen blueberries are frozen straight from the farm, with all the good stuff locked in – nutrients, freshness, and flavor. Meanwhile, fresh or frozen blueberries get placed in cans, with light or heavy syrup added, sealed, and heated.

Blueberries are good sources of immunity-enhancing vitamin C and dietary fiber for improved digestion. They are also excellent sources of manganese and vitamin K for improved bone health. Researchers continue to find new benefits as they have a category of phytonutrients called polyphenols, known for their antioxidant properties.

Blueberries make for a no-fat fruit break with only 80 calories in one cup. Mix them with yogurt, oatmeal, or cereal for breakfast if you need to power through your day. Frozen and canned blueberries can be used in cocktails, drinks, salads, cakes, pies, baked goods, and even savory dishes.

To prove the versatility of blueberries, here are two recipes – a sweet and a savory – that you can easily do in your kitchen.

Baked Blueberry Cream Cheese Pinwheels

Ingredients:

4 slices bread
4-5 cream cheese triangles, softened (you may use your own cream cheese spread)
3-5 tbsps powdered sugar
½ cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
½ cup butter melted
1 can USA Blueberries

How to make:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Flatten the bread slices using a rolling pin.
3. Spread cream cheese on each slice.
4. Sprinkle powdered sugar on each slice.
5. Combine sugar and cinnamon on a shallow dish.
6. Spread blueberries on each slice not including the syrup.
7. Roll up one bread slice tightly, careful not to spill the blueberries.
8. Dip the bread into the melted butter and then into the sugar/cinnamon mixture.
9. Arrange the rolled breads in a baking pan and bake for 10-15 minutes or until the breads are browned.
10. Cut into bite-size slices before serving.

Grilled Pork With Blueberry Sauce

Ingredients:

3 slices pork belly or any meat cut you prefer
1 pack frozen USA Blueberries – defrost it for this recipe
1 tbsp cornstarch
½ tsp dried thyme leaves
½ tsp dried rosemary leaves
½ tsp dried oregano
½ tsp garlic flakes
1 tbsp rock salt
ground black pepper
½ cup bbq sauce (I prefer smoky)
½ cup blueberry drippings (the liquid you get when you defrost the blueberries)

How to make:

1. Make the marinade by combining everything except the blueberries and cornstarch.

2. Marinate the pork for at least 3-4 hours or overnight.

3. Grill the pork until tender.

How to make:

1. Make the marinade by combining everything except the blueberries and cornstarch

2. Marinate the pork for at least 3-4 hours or overnight.

3. Grill the pork until tender.

“A Blue Christmas” – USA Blueberries Recipe Contest Mechanics

• The contest is open to all Filipino citizens residents in the Philippines; participants must be at least 21 years of age. No purchase is required to enter the contest.

• Post the photo/s of your USA Blueberry holiday dish using frozen and/or canned USA Blueberries on Facebook and Instagram.

• Post must include the full recipe and must mention and show the brand of USA Blueberries used.

• Use the hashtags #ABlueChristmas #USABlueberryRecipeContest #USABlueberries #USBlueberriesPHL and tag @usblueberriesphl and the influencer you follow (@tweenselmom).

• Participants may send multiple entries but can only win once.

• The deadline for submission of entries is on December 15, 2021.

• There will be ten winners. Entries will be judged based on the following:
  • USA Blueberry as the main ingredient – 50 points
  • Originality – 25 points
  • Visual Impact – 25 points
• Winners will be informed via private messages and announced on USHBC – Philippines’ social media.
• Each winner will receive gift certificates worth P5,000.
• The decision of the judges is final. All entries will be considered property of USHBC – Philippines.

For more information on U.S. blueberries, go to www.blueberrycouncil.org. Like and follow USA Blueberries-Philippines on Facebook and Instagram for more blueberry fun, cooking tips, recipes, videos, and trivia.

Good luck, everyone!

(This post is in partnership with USHBC Philippines. All comments, opinions, and recipes are my own.)