The Heat of the Summer

Gizhide! It is hot! While the sun feels unforgiving these days, and the humidity is at its peak we seek ways to cool off. This heat and humidity shortened our strawberry season significantly which saddens me. I usually make strawberry jam but wasn't able to this year. While Ode'imin season is done, the heat means we have another berry season upon us....Miin!! (Blueberry)

This little powerhouse berry is packed full of antioxidants which means it helps brush out the nasties floating in our system (free radicals). I'll share some nutritional facts on this little berry and then a favorite blueberry syrup recipe that my kiddos love over their blue corn pancakes! 

Nutritional Facts in 1 cup of blueberries:
84 calories
1.1g of protein
21.45 g of carbs
3.6g dietary fiber
14.74g total sugars
24% Daily intake of Vitamin C
5% Daily intake of Vitamin B6
36% Daily intake of Vitamin K
9 mg of calcium
9 mg of phosphorus
114 mg of potassium

So, as you can see Miin not only tastes amazing but has a bunch of good vitamins and minerals in it for you! Wild blueberries have the best flavor but are small. I find them on trails in the Manistee National Forest. They are small and close to the ground unlike cultivated ones. 

Recipe
1 Cup Blueberries 
3 tablespoons Maple Syrup

Combine ingredients into a saucepan and boil over medium heat until blueberries are soft. Mash them and use over pancakes, muffins, waffles, or whatever you desire to have blueberry flavored! 

For every 1 cup of berries you use 3 tablespoons of syrup. So if you were to triple the recipe it'd be 3 cups to 1/2 cup of maple syrup (9 tablespoons = 1/2 cup)