blueberries

Pepperidge Farm's swirled loaves have a special place in my heart: growing up, I was never allowed white bread, save for an occasional slice of Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Swirl, because even my mother couldn't resist the loaf. So when we received a special delivery of the breadmaker's newest, limited-edition flavor, Blueberry Swirl ($4), I audibly squealed with delight (to the alarm of my co-workers) and sprinted to the toaster.

The spongy, melt-in-your mouth bread has all the awesome qualities found in the original cinnamon loaf; only this time, it's dotted with dried blueberries and a blueberry-flavored swirl. Is it made with real blueberries? Don't know and don't care! Actually, a quick scan of the ingredients does show dehydrated blueberries and blueberry juice concentrate (at the very bottom of the list). But that's no bother! The blueberry flavor bursts forth, making this one berry fruity, addictive bread. Try to stop at one slice; I dare you. Keep reading to see how long it's on shelves.

Purple fruits and vegetable are like works of art, yet shockingly abundant in the produce aisle. For our exploration through the colors of the fruit and vegetable rainbow, we were able to track down a bright-purple head of cabbage, a box of blueberries, an elegant, long-necked Japanese eggplant, and a peak-season bunch of Spring onions. Looking for ways to enjoy these purple produce items? Then keep reading.

As a food enthusiast growing up in Texas, it was blueberry muffins for breakfast and cornbread for dinner. I always wondered what would happen if the two collided — which is why I created this a rich, buttery cornbread muffin oozing with fresh blueberries. It's subtly sweet and surprisingly light on the palate. With a sour pungency from the Greek yogurt and a bright, floral flavor from the lemon zest and honey, the flavors are perfectly balanced and complex, making this one delightful love child of two Texan quick bread recipes. Try the cornbread muffin recipe here.

• Savor end-of-the-season berries with these scrumptious muffins — Healthy Happy Life
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Monday through Friday, without fail, you'll find me digging into a bowl of piping-hot oatmeal. Hearty, comforting, and ready in a pinch, it's my go-to weekday breakfast. That said, come Saturday, I like to break away from the basics and whip up something a bit more indulgent and whimsical. Golden and puffy — almost as though defying gravity — dutch babies fit the bill, and then some.

Almost a cross between a popover and a traditional pancake, dutch babies might seem more impressive than their flapjack cousins, but they are actually lower-fuss, with the oven doing most of the heavy lifting. And while I relish more intensive weekend cooking projects, the first thing in the morning, low exertion with a big payoff is far more enticing.

Read on to get the recipe.

I'm seriously obsessed with marshmallows: something about their light, fluffy texture and subtly sweet flavor makes me think I'm not really indulging. That is, until I look down and see that most of the bag is missing. I especially love creating homemade marshmallows with unusual flavors, and since blueberries are practically bursting from the tables of farmers markets everywhere, it's only appropriate to highlight their sweet, seasonal goodness in a marshmallow form.

Shauna Sever's Marshmallow Madness! cookbook has a recipe for strawberry marshmallows that uses no artificial extracts, only real fruit puree and freeze-dried berries. Intrigued, I tweaked the recipe a little to create these adorable, bite-sized blueberry marshmallows. The freeze-dried berries rehydrate slightly in the marshmallow and provide more berry flavor and a chewy texture.

Toss these mini marshmallows on top of frozen yogurt, dip them in melted chocolate, or eat them solo. They make a great gift or a fun party snack. Now's the time to make a homemade batch of blueberry marshmallows.

Berry season is right around the corner, and if a big bowl of strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries didn't excite you before, maybe this news will: eating at least two servings of berries per week can help delay age-related memory loss in women. A recent Harvard study followed 16,010 women over the age of 70, finding those who ate berries slowed memory loss by almost three years. Researchers cite the plethora of antioxidants packed into these small fruits as being the reason. If preventing memory loss weren't enough, here are five more reasons why you should up your berry intake.

1. They help with weight loss: Berries are loaded with the antioxidant anthocyanin, which has been shown to alter the activity of genes found in human fat cells, making it more difficult to put on weight. Blueberries, specifically, have been shown to diminish stubborn belly fat.
2. They are good for your brain: Investigators with the US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston found that the polyphenols in berries help the part of the brain that takes care of regular maintenance and "housekeeping." Blueberries and strawberries were said to contain the most polyphenols.
3. They are good for your eyes: Berries, especially blueberries and raspberries, contain lutein, which is important for healthy eyes and sharp vision.
4. They help protect against disease: Berries are brimming with carotenoids, an antioxidant that has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. Other phytonutrients in berries have been shown to protect against heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. Those deep hues pay off tenfold when it comes to maintaining the health of your body.
5. They help slow down the aging process: The powerful antioxidants in berries prevent free radical damage in your body, and less free radical damage means slowing down the aging process to help you live longer!

Amped up for berry season yet? Mix things up by making one of these healthy berry recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktail hour!