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. Read more

Gin lovers: have you tried a bramble yet? This modern classic cocktail, which was created in the mid-1980s by London bartender Dick Bradsell, is sort of like England's equivalent to a cosmopolitan. It's an unfussy gin and lemon juice concoction that's potent, but with a tart and fruity taste. The girlie pink-purple hue comes from the addition of blackberry liqueur. Although there's many Read more

Vegetables can be just what your breakfast needs. Just ask FitSugar reader Sprint2theTable, who shared this recipe for zucchini oatmeal in our Healthy Recipe group. I like zucchini bread for breakfast. Zucchinis are in season and especially delicious from the local farmer's market. These factors lead me down a path to an obvious breakfast conclusion . . . zucchini oatmeal. Read on for the full Read more

Wild blackberries are in season right now, as BellaSugar discovered recently. She shared the fruits of her labor in our Savory Sights group.Mr. Bella and I went to Napa this past weekend, and although we packed some fresh raspberries and blackberries, we saw no need to bring them out. Why? Because there were wild blackberries! Check out how plump and juicy they were. So ripe, so delicious. I want Read more

During our berry tempting month of blueberries, I was obsessed with the versatility of blueberry sauce. Similarly, with an abundance of blackberries, I simply couldn't resist making a pared-down version of blackberry jam. Never one to pass up a solid salty-sweet combo, I used the ripe flavor of blackberries as a plummy counterpoint to salumi, melted cheese, and mustard. The end result is Read more

Although the classic meat and fruit pairing might be pork and apples, it's time for another combination, lamb and blackberries, to take the spotlight. I recently enjoyed this spectacular duo on a warm Summer night. With its meaty lamb, sweet berries, and tangy horseradish, it was exciting to experience a new range of flavors. Since the sauce requires little chopping and the lamb cooks in under Read more

I was hemming and hawing over the next great dish to feature in our Berry Tempting series when I came across a new recipe I simply couldn't resist making: a fast and easy rendition of tiramisu, topped with a pile of mixed berries. Given how enjoyable tiramisu is on its own, I wondered if the berries were even necessary, but I quickly realized the fresh berries add a tartness and texture that Read more

Although there hasn't been much Summer weather in San Francisco, I haven't let it stop me from making scrumptious sorbets. I've experimented with berries since May, so it was time to give blackberries a chance as a sorbet. I kept the recipe really simple since the berries are in season and barely need any sugar to sweeten them. If you didn't want to spend the money on fresh blackberries, frozen Read more

I finally got around to making the blackberry margarita I wanted to try a couple of weeks ago! I'm glad I did because it's a wonderful cocktail. It's fruity and summery, yet potent and balanced. When you try it out, don't skip the final step; the sparkling wine provides a lovely effervescence to the drink. This blackberry marg was so amazing that I will probably enjoy another one tonight. I Read more