Challenge Ingredient: Berries

This week's challenge is BERRIES. Choose any kind of berries you like. There are many different varieties in season this time of year. They are great in drinks, desserts, salads & sauces. One of my favorite things to do with berries is add them to a green salad. Straw, black and raspberries are all great tossed in there, and they bump the fanciness up a notch when serving guests. It's amazing how much better a green salad tastes when you throw in some berries, a handful of chopped nuts and some cheese!! (feta, brie, blue, parm & gruyere are all good)


Not only do berries taste great, they're good for your health, too.

"Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries—whatever berry you like best—are full of anti-inflammatories, which reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer.

“Blackberries and blueberries are especially great,” says Sinatra (cardiologist Stephen T. Sinatra, MD, the author of Lower Your Blood Pressure In Eight Weeks). “But all berries are great for your vascular health.”" (taken from healmysick.wordpress.com)

Another reason I chose berries for this week's challenge is because berries are used in many dishes to celebrate Independence Day, which is coming up this Saturday. I have seen many cakes, puddings and salads incorporate red & blue berries to give the dish an extra patriotic flair.

Happy 4th of July !!