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Blueberries with all of their health benefits, such as the potential to offset certain aging effects (Click here for related story), can serve as a staple in diets since they’re used in sauces, casseroles, breakfast foods, sandwiches and desserts.

Also, one cup of raw blueberries is a good source of potassium and Vitamins C and K, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

One way to eat blueberries is in blueberry shortcake. The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council offers a unique recipe in which a blueberry sauce is made for the shortcakes, and the council also suggests using the sauce “over yogurt and granola, ice cream or pound cake.”

Here are the ingredients needed to prepare the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council blueberry shortcake recipe:

4 cups fresh blueberries, divided
5 tablespoons sugar, divided
1/3 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 1/3 cups all-purpose baking mix
1/2 cup fat-free milk
3 tablespoons butter, melted
Whipped topping, as needed

To start with, combine three cups of blueberries, two tablespoons of sugar and the orange juice in a sauce pan, as stated in the instructions. Cook the mixture on medium until the blueberries break open. Make sure you stir the mixture from time to time.

Next, you’ll mix your cornstarch and two

teaspoons of cold water, adding this mixture to the blueberry sauce. Stir the sauce for one minute, remove it from the burner and add the last cup of blueberries.

Now, you’re ready to prepare the shortcake.

First, preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Then, the USHBC says to combine the baking mix, milk and butter. Once your dough is formed, place the dough on a floured surface or board and flatten to a 5 x 7-inch rectangle.

Using a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter, make six round shortcakes. Place the shortcakes on a baking sheet and then bake them for about 10-12 minutes or until they are a golden color.

Once the shortcakes are baked, spit them in half. Place your shortcake bottoms on a plate and scoop the blueberry mixture onto the bottoms.

The USHBC then suggests adding some whipped topping before returning the tops to the shortcakes. You also can add any kind of sprinkles you’d like such as powdered sugar or chocolate shavings. That’s up to you.

Enjoy, and for additional nutrition information and blueberry recipes, visit www.blueberry.org, or you can send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the following address:

Blueberry Recipes, U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, 2390 E. Bidwell St. #300, Folsom, CA 95630.
                             – Bobbie Whitehead