With summer’s heat in full swing, it is a great time to enjoy blueberries. The local season will come to an end soon and even though you’ll still be able to find frozen blueberries and blueberries from other parts of the world, the local ones, enjoyed in their own true time, taste best.
Sebastopol Berry Farm on Ross Station Rd. in Forestville still has great blueberries and if you’re up for a bike ride, you’ll pass right by it on the West County trail from Graton to Forestville.
A more convenient location is Sonoma Swamp Blues,
The stand expects to have fresh blueberries through the beginning of August
a stand just off Occidental Rd. where High School St. ends in Sebastopol. The farm is right there, a few steps from the stand. Located on the edge of the Laguna de Santa Rosa, it is a gorgeous location. They expect to have berries through August 1 or so and sell them in several sizes, including 3 pounds for $20, which is a great deal.
Enjoy blueberries neat, with whole milk yogurt, with sliced white peaches or nectarines, pureed and spooned over ice cream or cooked with red wine, black pepper and cloves, passed through a sieve and served alongside rare duck breast. Yum!
This week’s Seasonal Pantry features three great blueberry recipes: Chilled Blueberry Soup with Burrata, Warm Chicken Liver Salad with Blueberries and Blueberry Chutney. You’ll fine those recipes here.
You can also make a simple blueberry granita by pureeing 2 cups of blueberries with 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup orange juice and enough simple syrup (sugar and water, simmered together until the sugar dissolves) to boost the sweetness. Strain the puree, pour it into a wide shallow container, cover it with foil and freeze it for an hour. Mix the partially frozen granita with a fork, return to the freezer for 30 minutes, remove and mix again. Repeat another time or two until the granita is complete frozen. To serve it, break it up with a fork until it is fluffy, spoon into chilled bowls and enjoy, with a glass of merlot of a favorite sparkling wine alongside.
Just-picked blueberries
Barbara Kelley
MMMM, Blueberries on Greek Yogurt. My favorite breakfast. The recipes above look delicious, especially the chilled soup on a hot summer day and the cooked sauce with duck – that would be great at Thanksgiving. Thanks!
July 23rd, 2010 12:34 pm
M. L.
The Sebastopol Berry Farm is actually on Ross Station Road, not Ross Road.
It’s a great place; do stop there!
July 23rd, 2010 12:54 pm
Michele.Anna.Jordan
Yep, of course it is. I misspoke. Thanks for the heads up!
July 23rd, 2010 4:21 pm
P Kuhn
St. Benoit handmade yogurts made in Bodega? Available at Fiesta Market, Sebastopol? I don’t know if there is anything better. Quart mason jar, or smaller individual servings, which jars can be returned for a refund. Lemon meyer lemon single serving THE BEST!
July 23rd, 2010 7:56 pm
Marion D
The granita sounds delicious. I love Sonoma Swamp blues! Thank you for sharing this recipe–I will try it this weekend.
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July 23rd, 2010 9:21 pm
A Market in its Prime | Deeds & Words
[...] there is always blueberry pie, if you have a baker in your family. Check out Michele Ana Jordan’s Seasonal Pantry blog for some great blueberry recipes. Berries will probably be around until mid-August this year, [...]
July 24th, 2010 4:48 pm
RinyVursini
Very Interesting!
Thank You!
September 7th, 2010 11:44 am
Red, White, and Blue Popsicles « My Pantry Shelf
[...] and I went on a west county adventure yesterday and came home with a bag full of blueberries from Sonoma Swamp Blues (great spot to pick up super tasty local blueberries!). Most of them are destined for shortcakes [...]
July 3rd, 2012 4:07 pm
Red, White, and Blue Popsicles
I went on a west county adventure yesterday and came home with a bag full of blueberries from Sonoma Swamp Blues (great spot to pick up super tasty local blueberries!).
July 4th, 2012 6:55 am